Car statistics
How many Subaru Legacys are still on the road in Great Britain, how many are declared off the road, how new registrations have changed and which fuels they use. Built from DVLA licensing records and 4,666 DVSA MOT tests.
There were 3,456 Subaru Legacys licensed in Great Britain at the end of June 2026, and a further 3,022 declared off the road (SORN). That is 83.6% fewer than the peak of 21,046 in 2001.
The highest year-end count was 21,046 in 2001.
| Year | Licensed |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 10,875 |
| 1995 | 12,584 |
| 1996 | 14,150 |
| 1997 | 15,499 |
| 1998 | 17,250 |
| 1999 | 18,940 |
| 2000 | 20,427 |
| 2001 | 21,046 |
| 2002 | 20,709 |
| 2003 | 20,443 |
| 2004 | 20,644 |
| 2005 | 20,752 |
| 2006 | 20,202 |
| 2007 | 19,233 |
| 2008 | 18,539 |
| 2009 | 17,727 |
| 2010 | 17,033 |
| 2011 | 15,761 |
| 2012 | 14,488 |
| 2013 | 13,335 |
| 2014 | 12,097 |
| 2015 | 11,075 |
| 2016 | 10,130 |
| 2017 | 9,064 |
| 2018 | 8,222 |
| 2019 | 7,300 |
| 2020 | 6,618 |
| 2021 | 5,931 |
| 2022 | 5,339 |
| 2023 | 4,767 |
| 2024 | 4,153 |
| 2025 | 3,646 |
| 2026 | 3,456 |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
3 versions of the Subaru Legacy have their own page. The figures above include every version; each version page covers only the cars DVLA records under that version’s name.
| Version | Licensed | SORN |
|---|---|---|
| Subaru Legacy R Spec-B | 146 | 64 |
| Subaru Legacy Turbo 4x4 | 14 | 124 |
| Subaru Legacy REN | 97 | 39 |
On the only measure that covers every car in the country, the MOT, the Subaru Legacy does a little better than other cars of the same age: 64.3% passed first time in 2025, against 61.5% for cars of the same ages.
MOT results measure the condition of cars on the road, tested to the same standard everywhere, which is why we use them. They do not capture breakdowns, warranty claims or the cost of putting a fault right. The figures behind this are below, and every model is ranked on the same basis in most reliable cars.
In 2025, 64.3% of Subaru Legacy MOT tests were passed first time, against 72.8% for all cars. Cars of the same ages as the Subaru Legacys tested pass 61.5% of the time, so the Subaru Legacy does better than average for its age, by 2.8 points. In 2024 its pass rate was 63.1%.
Comparing like with like: each bar pair covers cars of the same age, so an older average age does not count against a model.
| Vehicle age | Subaru Legacy | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 11–14 years | 64.1% | 65.5% |
| 15–19 years | 62.7% | 58.0% |
| 20+ years | 64.3% | 61.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the most common reason a Subaru Legacy fails its MOT, appearing on 49.3% of failed tests. A failed test can have defects in more than one category, so shares add up to more than 100%. 8.1% of Subaru Legacy tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 7.3% for all cars.
| Defect category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 49.3% |
| Suspension | 34.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 25.1% |
| Brakes | 22.0% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 19.1% |
| Visibility | 16.2% |
| Tyres | 14.5% |
| Steering | 3.7% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
The single most common reason a Subaru Legacy failed its MOT in 2025 was “Position lamp: not working”, on 17.3% of 1,667 failed tests. 64.1% of tests ended with at least one advisory, a problem to watch that did not fail the test; the most common was “Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement”. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.
Share of failed tests with each defect. A test can fail for more than one.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 17.3% |
| Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 11.5% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks | 10.8% |
| Catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.5% |
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 7.2% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes | 7.0% |
| Exhaust system: major leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 6.7% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush excessively worn Suspension | 6.5% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.0% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility | 5.8% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 5.3% |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 4.9% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Share of all tests with each advisory: worth checking on a car you are buying.
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 18.2% |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 15.8% |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension | 10.5% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 10.0% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 9.5% |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes | 9.1% |
| Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 8.1% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.7% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 7.0% |
| Anti-roll bars: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 6.4% |
| Linkage ball joint has slight play Suspension | 6.3% |
| Coil spring: corroded Suspension | 5.4% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What goes wrong with a Subaru Legacy: every fault, what it means and what to check
The 2006 Subaru Legacy has its own page, with its MOT results, common faults, mileage and how many are left.
| Year | Registered | Left | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | – | 513 | 63.0% |
Registered: cars on the DVLA record at the end of the year they were first registered (these counts start in 2014, so older years show a dash). Left: licensed or declared SORN at the end of 2025. Both cover the United Kingdom. Pass rate: first-time passes at normal MOT tests in Great Britain in 2025; all cars: every car first registered the same year.
The average Subaru Legacy covers 5,604 miles a year, worked out from odometer readings at consecutive MOT tests.
| Vehicle age | Miles a year |
|---|---|
| 11–14 years | 6,555 |
| 15–19 years | 5,776 |
| 20+ years | 4,689 |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Registrations of Subaru Legacys for the first time in Great Britain peaked at 1,877 in 2004. In 2025, 54 were registered.
| Year | First registrations |
|---|---|
| ’01 | 1,323 |
| ’02 | 811 |
| ’03 | 1,116 |
| ’04 | 1,877 |
| ’05 | 1,806 |
| ’06 | 1,608 |
| ’07 | 1,154 |
| ’08 | 1,075 |
| ’09 | 900 |
| ’10 | 841 |
| ’11 | 642 |
| ’12 | 316 |
| ’13 | 229 |
| ’14 | 53 |
| ’15 | 88 |
| ’16 | 124 |
| ’17 | 106 |
| ’18 | 142 |
| ’19 | 155 |
| ’20 | 119 |
| ’21 | 147 |
| ’22 | 104 |
| ’23 | 80 |
| ’24 | 60 |
| ’25 | 54 |
Source:DfT / DVLA 2001 to 2025 Updated
Of the 3,879 Subaru Legacys licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 57.5% have an engine of 1,901cc to 2,000cc, and 22.3% have an engine of 2,401cc to 2,500cc. The share with an engine of 2,401cc to 2,500cc has fallen from 28.0% in 2014 to 22.3%. Diesels made up 11.9% of those licensed in 2014 and 14.3% in 2025.
DVLA records engine size in 100cc bands.
| Engine size | Share of those licensed |
|---|---|
| 1,901cc to 2,000cc 2,230 licensed | 57.5% |
| 2,401cc to 2,500cc 865 licensed | 22.3% |
| 3,001cc to 3,100cc 541 licensed | 13.9% |
| 2,001cc to 2,100cc 192 licensed | 4.9% |
| Other sizes 51 licensed | 1.3% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated
| Engine size | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,901–2,000cc | Petrol | 1,666 | 42.9% |
| 2,401–2,500cc | Petrol | 856 | 22.1% |
| 1,901–2,000cc | Diesel | 554 | 14.3% |
| 3,001–3,100cc | Petrol | 535 | 13.8% |
| 2,001–2,100cc | Petrol | 192 | 4.9% |
Share of those licensed at the end of each year, for the most common sizes.
| Year | 1,901–2,000cc | 2,401–2,500cc | 3,001–3,100cc | 2,001–2,100cc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 54.2% | 28.0% | 15.0% | 1.1% |
| 2015 | 54.8% | 27.0% | 15.5% | 1.1% |
| 2016 | 55.6% | 25.7% | 16.1% | 1.3% |
| 2017 | 56.3% | 24.4% | 16.5% | 1.5% |
| 2018 | 56.7% | 23.3% | 16.7% | 2.0% |
| 2019 | 57.1% | 22.5% | 16.5% | 2.5% |
| 2020 | 57.6% | 21.7% | 16.4% | 3.0% |
| 2021 | 57.7% | 21.3% | 16.2% | 3.5% |
| 2022 | 57.7% | 21.2% | 15.9% | 3.9% |
| 2023 | 57.9% | 21.0% | 15.5% | 4.4% |
| 2024 | 57.6% | 21.5% | 14.6% | 4.9% |
| 2025 | 57.5% | 22.3% | 13.9% | 4.9% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated
Share of those licensed at the end of each year.
| Year | Petrol | Diesel | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 86.8% | 11.9% | 1.2% |
| 2015 | 85.8% | 13.0% | 1.2% |
| 2016 | 84.9% | 13.8% | 1.3% |
| 2017 | 84.2% | 14.6% | 1.2% |
| 2018 | 83.6% | 15.3% | 1.2% |
| 2019 | 83.2% | 15.7% | 1.1% |
| 2020 | 83.2% | 15.9% | 0.9% |
| 2021 | 83.3% | 15.9% | 0.9% |
| 2022 | 82.7% | 16.4% | 0.9% |
| 2023 | 83.3% | 15.9% | 0.8% |
| 2024 | 83.8% | 15.4% | 0.8% |
| 2025 | 85.0% | 14.3% | 0.6% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated
United Kingdom figures from DfT table VEH0220 (licensed cars at the end of each year, SORN excluded), so they differ slightly from the Great Britain counts elsewhere on this page. How we use engine sizes.
The Vehicle Certification Agency’s new car data lists the Subaru Legacy from 2000, when the data begins, to 2013. On the NEDC test (listings 2000 to 2013), official combined fuel economy for its petrol and diesel versions ranges from 23.0 to 50.4 mpg, with CO2 of 148 to 290 g/km.
| Engine and fuel | Combined mpg | CO2 g/km | Listed | Euro standard | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 28.5–37.7 | 178–236 | 2000–2013 | Euro 2 to Euro 5 | 50 |
| 2.5 petrol | 28.5–34.9 | 193–235 | 2000–2013 | Euro 2 to Euro 5 | 66 |
| 3.0 petrol | 23.0–29.4 | 229–290 | 2001–2010 | Euro 3 to Euro 4 | 37 |
| 2.0 diesel | 44.1–50.4 | 148–168 | 2008–2013 | Euro 4 to Euro 5 | 33 |
Source:VCA July 2000 to 15 September 2026 Updated
DVSA lists 13 safety recalls for the Subaru Legacy since 1992, the first in 2005. The most recent was launched on 20 March 2019.
All 13 Subaru Legacy recalls, with defects, remedies and build dates
A recall applies to cars built on particular dates or with particular VINs, not to every Subaru Legacy. The details come from manufacturers through DVSA, which says they may be delayed or incomplete. To check a specific car, use GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check or ask the manufacturer or a dealer. How we match recalls to models.
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis January 1992 to September 2026 Updated
| Model | Licensed | Change on a year | SORN | Rank | Main fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Legacy | 3,456 | −10.8% | 3,022 | 482 | Petrol |
| Subaru Forester | 15,779 | −2.0% | 3,778 | 282 | Petrol |
| Subaru Impreza | 12,030 | −6.7% | 15,955 | 323 | Petrol |
| Subaru Outback | 9,248 | +0.3% | 1,400 | 351 | Petrol |
| Subaru XV | 6,998 | −1.4% | 151 | 394 | Petrol |
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed and SORN counts | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 6,478 Legacy records (licensed and SORN) | 2 October 2026 |
| Registered for the first time | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | 2001 to 2025 | – | 2 October 2026 |
| MOT results and mileage | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 4,666 MOT tests | 15 September 2026 |
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
