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Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto car check

Is the Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto reliable? We analysed 429 real MOT tests across 116 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 429 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
69.9%
Typical Mileage
121,521mi
Annual Mileage
6,536mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
32yrs

The Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include constant velocity joint gaiter split, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and stop lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto.

Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto Number Plates

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

Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

71.3%
1996
67.7%
1995
67.5%
1994

Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

constant velocity joint gaiter split 34
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 26
Stop lamp not working 16
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 13
Registration plate lamp not working 11
Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement 11
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 11
position lamp(s) not working 11
Brake pipe excessively corroded 9
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 9

Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
3,525 mi/yr
Typical
6,536 mi/yr
Average
7,287 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,086 mi/yr

Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1996 94 71.3% 72,820 120,117 136,324
1995 96 67.7% 110,923 130,754 147,892
1994 114 67.5% 109,397 128,120 146,212

How Long Does a Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto Last?

Based on 116 Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.2 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
32 years

Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto Mileage Distribution

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

Median
121,521 mi
75th Percentile
138,838 mi
95th Percentile
178,152 mi
Max Recorded
209,431 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto

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

Best year
1996

71.3% MOT pass rate from 94 tests

Year to avoid
1994

67.5% MOT pass rate from 114 tests

The best year to buy a used Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto is 1996, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 71.3% across 94 tests. The 1994 model year has the lowest pass rate at 67.5% — 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 GX 4WD Auto Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto THIS CAR 69.9% 429 121,521 mi 32 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
Toyota RAV4 Excel HEV CVT 97.6% 451 46,650 mi — yrs

Compared to the Subaru Impreza (75.7% pass rate) and the Subaru Forester (76.1% pass rate), the Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto?

The Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.9% across 429 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto are constant velocity joint gaiter split (34 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (26), and stop lamp not working (16). 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 GX 4WD Auto owner drives around 6,536 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 GX 4WD Auto models stay on UK roads for around 32 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 GX 4WD Auto — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto reliable?
Based on 429 MOT tests, the Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto has a 69.9% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto?
The most common MOT failures are constant velocity joint gaiter split, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and stop lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto do per year?
The typical Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto does around 6,536 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto last?
Most Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto models stay on UK roads for around 32 years based on our analysis of 116 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto?
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 GX 4WD Auto?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Subaru Legacy GX 4WD Auto is 1996 with a 71.3% pass rate across 94 tests.