2017 Subaru Legacy — MOT failures & pass rate
285 MOT tests on the 2017 Subaru Legacy are in this dataset, and 80.7% of them passed. Against large family cars of a similar age (13.1% fail rate), the 2017 Legacy comes out 6.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.5% of all tests — 4.6 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and joints — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 22 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.3% in the 60-90k band and 25.0% in the 150k+ band, a 11.7-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.5% in 2021 to 15.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 30 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 17 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.3% | 15 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 15 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.3% | 15 |
| 6 | Brakes | 2.5% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 22 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 12 |
| 3 | Joints | 11 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 8 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 8 |
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 | 28.8% | 82 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.4% | 44 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 39 |
| 4 | Tyres | 11.9% | 34 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.4% | 24 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.4% | 24 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 60 | 13.3% |
| 90-120k | 91 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 79 | 21.5% |
| 150k+ | 36 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 78 | 20.5% |
| 2022 | 69 | 20.3% |
| 2023 | 53 | 18.9% |
| 2024 | 46 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 39 | 15.4% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Legacy
On a 2017 Legacy, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.0% 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+.
- Tyres (5.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2017 Subaru Legacys pass their MOT?
80.7% of the 285 2017 Subaru Legacy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Subaru Legacy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.5% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (6.0%).
Does the 2017 Legacy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 60-90k band to 25.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 285 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.