2005 · 19 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2005 Subaru Legacy MOT pass rate and common faults

531 MOT tests in 2024. 58.8% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

104Above average
Passed first time58.8%
Failed or needed repairs41.2%
Typical mileage at test120,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 531 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt5.5%
  2. Position lamp: not working3.8%
  3. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength3.2%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.8%
    16 marked dangerous
  5. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.8%
  6. Stop lamp: not working2.6%
  7. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits2.3%
  8. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.3%
  9. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.3%
  10. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.1%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics25.4%
  2. Suspension21.5%
  3. Brakes16.0%
  4. Body & chassis11.9%
  5. Emissions & leaks10.2%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.5%
  7. Tyres6.4%
  8. Steering0.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn19.0%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.6%
  3. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened13.0%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick11.9%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened11.3%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2005 Subaru Legacy?

In 2024, 58.8% of 2005 Subaru Legacy cars passed their MOT first time, across 531 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2005 Subaru Legacy?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; position lamp: not working; component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2005 Subaru Legacy reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 104, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).