Used car guide

2007 Subaru Legacy: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2007 Subaru Legacys, from 417 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 417 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

417MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 2007 cars: 57%)
6,200typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2007 Subaru Legacys than on all cars registered in 2007.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.1× usual
    Subaru Legacy
    22.5% All 2007 cars
    10.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.1%, against 2.1% of all 2007 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints7.5× usual
    Subaru Legacy
    8.2% All 2007 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 0.2% of all 2007 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints2.4× usual
    Subaru Legacy
    10.1% All 2007 cars
    4.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 1.5% of all 2007 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: 4.8% here, against 13.5% of all 2007 cars.

By area

The share of 2007 Subaru Legacy MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    45% 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
    29% 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
    29% 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
    24% 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
    14% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    9% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

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%
2006513Suspension 50%
2005462Suspension 49%
2004380Suspension 50%
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 2007 Subaru Legacys registered in 2007. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score