Subaru Legacy
From 8,420 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Legacys fare better: 2017 models pass at 77.2% vs 65.1% for 2004.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 711 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 711 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 291 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 280 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 204 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 190 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 180 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 175 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 175 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 168 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 164 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 29% of Legacy failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 41.6% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £142.
Subaru Legacy on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 710 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 50 newly registered, a net loss of 660. At this rate, roughly 11 years until none remain. Now at 29.7% of its peak (24,337 in 2005 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 3,899 | 3,341 | +14 | -139 | -125 |
| 2025 Q2 | 4,047 | 3,318 | +13 | -141 | -128 |
| 2025 Q1 | 4,190 | 3,303 | +6 | -191 | -185 |
| 2024 Q4 | 4,346 | 3,332 | +17 | -239 | -222 |
| 2024 Q3 | 4,522 | 3,378 | +11 | -196 | -185 |
| 2024 Q2 | 4,693 | 3,392 | +15 | -132 | -117 |
| 2024 Q1 | 4,798 | 3,404 | +17 | -172 | -155 |
| 2023 Q4 | 4,988 | 3,369 | +15 | -159 | -144 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy | Petrol | 890 | 28% |
| Legacy R | Diesel | 304 | 10% |
| Legacy R Auto | Gas | 212 | 7% |
| Legacy Se Auto | Petrol | 195 | 6% |
| Legacy Se Navplus Cvt | Petrol | 177 | 6% |
| Legacy Se Boxer Diesel | Diesel | 144 | 5% |
| Legacy Es Nav Cvt | Petrol | 139 | 4% |
| Legacy Re | Diesel | 134 | 4% |
| Legacy Se Navplus Boxer D | Diesel | 125 | 4% |
| Legacy Se Cvt | Petrol | 119 | 4% |
| Legacy R Spec-B Auto | Gas | 110 | 4% |
| Legacy S Boxer Diesel | Diesel | 103 | 3% |
| Legacy Es Nav | Petrol | 95 | 3% |
| Legacy Rn Auto | Gas | 68 | 2% |
| Legacy Auto | Petrol | 58 | 2% |
| Legacy Ren Auto | Petrol | 56 | 2% |
| Legacy Outback H6 Auto | Gas | 53 | 2% |
| Legacy Re Boxer Td | Diesel | 53 | 2% |
| Legacy Gx Awd Auto | Gas | 50 | 2% |
| Legacy Se | Diesel | 50 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 77.2% | lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2016 | 86.4% | lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2013 | 75.4% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2012 | 75.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
13 earlier years
| 2011 | 77.9% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2010 | 71.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2009 | 68.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2008 | 69.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2007 | 73.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2006 | 68.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2005 | 68.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2004 | 65.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2003 | 68.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2002 | 71.4% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, exhaust system leaking or insecure |
| 2001 | 76.4% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
| 2000 | 65% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1999 | 68% | exhaust system leaking or insecure, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
Typical mileage
Half of all Legacys tested had between 84,540 and 129,595 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 108,809 median miles, the Legacy has 0.026 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Subaru models
| Subaru Impreza | 80.4% |
| Subaru Forester | 75.4% |
| Subaru Outback | 80.5% |
| Subaru Xv | 83.9% |
| Subaru Wrx | 91.1% |
Common questions
What is the Subaru Legacy MOT pass rate?
The Subaru Legacy has a 71.2% MOT pass rate based on 8,420 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Subaru Legacy?
The most common MOT failure on the Subaru Legacy is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 711 failures. Other common issues include a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning.
How many Subaru Legacys are on UK roads?
There are 3,899 Subaru Legacys currently licensed on UK roads, with 3,341 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Subaru Legacy at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Subaru Legacy is 108,809 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 84,540 and 129,595 miles.
Buying a used Legacy?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 71.2% pass rate and an average repair bill of £142 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 29% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.