2020 Subaru Legacy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 278 MOT tests, the 2020 Subaru Legacy recorded an 83.8% pass rate. Large family cars of a similar age fail 8.6% of the time, so this is 7.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.5%) and suspension (5.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 17 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 Legacy fails 17.5% of the time in the 30-60k band and 16.9% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.6 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 21 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.4% | 15 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.3% | 12 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.0% | 11 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 11 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.2% | 9 |
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 | 17 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 8 |
| 4 | Washers | 8 |
| 5 | Joints | 7 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 5 |
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 | 27.7% | 77 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.1% | 56 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.7% | 38 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 18 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 17 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.8% | 16 |
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 | 40 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 119 | 12.6% |
| 90-120k | 71 | 16.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 78 | 16.7% |
| 2022 | 62 | 12.9% |
| 2023 | 60 | 18.3% |
| 2024 | 43 | 16.3% |
| 2025 | 35 | 17.1% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Legacy
On a 2020 Legacy, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.4% 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.
- Tyres (4.3% 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 2020 Subaru Legacys pass their MOT?
83.8% of the 278 2020 Subaru Legacy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Subaru Legacy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by suspension (5.4%).
Does the 2020 Legacy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.5% in the 30-60k band to 16.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 278 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.