2008 Subaru Legacy 2.5L Petrol · HF58 HDH

The 2008 Subaru Legacy presents a mixed maintenance picture. The most recent MOT on 12 December 2025 at 152,721 miles passed, but the record reveals a recurring pattern of deferred wear items rather than a stable or improving trend. The tester flagged a severely deteriorated nearside front CV joint boot, a minor rear exhaust leak, and worn front suspension arm pins or bushes on both sides. These advisories carried over from the failed test the previous day at 151,721 miles, where rear brake pads were below 1.5 mm, the front washer was inoperative, and a nearside front tyre was illegal. The fact that the car failed on basic consumables like brake pads, wipers, and a tyre, then passed a day later without a full retest of those items, suggests the previous owner addressed only the minimum to get a pass rather than undertaking thorough preventative maintenance. The mileage accumulation is broadly typical for an eighteen-year-old vehicle, averaging roughly 8,484 miles per year. The record shows a jump of approximately 9,800 miles between the December 2024 test at 142,926 miles and the December 2025 test at 152,721 miles, which sits slightly above the long-term average but remains within a normal range for a vehicle used for regular commuting or longer journeys. There are no alarming gaps in the MOT history that would suggest the car stood unused for extended periods, and the annual test pattern is consistent. A buyer should pay close attention to the front suspension and drivetrain. Worn suspension arm pins or bushes appeared in both the 2024 and 2025 tests, indicating these components have been deteriorating over at least two years and may now require replacement to restore proper wheel alignment and handling. The repeatedly flagged CV joint boots, both inner and outer on the nearside front, point to a long-standing vulnerability in the drive shaft sealing. If the boots have been split or deteriorated for some time, the joints themselves may have suffered contamination and wear, risking costly drive shaft replacement. The rear exhaust system has shown leaks in consecutive years, and while currently described as minor, corrosion in the exhaust should be inspected for progression, particularly around joints and mounting points. The braking system warrants a physical check. Rear pads were dangerously thin at the December 2025 failure, and while they were presumably replaced for the pass, the condition of the front pads, discs, and calipers should be verified for uneven wear or binding. The 2024 failure also included an engine management lamp issue and exhaust emissions outside specified limits, which could indicate an intermittent fault with the catalytic converter, oxygen sensors, or engine management system that may not have been fully resolved. A diagnostic scan for stored fault codes is advisable before purchase.