Get Started

Subaru Legacy (1997)

1,912 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.3% first-time pass rate

1997 Subaru Legacy

CarHunch analysed 1,912 real MOT records for the 1997 Subaru Legacy. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 7.7% below UK average
72.3%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
112,238
typical mileage
92,118–133,358 middle half
14.3%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.44
avg MOT failures per car
over 8 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1997 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

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection ClickMechanic Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying →

CarHunch may earn a small commission if you buy via these links — at no extra cost to you.

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (99%) 1,898 72.3% 2.44
LPG (0%) 9 77.8% 2
Other (0%) 4 89.6% 1.25
Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 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.

92,118
low mileage
112,238
typical
133,358
high mileage

Half of all 1997 Subaru Legacy vehicles fall between 92,118 and 133,358 miles.

1997 Subaru Legacy — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 33 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (9% of peak).

351 33 2014 2025

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

8
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.44
Avg failures per vehicle
10
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1997 Subaru Legacy

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 39.6%
    Oil leak
  • 28.2%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 27.9%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 26%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 25.5%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 16.8%
    Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated
  • 15%
    Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush
  • 14.6%
    Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1997. 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.

UK

Other model years — Subaru Legacy:

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013