1998 Subaru Legacy — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

59.6%

Latest Pass Rate

10,583

Total Tests (All Years)

101,725 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 1998 Subaru Legacy as it ages.

11 yrs57.0%

→ ↑0.1%

12 yrs57.1%

→ ↓4.0%

13 yrs53.1%

→ ↓1.1%

14 yrs52.0%

→ ↓1.2%

15 yrs50.8%

→ ↑1.3%

16 yrs52.1%

→ ↓1.8%

17 yrs50.3%

→ ↑0.5%

18 yrs50.8%

→ ↑5.0%

19 yrs55.8%

→ ↑1.1%

20 yrs56.9%

→ ↑0.2%

21 yrs57.1%

→ ↑3.4%

22 yrs60.5%

→ ↓1.3%

23 yrs59.2%

→ ↑0.4%

24 yrs59.6%

→ ↑1.2%

25 yrs60.8%

→ ↓1.2%

26 yrs59.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	57.0%	2,080
12 yrs	57.1%	1,853
13 yrs	53.1%	1,582
14 yrs	52.0%	1,234
15 yrs	50.8%	967
16 yrs	52.1%	762
17 yrs	50.3%	608
18 yrs	50.8%	480
19 yrs	55.8%	355
20 yrs	56.9%	167
21 yrs	57.1%	140
22 yrs	60.5%	119
23 yrs	59.2%	76
24 yrs	59.6%	52
25 yrs	60.8%	51
26 yrs	59.6%	57

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Subaru Legacy pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (26 yrs)	59.6%	57
2023 (25 yrs)	60.8%	51
2022 (24 yrs)	59.6%	52
2021 (23 yrs)	59.2%	76
2020 (22 yrs)	60.5%	119
2019 (21 yrs)	57.1%	140
2018 (20 yrs)	56.9%	167
2017 (19 yrs)	55.8%	355
2016 (18 yrs)	50.8%	480
2015 (17 yrs)	50.3%	608
2014 (16 yrs)	52.1%	762
2013 (15 yrs)	50.8%	967
2012 (14 yrs)	52%	1,234
2011 (13 yrs)	53.1%	1,582
2010 (12 yrs)	57.1%	1,853
2009 (11 yrs)	57%	2,080

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

57.0%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 2,080Avg Mileage 108,279Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.8%

2010High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 1,853Avg Mileage 112,909Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.8%

2011High Fail Rate

53.1%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,582Avg Mileage 115,234Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.5%

2012High Fail Rate

52.0%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 1,234Avg Mileage 117,612Top Failure Suspension — 30.3%

2013High Fail Rate

50.8%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 967Avg Mileage 120,724Top Failure Suspension — 77.1%

2014High Fail Rate

52.1%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 762Avg Mileage 122,162Top Failure Suspension — 74.7%

2015High Fail Rate

50.3%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 608Avg Mileage 123,205Top Failure Suspension — 76.5%

2016High Fail Rate

50.8%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 480Avg Mileage 122,731Top Failure Suspension — 79.2%

2017High Fail Rate

55.8%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 355Avg Mileage 120,278Top Failure Suspension — 80.0%

2018High Fail Rate

56.9%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 167Avg Mileage 122,579Top Failure Suspension — 67.7%

2019High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 140Avg Mileage 126,479Top Failure Suspension — 72.1%

2020High Fail Rate

60.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 119Avg Mileage 128,027Top Failure Suspension — 77.3%

2021High Fail Rate

59.2%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 76Avg Mileage 121,652Top Failure Suspension — 81.6%

2022High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 52Avg Mileage 116,693Top Failure Suspension — 80.8%

2023High Fail Rate

60.8%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 51Avg Mileage 111,885Top Failure Suspension — 72.5%

2024High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 57Avg Mileage 101,725Top Failure Suspension — 52.6%

MOT results for 1998 Subaru Legacy by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	57.0%	2,080	108,279	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.8%
2010	12	57.1%	1,853	112,909	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.8%
2011	13	53.1%	1,582	115,234	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.5%
2012	14	52.0%	1,234	117,612	Suspension — 30.3%
2013	15	50.8%	967	120,724	Suspension — 77.1%
2014	16	52.1%	762	122,162	Suspension — 74.7%
2015	17	50.3%	608	123,205	Suspension — 76.5%
2016	18	50.8%	480	122,731	Suspension — 79.2%
2017	19	55.8%	355	120,278	Suspension — 80.0%
2018	20	56.9%	167	122,579	Suspension — 67.7%
2019	21	57.1%	140	126,479	Suspension — 72.1%
2020	22	60.5%	119	128,027	Suspension — 77.3%
2021	23	59.2%	76	121,652	Suspension — 81.6%
2022	24	59.6%	52	116,693	Suspension — 80.8%
2023	25	60.8%	51	111,885	Suspension — 72.5%
2024	26	59.6%	57	101,725	Suspension — 52.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Subaru Legacy, with age trends.

Suspension

61.8%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

39.6%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

33.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

32.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

26.6%

↑ 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	20.1% (11 yrs)	52.6% (26 yrs)	+32.5%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	13.9% (11 yrs)	33.3% (26 yrs)	+19.4%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	20.3% (11 yrs)	21.1% (26 yrs)	+0.8%	⚪ —

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 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 10,583 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.