Large family car · 1996–2021 cars

Subaru Legacy reliability

The Subaru Legacy fails 36.7% of first MOT tests, 10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 19,472 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

About averageReliability score 59/100#12 of 29 large family cars

Checking a Subaru Legacy before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 36.7%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 10% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 19,472; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 12,300; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Subaru Legacy ages

Each point is the share of Subaru Legacys of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Subaru LegacyAll cars

Subaru Legacy first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Subaru Legacy	All cars
4	21.5%	14.1%
5	27.5%	16.4%
8	28.1%	25.5%
9	30.1%	28.8%
10	30.6%	31.8%
11	31.5%	34.6%
12	32.7%	37.3%
13	33.8%	39.5%
14	37.7%	41.1%
15	39.8%	42.3%
16	39.2%	42.9%
17	39.1%	43.4%
18	41%	43.5%
19	39.6%	43.4%
20	44.8%	42.8%
21	37.6%	41.4%
22	36.7%	40.6%
23	38.4%	38.9%
24	44.7%	37.1%

By year

The best and worst Subaru Legacy years

2011 cars come out best and 2006 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Subaru Legacy MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2018	221	20.4%	6% fewer fails	84,506
2016	231	19%	30% fewer fails	108,745
2013	645	32.1%	1% more fails	82,318
2012	882	29.8%	14% fewer fails	88,203
2011 Legacy	1,580	30.2%	20% fewer fails	99,301
2010 Legacy	1,613	35.1%	12% fewer fails	106,257
2009 Legacy	1,434	36.5%	11% fewer fails	102,480
2008 Legacy	1,363	38.9%	10% fewer fails	113,574
2007 Legacy	1,677	36.5%	16% fewer fails	110,820
2006 Legacy	2,413	40.9%	8% fewer fails	113,644
2005 Legacy	2,134	38.5%	14% fewer fails	119,183
2004 Legacy	1,777	41.5%	8% fewer fails	119,421
2003	849	43.7%	0% fewer fails	114,070
2002	493	39.4%	8% fewer fails	115,777
2001	557	35.2%	16% fewer fails	105,774
2000	415	43.1%	8% more fails	111,538
1999	305	41%	5% more fails	111,370

Common problems

What fails most on a Subaru Legacy

Its weak spot is exhaust, emissions and leaks: 48% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics18%7% below avg
Suspension13.6%14% below avg
Brakes9.1%22% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks8.9%48% above avg
Body, chassis and structure7.4%1% above avg
Tyres6%17% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5.6%15% below avg
Steering1.2%66% below avg
Seat belts and airbags1.1%50% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 4.99% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Stop lamp not working 3.59% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
3
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 3.07% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
4
Exhaust has major gas leak 2.59% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
5
Lambda reading outside specified limits 2.48% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
6
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 2.39% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
7
CV joint boot split or insecure 2.35% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
8
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 2.15% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Subaru Legacy's MOT certificate most often.

Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear14.62%
Tyre worn close to legal limit12.9%
Brake disc pitted or scored8.58%
Brake pads wearing thin8.48%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy7.41%
Sub-frame showing corrosion6.68%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Subaru Legacy

1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
3
Engine warning light inoperative or lit
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
4
Exhaust has major gas leak
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Subaru Legacy covers about 12,300 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Petrol84.1%
Diesel15.5%
LPG0.4%
Other0%

Most common colours

Blue, Grey, Silver, Black, White

Average engine size: 2.3 litres.

Compare

How the Subaru Legacy compares with its rivals

Subaru Legacy against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Volkswagen Arteon	11.9%	25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Subaru Outback	25.8%	16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
SEAT Exeo	33.4%	16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Subaru Legacy	36.7%	10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Alfa Romeo 159	42.6%	about average for its age
Peugeot 406	44.2%	3% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Citroën DS5	36.6%	15% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every large family car ranked in the large family car reliability index, or all Subaru models.

Questions

Subaru Legacy questions, answered

Is the Subaru Legacy reliable?

On MOT results, the Subaru Legacy is about average: it fails 36.7% of first MOT tests, 10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 12 of 29 large family car models in our index.

What fails most on a Subaru Legacy MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Subaru Legacy are position lamp not working (4.99% of tests), stop lamp not working (3.59% of tests), engine warning light inoperative or lit (3.07% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 18% of its tests.

Which Subaru Legacy year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2011 cars do best (20% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2006 cars do worst (8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Subaru Legacy do a year?

A typical Subaru Legacy covers about 12,300 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Subaru Legacy before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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