1997 Subaru Legacy — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

36.7%

Latest Pass Rate

5,740

Total Tests (All Years)

98,948 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 1997 Subaru Legacy as it ages.

12 yrs54.1%

→ ↓0.1%

13 yrs54.0%

→ ↓3.2%

14 yrs50.8%

→ ↓0.1%

15 yrs50.7%

→ ↑1.7%

16 yrs52.4%

→ ↓4.6%

17 yrs47.8%

→ ↑2.9%

18 yrs50.7%

→ ↓4.2%

19 yrs46.5%

→ ↑8.3%

20 yrs54.8%

→ ↑11.0%

21 yrs65.8%

→ ↓2.3%

22 yrs63.5%

→ ↓7.5%

23 yrs56.0%

→ ↑1.5%

24 yrs57.5%

→ ↓20.8%

27 yrs36.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	54.1%	1,332
13 yrs	54.0%	1,134
14 yrs	50.8%	897
15 yrs	50.7%	647
16 yrs	52.4%	479
17 yrs	47.8%	362
18 yrs	50.7%	278
19 yrs	46.5%	200
20 yrs	54.8%	155
21 yrs	65.8%	73
22 yrs	63.5%	63
23 yrs	56.0%	50
24 yrs	57.5%	40
27 yrs	36.7%	30

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Subaru Legacy pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (27 yrs)	36.7%	30
2021 (24 yrs)	57.5%	40
2020 (23 yrs)	56%	50
2019 (22 yrs)	63.5%	63
2018 (21 yrs)	65.8%	73
2017 (20 yrs)	54.8%	155
2016 (19 yrs)	46.5%	200
2015 (18 yrs)	50.7%	278
2014 (17 yrs)	47.8%	362
2013 (16 yrs)	52.4%	479
2012 (15 yrs)	50.7%	647
2011 (14 yrs)	50.8%	897
2010 (13 yrs)	54%	1,134
2009 (12 yrs)	54.1%	1,332

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

54.1%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 1,332Avg Mileage 114,065Top Failure Suspension — 26.7%

2010High Fail Rate

54.0%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,134Avg Mileage 116,931Top Failure Suspension — 29.0%

2011High Fail Rate

50.8%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 897Avg Mileage 119,957Top Failure Suspension — 31.9%

2012High Fail Rate

50.7%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 647Avg Mileage 120,412Top Failure Suspension — 35.4%

2013High Fail Rate

52.4%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 479Avg Mileage 121,761Top Failure Suspension — 81.8%

2014High Fail Rate

47.8%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 362Avg Mileage 122,810Top Failure Suspension — 95.6%

2015High Fail Rate

50.7%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 278Avg Mileage 128,295Top Failure Suspension — 86.7%

2016High Fail Rate

46.5%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 200Avg Mileage 126,900Top Failure Suspension — 97.0%

2017High Fail Rate

54.8%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 155Avg Mileage 121,597Top Failure Suspension — 102.6%

2018

65.8%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 73Avg Mileage 114,619Top Failure Suspension — 69.9%

2019High Fail Rate

63.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 63Avg Mileage 117,324Top Failure Suspension — 39.7%

2020High Fail Rate

56.0%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 50Avg Mileage 108,623Top Failure Suspension — 98.0%

2021High Fail Rate

57.5%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 40Avg Mileage 111,172Top Failure Brakes — 57.5%

2024High Fail Rate

36.7%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 30Avg Mileage 98,948Top Failure Suspension — 70.0%

MOT results for 1997 Subaru Legacy by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	54.1%	1,332	114,065	Suspension — 26.7%
2010	13	54.0%	1,134	116,931	Suspension — 29.0%
2011	14	50.8%	897	119,957	Suspension — 31.9%
2012	15	50.7%	647	120,412	Suspension — 35.4%
2013	16	52.4%	479	121,761	Suspension — 81.8%
2014	17	47.8%	362	122,810	Suspension — 95.6%
2015	18	50.7%	278	128,295	Suspension — 86.7%
2016	19	46.5%	200	126,900	Suspension — 97.0%
2017	20	54.8%	155	121,597	Suspension — 102.6%
2018	21	65.8%	73	114,619	Suspension — 69.9%
2019	22	63.5%	63	117,324	Suspension — 39.7%
2020	23	56.0%	50	108,623	Suspension — 98.0%
2021	24	57.5%	40	111,172	Brakes — 57.5%
2024	27	36.7%	30	98,948	Suspension — 70.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Subaru Legacy, with age trends.

Suspension

65.7%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

37.1%

↑ Increases with age

Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems

33.3%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

30.2%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

23.8%

↑ 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
Tyres	13.1% (12 yrs)	60.0% (27 yrs)	+46.9%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	26.7% (12 yrs)	70.0% (27 yrs)	+43.3%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	21.0% (12 yrs)	40.0% (27 yrs)	+19.0%	🔴 ↑

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 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 5,740 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.