2004 Subaru Legacy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,271 MOT tests, the 2004 Subaru Legacy recorded a 73.3% pass rate. That is 1.4 percentage points better than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.1%) and suspension (13.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 224 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 28.8% versus 18.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 46.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.7% in 2021 to 25.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 493 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.6% | 446 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 283 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.9% | 257 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 214 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 206 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 224 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 221 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 221 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 159 |
| 5 | Washers | 142 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 133 |
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 | 46.5% | 1,522 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.0% | 982 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.4% | 733 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.6% | 511 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 504 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.4% | 341 |
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 | 119 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 523 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 939 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 908 | 30.7% |
| 150k+ | 728 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 862 | 26.7% |
| 2022 | 743 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 651 | 27.0% |
| 2024 | 559 | 26.7% |
| 2025 | 456 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Legacy
On a 2004 Legacy, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.6% 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.
- Brakes (8.6% 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 2004 Subaru Legacys pass their MOT?
73.3% of the 3,271 2004 Subaru Legacy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Subaru Legacy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by suspension (13.6%).
Does the 2004 Legacy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.5% in the 30-60k band to 28.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,271 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.