Used car guide

2004 Subaru Legacy: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Subaru Legacys, from 380 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 380 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

380MOT tests in 2025
64%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
5,700typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for brake pads

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 Subaru Legacys than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Brake pads2.3× usual
    Subaru Legacy
    16.6% All 2004 cars
    7.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 1.7% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Sub-frame2.3× usual
    Subaru Legacy
    14.5% All 2004 cars
    6.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.3% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints2.6× usual
    Subaru Legacy
    10.3% All 2004 cars
    3.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 1.4% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 6.6% here, against 15.8% of all 2004 cars.

By area

The share of 2004 Subaru Legacy MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    50% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    34% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    33% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    25% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    16% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Subaru Legacy?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2013174Suspension 39%
2012248Suspension 33%
2011423Suspension 42%
2010408Suspension 47%
2009362Suspension 50%
2008325Suspension 59%
2007417Suspension 45%
2006513Suspension 50%
2005462Suspension 49%
2003196Suspension 52%
2002111Suspension 44%
2001105Suspension 40%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 Subaru Legacys registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score