2007 Subaru Legacy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,056 MOT tests, the 2007 Subaru Legacy recorded a 75.9% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail 26.9% of the time, so this is 2.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests against 10.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 206 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.0% in the 30-60k band and 27.6% in the 150k+ band, a 9.5-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 43.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 443 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.4% | 318 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 269 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 191 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.0% | 184 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.5% | 136 |
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 | 206 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 192 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 185 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 175 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 138 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 114 |
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 | 43.0% | 1,314 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.8% | 848 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.8% | 634 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.6% | 507 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 405 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.3% | 254 |
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 | 194 | 18.0% |
| 60-90k | 642 | 19.8% |
| 90-120k | 922 | 24.4% |
| 120-150k | 802 | 26.6% |
| 150k+ | 482 | 27.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 711 | 23.5% |
| 2022 | 664 | 25.3% |
| 2023 | 640 | 26.4% |
| 2024 | 535 | 22.1% |
| 2025 | 506 | 22.7% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Legacy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.4% 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 (8.8% 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 2007 Subaru Legacys pass their MOT?
75.9% of the 3,056 2007 Subaru Legacy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Subaru Legacy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests, followed by suspension (10.4%).
Does the 2007 Legacy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.0% in the 30-60k band to 27.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,056 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.