2003 Subaru Legacy — MOT failures & pass rate
1,651 MOT tests on the 2003 Subaru Legacy are in this dataset, and 71.4% of them passed. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.2%) 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 154 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.7% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 33.1% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 43.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.2% in 2021 to 25.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 251 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.9% | 246 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 9.5% | 157 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 140 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.9% | 130 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.4% | 89 |
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 | 154 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 127 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 106 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 90 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 69 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 66 |
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 | 43.4% | 716 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.2% | 498 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.8% | 393 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.9% | 279 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.3% | 269 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 246 |
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 | 128 | 22.7% |
| 60-90k | 339 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 420 | 29.5% |
| 120-150k | 397 | 30.7% |
| 150k+ | 348 | 33.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 455 | 29.2% |
| 2022 | 383 | 31.6% |
| 2023 | 320 | 29.7% |
| 2024 | 265 | 24.5% |
| 2025 | 228 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Legacy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.2% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (9.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2003 Subaru Legacys pass their MOT?
71.4% of the 1,651 2003 Subaru Legacy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Subaru Legacy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by suspension (14.9%).
Does the 2003 Legacy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.7% in the 30-60k band to 33.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,651 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.