2000 Subaru Legacy — MOT failures & pass rate
820 MOT tests on the 2000 Subaru Legacy are in this dataset, and 71.0% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 27.9% of the time, so this is 1.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.2%) and suspension (14.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 137 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.0% in the 30-60k band and 37.6% in the 150k+ band, a 17.6-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.5% in 2021 to 29.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 141 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.9% | 122 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 77 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.9% | 73 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.2% | 67 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 57 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 137 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 61 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 60 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 50 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 40 |
| 6 | Washers | 40 |
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% | 297 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.7% | 276 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.9% | 212 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.2% | 174 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 19.1% | 157 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 128 |
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 | 50 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 156 | 19.9% |
| 90-120k | 232 | 31.5% |
| 120-150k | 198 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 170 | 37.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 270 | 31.5% |
| 2022 | 194 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 137 | 27.7% |
| 2024 | 121 | 28.9% |
| 2025 | 98 | 29.6% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Legacy
On a 2000 Legacy, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.9% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.4% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2000 Subaru Legacys pass their MOT?
71.0% of the 820 2000 Subaru Legacy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Subaru Legacy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by suspension (14.9%).
Does the 2000 Legacy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 30-60k band to 37.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 820 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.