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Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD car check

Is the Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD reliable? We analysed 670 real MOT tests across 149 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD? Enter the reg for a free check:

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Data last updated: · Based on 670 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
71.0%
Typical Mileage
101,985mi
Annual Mileage
8,215mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
30yrs

The Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD.

Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

75.9%
1999
69%
1998
71.1%
1997
65.7%
1996

Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush 41
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 33
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 29
Brake pipe excessively corroded 23
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 19
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 17
Registration plate lamp not working 16
Stop lamp not working 15
position lamp(s) not working 15
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak 14

Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,899 mi/yr
Typical
8,215 mi/yr
Average
8,973 mi/yr
Heavy usage
12,105 mi/yr

Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1999 166 75.9% 73,963 95,046 116,029
1998 197 69.0% 78,834 98,220 122,463
1997 218 71.1% 92,890 111,230 134,167
1996 70 65.7% 90,835 104,454 125,255

How Long Does a Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD Last?

Based on 149 Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD vehicles on UK roads.

Average
9.8 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
30 years

Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
101,985 mi
75th Percentile
125,308 mi
95th Percentile
158,526 mi
Max Recorded
814,323 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1999

75.9% MOT pass rate from 166 tests

Year to avoid
1996

65.7% MOT pass rate from 70 tests

The best year to buy a used Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD is 1999, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 75.9% across 166 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD THIS CAR 71.0% 670 101,985 mi 30 yrs
Subaru Impreza 75.7% 915,729 83,083 mi 33 yrs
Subaru Forester 76.1% 456,470 85,220 mi 29 yrs
Subaru Legacy 72.5% 349,986 96,000 mi 35 yrs
Triumph Bonneville L 89.3% 1,175 13,511 mi 49 yrs

Compared to the Subaru Impreza (75.7% pass rate) and the Subaru Forester (76.1% pass rate), the Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD?

The Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.0% across 670 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD are anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush (41 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (33), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (29). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD owner drives around 8,215 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD models stay on UK roads for around 30 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD reliable?
Based on 670 MOT tests, the Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD has a 71.0% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD?
The most common MOT failures are anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD do per year?
The typical Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD does around 8,215 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD last?
Most Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD models stay on UK roads for around 30 years based on our analysis of 149 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Subaru Legacy 4 Cam 2.5 AWD is 1999 with a 75.9% pass rate across 166 tests.