2002 Subaru Legacy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 970 MOT tests, the 2002 Subaru Legacy recorded a 73.3% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail 28.1% of the time, so this is 1.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.7% of all tests — 4.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and joints — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 124 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 31.5% versus 25.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.1% in 2021 to 21.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 162 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.2% | 118 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.1% | 88 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 86 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 66 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.1% | 59 |
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 | 124 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 82 |
| 3 | Joints | 53 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 47 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 42 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 41 |
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 | 37.8% | 367 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.8% | 318 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.1% | 205 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.3% | 187 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.6% | 171 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 155 |
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 | 60 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 160 | 17.5% |
| 90-120k | 255 | 25.1% |
| 120-150k | 292 | 31.9% |
| 150k+ | 178 | 31.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 295 | 29.1% |
| 2022 | 226 | 27.4% |
| 2023 | 176 | 28.4% |
| 2024 | 144 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 129 | 21.7% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Legacy
On a 2002 Legacy, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.2% 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.
- Brakes (9.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2002 Subaru Legacys pass their MOT?
73.3% of the 970 2002 Subaru Legacy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Subaru Legacy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.7% of tests, followed by suspension (12.2%).
Does the 2002 Legacy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.0% in the 30-60k band to 31.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 970 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.