2008 Subaru Legacy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,564 MOT tests, the 2008 Subaru Legacy recorded a 75.0% pass rate. Against large family cars of a similar age (26.1% fail rate), the 2008 Legacy comes out 1.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.4% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — position lamp alone was recorded 145 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 26.5% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.5pp more often than petrol ones (28.4% vs 23.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 47.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 394 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.3% | 264 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 188 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.8% | 173 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 152 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.5% | 142 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 145 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 140 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 136 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 115 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 111 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 94 |
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 | 47.5% | 1,217 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.1% | 771 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.2% | 621 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.4% | 447 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 320 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.3% | 291 |
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 | 140 | 14.3% |
| 60-90k | 456 | 20.8% |
| 90-120k | 861 | 27.3% |
| 120-150k | 666 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 437 | 26.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,923 | 23.9% |
| Diesel | 641 | 28.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 619 | 23.9% |
| 2022 | 564 | 23.6% |
| 2023 | 515 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 465 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 401 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Legacy
On a 2008 Legacy, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.3% 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 (7.3% 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 2008 Subaru Legacys pass their MOT?
75.0% of the 2,564 2008 Subaru Legacy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Subaru Legacy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by suspension (10.3%).
Does the 2008 Legacy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.3% in the 30-60k band to 26.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,564 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.