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P417 VFA

1997 Subaru Forester

Black Petrol 1990cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires13 Jun 2027
Tests23 (15 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate65.2%

Mileage

175,795 mi
Last recorded175,795 miles
Recorded on13 Jun 2026
Typical for 1997 Subaru Forester113,380 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Subaru
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Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP417 VFA
MakeSubaru
ModelForester
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,990cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

15 pass 8 fail
Pass 13 Jun 2026 175,795 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 14 May 2025 173,723 miles

Mileage higher than last test as odometer replaced

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 1 Jun 2024 235,940 miles

Central Front Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering rack (2.1.5 (a))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 29 May 2023 229,503 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material rear covered in grease (1.1.11 (c))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases back box (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both sides (5.3.4 (a) (i))

underbody covered in underseal

Pass 8 Jun 2022 226,226 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Both sides (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Underbody covered in underseal

Pass 14 Jun 2021 226,066 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Underbody covered in underseal

Pass 13 Jul 2016 222,267 miles
Pass 20 Jul 2015 214,572 miles
Pass 15 Jul 2014 208,608 miles

Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

Nearside Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 21 Aug 2013 208,480 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Steering rack insecure (2.2.B.1a)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 21 Aug 2013 208,431 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Fail 19 Jun 2013 208,316 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar vehicle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (7.1.4)

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Both rear tyres worn to 3mm

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 19 Jun 2012 193,135 miles
Fail 11 Jun 2012 192,772 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Offside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Pass 14 Jun 2011 174,127 miles
Fail 7 Jun 2011 173,934 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Rear fog lamp missing (1.3.2a)

Pass 20 May 2010 153,154 miles
Fail 8 May 2010 156,224 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Pass 16 Jun 2009 134,439 miles
Fail 16 Jun 2009 134,439 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split (2.5.C.1a)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

brake service

front tyres low on outer edges

near side front inner cv boot split

Pass 20 May 2008 123,243 miles

SLIGHT DAMAGE TO THE O/S/R TAIL LAMP

SLIGHT OIL LEAK

THE EXHAUST BLOWING SLIGHTLY AT THE FRONT

Fail 19 May 2008 123,243 miles

Nearside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (4.1.D.2)

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp missing (1.3.2a)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

Rear fog lamp switch missing (1.3.1a)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

SLIGHT DAMAGE TO THE O/S/R TAIL LAMP

SLIGHT OIL LEAK

THE EXHAUST BLOWING SLIGHTLY AT THE FRONT

THE O/S/R BRAKE PADS ARE WORN LOW

Pass 30 May 2007 116,475 miles

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

How Reliable is the Subaru Forester?

Based on 456,470 MOT tests across 33,044 vehicles.

76.1%
Pass Rate
6,679
Miles/Year
29
Year Lifespan
33,044
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 8,106
Registration plate lamp not working 6,977
position lamp(s) not working 6,967
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 5,820
Brake pipe excessively corroded 5,429
Full Subaru Forester reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

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P417 VFA is a 1997 Subaru Forester in Black with a 1,990cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65.2%.

Across all 1997 Subaru Forester models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.9% with a typical mileage of 113,380 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Subaru Forester fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 8,106 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P417 VFA, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Subaru Forester typically stays on UK roads for around 29 years. At 29 years old, this Subaru Forester is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P417 VFA?

You can check the full history of P417 VFA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P417 VFA registered?

P417 VFA is a 1997 Subaru Forester, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is P417 VFA safe to buy?

The MOT history for P417 VFA shows 23 tests with a 65.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P417 VFA have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on P417 VFA. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.