2001 Subaru Legacy — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Subaru Legacy passed 73.5% of its 1,036 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail 28.1% of the time, so this is 1.6pp better 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 (14.7%) and suspension (12.6%) 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, headlamp aim and catalyst emissions — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 113 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 35.9% versus 21.2%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.6% in 2021 to 26.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 152 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.6% | 131 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 88 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.4% | 87 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 72 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.1% | 63 |
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 | 113 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 83 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 62 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 45 |
| 5 | Joints | 44 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 43 |
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 | 37.5% | 389 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.6% | 338 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.8% | 215 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.7% | 163 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.3% | 148 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.1% | 136 |
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 | 85 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 238 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 273 | 24.5% |
| 120-150k | 246 | 28.1% |
| 150k+ | 184 | 35.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 297 | 28.6% |
| 2022 | 244 | 25.8% |
| 2023 | 203 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 161 | 23.6% |
| 2025 | 131 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Legacy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.6% 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 (8.5% 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 2001 Subaru Legacys pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 1,036 2001 Subaru Legacy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Subaru Legacy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.7% of tests, followed by suspension (12.6%).
Does the 2001 Legacy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.2% in the 30-60k band to 35.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,036 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.