MOT performance
Subaru Legacy MOT pass rate and common failures
Across 11,241 MOT tests of the Subaru Legacy in 2023–2024, 63.0% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Subaru Legacys failed 13% less often than comparable cars. The most common failure item was “position lamp: not working”, on 5.92% of tests.
11,241 MOT tests on 6,115 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 63.0% | ±0.9 pts (95%), n = 11,241 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.87× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 9.2% | n = 11,241 |
| Average age at test | 15.5 years | n = 11,241 |
| Median mileage at test | 109,106 miles | n = 11,241 |
| Vehicles tested | 6,115 | 2023–2024 |
Where Subaru Legacys fail
The share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel.
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 18.4% | -10% |
| Suspension | 13.6% | -16% |
| Brakes | 9.4% | -19% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.3% | +23% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 7.6% | +3% |
| Tyres | 6.0% | -21% |
| Driver's view of the road | 5.7% | -17% |
| Steering | 1.3% | -63% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.1% | -51% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.6% | +5% |
| Road wheels | 0.3% | -41% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | -27% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 5.92% |
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 4.11% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.68% |
| Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits | Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.97% |
| Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases | Body, chassis and structure | 2.96% |
| Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | Body, chassis and structure | 2.86% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 2.71% |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 2.31% |
| Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 2.18% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.13% |
Most common advisories
Advisories are items the tester expects to need attention soon; they don't fail the test.
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 17.20% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 14.67% |
| Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened | Brakes | 10.12% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 9.79% |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | Brakes | 8.54% |
Pass rate by age
| Age at test (years) | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 218 | 76.6% | +2% |
| 5-6 | 224 | 73.7% | -2% |
| 9-10 | 449 | 67.3% | -6% |
| 11-12 | 1,481 | 67.5% | -16% |
| 13-15 | 2,585 | 63.0% | -15% |
| 16+ | 6,056 | 60.2% | -11% |
Pass rate by registration year
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 378 | 65.6% | 0.99× |
| 2012 | 537 | 70.2% | 0.79× |
| 2011 | 926 | 66.6% | 0.84× |
| 2010 | 940 | 62.5% | 0.90× |
| 2009 | 837 | 64.0% | 0.83× |
| 2008 | 777 | 60.0% | 0.88× |
| 2007 | 955 | 62.8% | 0.80× |
| 2006 | 1,325 | 59.1% | 0.88× |
| 2005 | 1,181 | 60.6% | 0.84× |
| 2004 | 965 | 59.9% | 0.86× |
| 2003 | 459 | 56.6% | 0.97× |
Years with fewer tests are shown for completeness; only years with enough tests have their own page.
Check a specific Subaru Legacy
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.