CarVerify

Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto car check

Is the Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto reliable? We analysed 788 real MOT tests across 182 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 788 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
72.2%
Typical Mileage
114,202mi
Annual Mileage
8,438mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush and registration plate lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto.

Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto Number Plates

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

Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

70.5%
2000
72.3%
1999
70.8%
1998
73.3%
1997

Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 33
Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush 30
Registration plate lamp not working 29
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 26
Brake pipe excessively corroded 25
position lamp(s) not working 20
Stop lamp not working 19
brake disc excessively pitted 14
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 14
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 13

Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
4,989 mi/yr
Typical
8,438 mi/yr
Average
8,627 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,648 mi/yr

Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2000 78 70.5% 82,832 99,326 116,503
1999 166 72.3% 85,064 110,939 133,250
1998 202 70.8% 101,952 118,808 136,751
1997 300 73.3% 98,014 118,927 137,698

How Long Does a Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto Last?

Based on 182 Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto vehicles on UK roads.

Average
9.5 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto Mileage Distribution

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

Median
114,202 mi
75th Percentile
133,407 mi
95th Percentile
161,940 mi
Max Recorded
211,044 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto

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

Best year
1997

73.3% MOT pass rate from 300 tests

Year to avoid
2000

70.5% MOT pass rate from 78 tests

The best year to buy a used Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto is 1997, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 73.3% across 300 tests. The 2000 model year has the lowest pass rate at 70.5% — 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 Outback AWD 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 Outback AWD Auto THIS CAR 72.2% 788 114,202 mi 29 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
Land Rover Discovery Sport SE D MHEV Auto 85.7% 835 36,924 mi — yrs

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

Found a Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

Check a specific Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto

Should you buy a used Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto?

The Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.2% across 788 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (33 recorded failures), anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush (30), and registration plate lamp not working (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 Outback AWD Auto owner drives around 8,438 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 Outback AWD Auto models stay on UK roads for around 29 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 Outback AWD Auto — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto reliable?
Based on 788 MOT tests, the Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto has a 72.2% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush, and registration plate lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto do per year?
The typical Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto does around 8,438 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto last?
Most Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 182 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Subaru Legacy Outback AWD 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 Outback AWD Auto?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Subaru Legacy Outback AWD Auto is 1997 with a 73.3% pass rate across 300 tests.