2009 Subaru Legacy — MOT failures & pass rate
2,696 MOT tests on the 2009 Subaru Legacy are in this dataset, and 76.6% of them passed. Against large family cars of a similar age (25.1% fail rate), the 2009 Legacy comes out 1.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.5%) and suspension (10.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 157 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 30.8% versus 21.3%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 21.2% fail against 27.5% for diesel, a 6.3-point gap across 2,696 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.8% 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 | 13.5% | 363 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.6% | 286 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.0% | 190 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 155 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 153 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 124 |
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 | 157 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 148 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 143 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 107 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 96 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 96 |
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 | 40.8% | 1,099 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.7% | 774 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.3% | 602 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.8% | 371 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.2% | 275 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 266 |
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 | 263 | 21.3% |
| 60-90k | 680 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 878 | 23.7% |
| 120-150k | 620 | 26.1% |
| 150k+ | 227 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,741 | 21.2% |
| Diesel | 955 | 27.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 641 | 22.1% |
| 2022 | 591 | 22.7% |
| 2023 | 535 | 23.5% |
| 2024 | 489 | 26.2% |
| 2025 | 440 | 23.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Legacy
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.6% 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 (7.0% 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 2009 Subaru Legacys pass their MOT?
76.6% of the 2,696 2009 Subaru Legacy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Subaru Legacy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by suspension (10.6%).
Does the 2009 Legacy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.3% in the 30-60k band to 30.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,696 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.