Subaru Legacy (1992)
1992 Subaru Legacy
CarHunch analysed 756 real MOT records for the 1992 Subaru Legacy. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1992 Subaru Legacy passes its MOT first time in 74.3% of cases, which is 5.7 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—a meaningful gap that suggests these 30-year-old cars need closer attention than typical vehicles of their age. The good news is that dangerous defects are relatively rare, affecting only 8.2% of the cohort, so catastrophic failures aren't the norm.
These Legacies are running at a median of 127,677 miles, which is realistic for their age, and they average 1.29 failures and 4.2 advisories per test—indicating wear across multiple systems rather than one critical weak spot. If you're considering one, budget for routine attention before the MOT and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension, brakes, and exhaust, since the advisory count suggests cumulative ageing across these areas.
What to check before buying a 1992 Subaru Legacy
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Subaru Legacy
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (100%) | 753 | 74.3% | 1.29 |
| LPG (0%) | 1 | 66.7% | 1 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 87.5% | 1 |
| Diesel (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1992 Subaru Legacy vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1992 Subaru Legacy vehicles fall between 102,451 and 155,889 miles.
1992 Subaru Legacy — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 16 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (31% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1992 Subaru Legacy
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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22.2%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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22.1%
Oil leak
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19.5%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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18.5%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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17.4%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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12.3%
Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated
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11.9%
Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated
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10.1%
Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1992. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Subaru Legacy?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.