1996 Subaru Legacy — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

65.0%

Latest Pass Rate

4,756

Total Tests (All Years)

127,297 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1996 Subaru Legacy as it ages.

13 yrs51.2%

→ ↑2.2%

14 yrs53.4%

→ ↑0.4%

15 yrs53.8%

→ ↑1.2%

16 yrs55.0%

→ ↓1.3%

17 yrs53.7%

→ ↑3.3%

18 yrs57.0%

→ ↑2.9%

19 yrs59.9%

→ ↓4.4%

20 yrs55.5%

→ ↑8.3%

21 yrs63.8%

→ ↑3.9%

22 yrs67.7%

→ ↑7.3%

23 yrs75.0%

→ ↓10.0%

24 yrs65.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	51.2%	1,128
14 yrs	53.4%	946
15 yrs	53.8%	749
16 yrs	55.0%	536
17 yrs	53.7%	397
18 yrs	57.0%	286
19 yrs	59.9%	222
20 yrs	55.5%	173
21 yrs	63.8%	130
22 yrs	67.7%	65
23 yrs	75.0%	64
24 yrs	65.0%	60

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 Subaru Legacy pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (24 yrs)	65%	60
2019 (23 yrs)	75%	64
2018 (22 yrs)	67.7%	65
2017 (21 yrs)	63.8%	130
2016 (20 yrs)	55.5%	173
2015 (19 yrs)	59.9%	222
2014 (18 yrs)	57%	286
2013 (17 yrs)	53.7%	397
2012 (16 yrs)	55%	536
2011 (15 yrs)	53.8%	749
2010 (14 yrs)	53.4%	946
2009 (13 yrs)	51.2%	1,128

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

51.2%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,128Avg Mileage 112,407Top Failure Suspension — 28.1%

2010High Fail Rate

53.4%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 946Avg Mileage 115,042Top Failure Suspension — 27.7%

2011High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 749Avg Mileage 118,366Top Failure Suspension — 28.4%

2012High Fail Rate

55.0%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 536Avg Mileage 120,580Top Failure Suspension — 29.3%

2013High Fail Rate

53.7%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 397Avg Mileage 118,443Top Failure Suspension — 79.3%

2014High Fail Rate

57.0%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 286Avg Mileage 118,891Top Failure Suspension — 70.6%

2015High Fail Rate

59.9%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 222Avg Mileage 117,469Top Failure Suspension — 75.2%

2016High Fail Rate

55.5%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 173Avg Mileage 118,577Top Failure Suspension — 57.8%

2017High Fail Rate

63.8%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 130Avg Mileage 118,072Top Failure Suspension — 59.2%

2018

67.7%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 65Avg Mileage 121,946Top Failure Brakes — 29.2%

2019

75.0%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 64Avg Mileage 117,795Top Failure Brakes — 20.3%

2020

65.0%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 60Avg Mileage 127,297Top Failure Suspension — 46.7%

MOT results for 1996 Subaru Legacy by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	51.2%	1,128	112,407	Suspension — 28.1%
2010	14	53.4%	946	115,042	Suspension — 27.7%
2011	15	53.8%	749	118,366	Suspension — 28.4%
2012	16	55.0%	536	120,580	Suspension — 29.3%
2013	17	53.7%	397	118,443	Suspension — 79.3%
2014	18	57.0%	286	118,891	Suspension — 70.6%
2015	19	59.9%	222	117,469	Suspension — 75.2%
2016	20	55.5%	173	118,577	Suspension — 57.8%
2017	21	63.8%	130	118,072	Suspension — 59.2%
2018	22	67.7%	65	121,946	Brakes — 29.2%
2019	23	75.0%	64	117,795	Brakes — 20.3%
2020	24	65.0%	60	127,297	Suspension — 46.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 Subaru Legacy, with age trends.

Suspension

45.6%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

32.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

29.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Visibility

23.3%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

19.4%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	28.1% (13 yrs)	46.7% (24 yrs)	+18.6%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	20.6% (13 yrs)	36.7% (24 yrs)	+16.1%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Subaru Legacy page →

About This Data

This page shows how Subaru Legacy cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 4,756 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.