2013 Subaru Legacy — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Subaru Legacy passed 79.9% of its 1,138 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 20.3%, so the 2013 Legacy sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.7% of all tests — 5.9 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 114 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 Legacy fails 16.9% of the time in the 30-60k band and 17.8% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 145 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.9% | 78 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.2% | 71 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.2% | 48 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 46 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 40 |
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 | 114 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 57 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 37 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 33 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 32 |
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 | 28.4% | 323 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.0% | 296 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.1% | 286 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 135 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.0% | 125 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 76 |
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 | 207 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 431 | 18.8% |
| 90-120k | 303 | 23.4% |
| 120-150k | 122 | 26.2% |
| 150k+ | 45 | 17.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 673 | 18.4% |
| Diesel | 465 | 22.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 225 | 14.2% |
| 2022 | 231 | 18.6% |
| 2023 | 237 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 230 | 20.9% |
| 2025 | 215 | 22.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Legacy
On a 2013 Legacy, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.9% 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 (6.2% 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 2013 Subaru Legacys pass their MOT?
79.9% of the 1,138 2013 Subaru Legacy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Subaru Legacy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.7% of tests, followed by suspension (6.9%).
Does the 2013 Legacy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.9% in the 30-60k band to 17.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,138 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.