2005 Subaru Legacy — MOT failures & pass rate
4,021 MOT tests on the 2005 Subaru Legacy are in this dataset, and 74.2% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 27.8% of the time, so this is 2.0pp 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 (14.9%) 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 headlamp aim, pins and bushes and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 240 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 30.9% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 45.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.2% in 2021 to 23.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 599 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.6% | 506 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 326 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.5% | 303 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 292 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.7% | 190 |
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 | 240 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 235 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 211 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 194 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 178 |
| 6 | Joints | 170 |
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 | 45.3% | 1,821 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.1% | 1,211 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.1% | 808 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.9% | 638 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 598 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.0% | 401 |
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 | 197 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 659 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,017 | 23.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,134 | 28.0% |
| 150k+ | 992 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,091 | 28.2% |
| 2022 | 903 | 24.4% |
| 2023 | 768 | 25.1% |
| 2024 | 704 | 27.0% |
| 2025 | 555 | 23.1% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Legacy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.9% 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 (8.1% 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 2005 Subaru Legacys pass their MOT?
74.2% of the 4,021 2005 Subaru Legacy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Subaru Legacy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.9% of tests, followed by suspension (12.6%).
Does the 2005 Legacy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.2% in the 30-60k band to 30.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,021 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.