Used car guide

2012 Subaru Legacy diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Subaru Legacy first registered in 2012 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 225 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 225 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

225MOTs of 2012 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
64%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 64%)
8,800typical miles a year
2.9×the usual rate for sidelights

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Subaru Legacy diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 Subaru Legacy diesel than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Sidelights2.9× usual
    Subaru Legacy
    13.8% All 2012 cars
    4.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 12.9%, against 4.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Common 2012 Subaru Legacy diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2012 Subaru Legacy diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    33% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    32% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    31% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    30% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    8% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Steering
    6% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2012 Subaru Legacy diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the sidelights? (Flagged at MOT 2.9× as often on the 2012 Subaru Legacy diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Subaru Legacy?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Subaru Legacy compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2020115Suspension 35%
2019148Suspension 32%
2018162Suspension 25%
2017114Suspension 35%
2016140Suspension 29%
2013546Suspension 36%
20111,306Suspension 37%
20101,322Suspension 43%
20091,158Suspension 48%
20081,081Suspension 54%
20071,361Suspension 47%
20061,815Suspension 49%
20051,629Suspension 51%
20041,344Suspension 50%
2003648Suspension 50%
2002381Suspension 40%
2001406Suspension 43%
2000293Suspension 46%
1999217Suspension 45%
1998149Suspension 39%
1997–Too few tests
1996–Too few tests
1995–Too few tests
1994–Too few tests
1993–Too few tests
1992–Too few tests
1991–Too few tests
1990–Too few tests
1989–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Subaru Legacy cars first registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score