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Subaru Legacy (2010)

698 real MOT outcomes analysed • 80.3% first-time pass rate

2010 Subaru Legacy

CarHunch analysed 698 real MOT records for the 2010 Subaru Legacy. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2010 Subaru Legacy matches the UK average pass rate at 80.2%, but nearly 43% of these cars have recorded dangerous defects during their MOT history—well above typical levels and a genuine concern for any buyer. Petrol and diesel variants perform almost identically, both hovering around 80% first-time pass rates, so fuel choice won't meaningfully affect reliability expectations.

At 81,558 miles average, these Legacys show typical wear for their age, yet they're accumulating an average of 2.8 failures and 19.1 advisories per test, suggesting ongoing maintenance needs. Before committing to one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, brakes, and cooling system vulnerabilities—the high advisory count points to wear items rather than catastrophic failures, but you'll want a clear picture of what's coming.

The 2010 Subaru Legacy has a decent first-time pass rate (80.3%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.
First-time pass
80.3%
UK average ~80%
Around average
Dangerous (ever)
42.6%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
2.8
Over 13 tests on record
High
Typical mileage
84k
Middle half: 67k–100k
For context
🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 19.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.
🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 698 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 698 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 40.1%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Brake wear 39.4%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Other issues 23.3%
Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened · Oil leak, but not excessive
Suspension & steering 22.4%
Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.
Lighting 18.1%
Offside Front Position lamp not working · Nearside Front Position lamp not working
Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2010.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 698 Subaru Legacy cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2010 Subaru Legacy

Based on MOT data from 698 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 42.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
    Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
  • 🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection ClickMechanic →
  • 📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (64%) 447 80% 2.78
Petrol (36%) 251 80.9% 2.85

Colour Breakdown

Based on 31,102 Subaru Legacy vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 22.1%
6,883
Silver 21.4%
6,662
Green 19.2%
5,964
Grey 11.8%
3,662
Red 11.6%
3,599
White 6.3%
1,967
Black 4.9%
1,528
Maroon 1.4%
445
Bronze 0.5%
166
Gold 0.4%
137
Beige 0.2%
54
Purple 0.1%
35

Mileage Distribution

Most 2010 Subaru Legacy vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

83,896
typical
66,648
low mileage
100,012
high mileage

Half of all 2010 Subaru Legacy vehicles fall between 66,648 and 100,012 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
✓ Under 66,648 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.
✓ 66,648–100,012 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2010 Subaru Legacys sit.
⚠ Over 135,016 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2010 Subaru Legacy — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 57% of 2010 Subaru Legacys are still active.

357 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 57% of the peak remain.

624 357 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

13
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.8
Avg failures per vehicle
19.1
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Subaru Legacy: All Legacy years → Which year to buy? →
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Watch for defects — worth knowing