1998 Subaru Legacy — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Subaru Legacy passed 73.0% of its 359 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.8%) and lighting & signalling (11.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and wipers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 32 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 31.9% versus 21.9%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.8% | 46 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 40 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.2% | 26 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 26 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 25 |
| 6 | Brakes | 5.9% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 32 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 27 |
| 3 | Wipers | 18 |
| 4 | Linkage pins and bushes | 17 |
| 5 | Joints | 15 |
| 6 | Washers | 14 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 36.2% | 130 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.0% | 97 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 23.4% | 84 |
| 4 | Tyres | 22.0% | 79 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.3% | 73 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.5% | 52 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 41 | 21.9% |
| 60-90k | 59 | 11.9% |
| 90-120k | 93 | 32.3% |
| 120-150k | 71 | 31.0% |
| 150k+ | 91 | 31.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 96 | 26.0% |
| 2022 | 79 | 27.9% |
| 2023 | 65 | 29.2% |
| 2024 | 58 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 61 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Legacy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 12.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (12.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (7.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1998 Subaru Legacys pass their MOT?
73.0% of the 359 1998 Subaru Legacy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Subaru Legacy?
Suspension, recorded in 12.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.1%).
Does the 1998 Legacy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.9% in the 30-60k band to 31.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 359 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.