Used car guide

2011 Subaru Legacy: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Subaru Legacys, from 423 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 423 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

423MOT tests in 2025
63%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
7,500typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for sidelights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Subaru Legacys than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Sidelights2.4× usual
    Subaru Legacy
    13.7% All 2011 cars
    5.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.6%, against 5.1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Headlights2.3× usual
    Subaru Legacy
    13.5% All 2011 cars
    5.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 3.2% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints10.1× usual
    Subaru Legacy
    7.1% All 2011 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.1% of all 2011 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.

  • Steering rack inner joints2.9× usual
    Subaru Legacy
    7.6% All 2011 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

By area

The share of 2011 Subaru Legacy MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    42% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    36% 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
    36% 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.

  • 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    12% 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.

  • Steering
    8% of testsRough price £100–£450

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

Looking at a Subaru Legacy?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2013174Suspension 39%
2012248Suspension 33%
2010408Suspension 47%
2009362Suspension 50%
2008325Suspension 59%
2007417Suspension 45%
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 2011 Subaru Legacys registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score