Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Subaru Legacy?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2013 Subaru Legacy?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2013 Subaru Legacy?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2013 Subaru Legacy vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

37% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2013 Subaru Legacy reliable?

Based on MOT data from 200 vehicles, the 2013 Subaru Legacy has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Subaru Legacy?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Subaru Legacy are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (47.3% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (45.8% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (35.3% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2013 Subaru Legacy?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Subaru Legacy (2013)

200 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.7% first-time pass rate

2013 Subaru Legacy

CarHunch analysed 200 real MOT records for the 2013 Subaru Legacy. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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 2013 Subaru Legacy passes its MOT slightly above the UK average at 82.7%, which is reassuring, but 37% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above acceptable levels and a genuine concern for buyers. This suggests underlying reliability issues that go beyond typical wear and tear, particularly around safety-critical systems.

At nearly 69,000 miles on average, these Legacies show moderate mileage for their age, yet they're generating 2.12 failures and 16.6 advisories per test, indicating persistent problem areas rather than isolated issues. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the systems that have triggered dangerous defects in this cohort—suspension, brakes, and exhaust are the usual culprits—and budget for ongoing remedial work rather than expecting a straightforward ownership experience.

We have limited data for the 2013 Subaru Legacy — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

82.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

37%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.13

Over 11.1 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

56k

Middle half: 42k–77k

For context

These stats describe 200 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 200 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 47.3%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside 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 35.3%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 19.4%

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened

Suspension & steering 17.9%

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 16.9%

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 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 200 Subaru Legacy cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Subaru Legacy

Based on MOT data from 200 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 37% 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 →
📄 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 Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (60%)	120	83.9%	1.89
Diesel (40%)	80	81%	2.48

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%

Purple 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 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.

56,424

typical

42,245

low mileage

77,453

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Subaru Legacy vehicles fall between 42,245 and 77,453 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 42,245 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.

✓ 42,245–77,453 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Subaru Legacys sit.

⚠ Over 104,561 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Subaru Legacy — Still on the Road

Most 2013 Subaru Legacys are still being driven.

Strong survival — 159 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 87% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
* 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

11.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.13

Avg failures per vehicle

16.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Subaru Legacy: All Legacy years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Subaru Legacy stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing