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Subaru Legacy MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Subaru Legacy. Check any Legacy by registration number below.

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78.0%

Avg Pass Rate

-7.7%

vs Subaru Avg

33

Year Ranges

Good

Reliability

Subaru Legacy — MOT Reliability Overview

The Subaru Legacy has an average MOT pass rate of 78.0%, which is 7.7 percentage points below the Subaru brand average of 85.7%. This is a reasonable result that reflects typical UK reliability standards. Regular servicing and addressing advisories promptly will help keep your Legacy on the road.

The most common reasons a Subaru Legacy fails its MOT are steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, exhaust system leaking or insecure. If you are preparing your Legacy for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used Subaru Legacy, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Subaru Legacy performs at MOT across different model years.

2021

Based on 70 vehicles

84.3%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.1%

Retest Rate

4.8%

Mileage at 3yr

149k mi

2020

Based on 117 vehicles

77.8%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.0%

Retest Rate

20.9%

Mileage at 3yr

131k mi

2019

Based on 159 vehicles

78.6%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.4%

Retest Rate

15.4%

Mileage at 3yr

148k mi

Mileage at 5yr

170k mi

2018

Based on 155 vehicles

83.9%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.5%

Retest Rate

13.6%

Mileage at 5yr

144k mi

2017

Based on 136 vehicles

75.7%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

4.4%

Retest Rate

22.0%

2016

Based on 176 vehicles

81.3%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

1.8%

Retest Rate

19.5%

2015

Based on 81 vehicles

79.0%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.4%

Retest Rate

19.0%

2014

Based on 53 vehicles

75.5%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

6.3%

Retest Rate

21.9%

Mileage at 10yr

148k mi

2013

Based on 466 vehicles

72.3%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.0%

Retest Rate

27.0%

Mileage at 10yr

140k mi

2012

Based on 653 vehicles

74.6%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.6%

Retest Rate

22.5%

Mileage at 10yr

146k mi

2011

Based on 1,120 vehicles

75.3%Good
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.3%

Retest Rate

21.5%

2010

Based on 1,114 vehicles

70.1%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

6.9%

Retest Rate

26.7%

2009

Based on 983 vehicles

69.6%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

8.6%

Retest Rate

28.6%

2008

Based on 936 vehicles

66.5%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

7.1%

Retest Rate

27.9%

2007

Based on 1,168 vehicles

72.3%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.7%

Retest Rate

19.7%

2006

Based on 1,619 vehicles

67.9%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.8%

Retest Rate

25.2%

2005

Based on 1,421 vehicles

67.9%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

6.3%

Retest Rate

27.3%

2004

Based on 1,237 vehicles

65.2%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.9%

Retest Rate

22.3%

2003

Based on 571 vehicles

66.7%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

8.0%

Retest Rate

23.2%

2002

Based on 316 vehicles

68.7%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.5%

Retest Rate

19.2%

2001

Based on 383 vehicles

72.3%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.0%

Retest Rate

20.7%

2000

Based on 276 vehicles

67.4%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

5.0%

Retest Rate

18.8%

1999

Based on 230 vehicles

70.9%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.3%

Retest Rate

25.3%

1998

Based on 806 vehicles

91.1%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.2%

Retest Rate

25.3%

Mileage at 10yr

177k mi

1997

Based on 764 vehicles

88.0%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

3.9%

Retest Rate

47.1%

1996

Based on 680 vehicles

88.1%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

2.9%

Retest Rate

11.8%

1995

Based on 530 vehicles

89.2%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

7.7%

1994

Based on 295 vehicles

91.9%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

18.8%

1993

Based on 224 vehicles

90.6%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

6.5%

1992

Based on 40 vehicles

92.5%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

1991

Based on 102 vehicles

93.1%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%

1990

Based on 96 vehicles

91.7%Excellent
Subaru average: 85.7%

0

Based on 7,324 vehicles

74.8%Average
Subaru average: 85.7%
Mileage at 5yr

112k mi

Top MOT Failures — Subaru Legacy

The most common reasons a Subaru Legacy fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

1

Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

4.3%
2

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

4.2%
3

Exhaust system leaking or insecure

3.8%
4

Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction

3.3%
5

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

3.3%

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Rear Nearside

11.4%

Rear Offside

7.1%

Offside

2.9%

Subaru Legacy — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Subaru Legacy MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Subaru Legacy?
The average MOT pass rate for the Subaru Legacy is 78.0% compared to the Subaru average of 85.7%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.
What are the most common MOT failures on a Subaru Legacy?
The most common MOT failures on the Subaru Legacy are: Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (4.3%), A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (4.2%), Exhaust system leaking or insecure (3.8%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.
Is the Subaru Legacy reliable?
With an average MOT pass rate of 78.0%, the Subaru Legacy is rated as "Good" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.
How do I check the MOT history of a Subaru Legacy?
Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.
What mileage should I expect on a Subaru Legacy?
Typical mileage for the Subaru Legacy: 149,153 miles at 3 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used Legacy to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Subaru Legacy's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.

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