Does the Subaru Legacy fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Subaru Legacy records 33.95 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 31.29 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+2.66, 95% interval +2.10 to +3.21). It ranks 203 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Subaru Legacy by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Subaru Legacy is “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”, recorded 2,298 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 2,298 | 5.41 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,987 | 4.68 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,926 | 4.54 |
| Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 1,601 | 3.77 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,272 | 3.00 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 42,459 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Subaru Legacy gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
35.3% of Subaru Legacy MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 5,450 miles later (626 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 626 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Subaru Legacy 2000 · Subaru Legacy 2001 · Subaru Legacy 2002 · Subaru Legacy 2003 · Subaru Legacy 2004 · Subaru Legacy 2005 · Subaru Legacy 2006 · Subaru Legacy 2007 · Subaru Legacy 2008 · Subaru Legacy 2009 · Subaru Legacy 2010 · Subaru Legacy 2011 · Subaru Legacy 2012 · Subaru Legacy 2013 · Subaru Legacy in Norway · Subaru Legacy in Finland · Subaru Legacy in the Netherlands · Subaru Legacy by postcode area · Subaru Legacy body, chassis and structure failures · Subaru Legacy brakes failures · Subaru Legacy vehicle identification failures · Subaru Legacy noise, emissions and leaks failures · Subaru Legacy road wheels failures · Subaru Legacy seat belts and airbags failures · Subaru Legacy steering failures · Subaru Legacy suspension failures · Subaru Legacy tyres failures · Subaru Legacy visibility failures