2019 Subaru Legacy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 346 MOT tests, the 2019 Subaru Legacy recorded an 80.6% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail 10.4% of the time, so this is 9.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 9.5% of all tests — 3.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and joints — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 22 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.0% in the 30-60k band and 22.9% in the 150k+ band, a 12.9-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 30.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 33 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.1% | 21 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 18 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 18 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.6% | 16 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.8% | 13 |
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 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 3 | Joints | 14 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 12 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 10 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 10 |
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 | 30.6% | 106 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.9% | 55 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.6% | 54 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 39 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.2% | 25 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 17 |
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 | 30 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 120 | 16.7% |
| 90-120k | 99 | 21.2% |
| 120-150k | 59 | 23.7% |
| 150k+ | 35 | 22.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 83 | 18.1% |
| 2022 | 86 | 16.3% |
| 2023 | 79 | 20.3% |
| 2024 | 48 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 50 | 22.0% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Legacy
On a 2019 Legacy, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.1% 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 (5.2% 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 2019 Subaru Legacys pass their MOT?
80.6% of the 346 2019 Subaru Legacy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Subaru Legacy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by suspension (6.1%).
Does the 2019 Legacy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 30-60k band to 22.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 346 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.