Saab 9-3 Tid 150 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 3 model years and 512 tests, the Saab 9-3 Tid 150 passes its MOT 74.4% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (24.4% fail rate), the 9-3 Tid 150 comes out 1.2pp worse. Its most common failure areas are suspension, tyres and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 13.9% of all tests — 6.6 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, on or after 01/07/2008 and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 48 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 9-3 Tid 150 fails 27.9% of the time in the 60-90k band and 25.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 30.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every 9-3 Tid 150 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 103 | 78.6% | 21.4% | Suspension |
| 2010 | 393 | 73.0% | 27.0% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.9% | 71 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.2% | 37 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 34 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.5% | 33 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 19 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 17 |
| 7 | Visibility | 2.1% | 11 |
| 8 | Steering | 1.2% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 48 |
| 2 | On or after 01/07/2008 | 30 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 29 |
| 4 | Flexible brake hoses | 13 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 12 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 12 |
| 7 | Service brake performance | 12 |
| 8 | Ball joint dust cover | 12 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 30.5% | 156 |
| 2 | Brakes | 30.5% | 156 |
| 3 | Suspension | 28.3% | 145 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.2% | 52 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 37 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.5% | 28 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 136 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 159 | 24.5% |
| 120-150k | 103 | 23.3% |
| 150k+ | 99 | 25.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 116 | 25.0% |
| 2022 | 111 | 22.5% |
| 2023 | 113 | 27.4% |
| 2024 | 93 | 25.8% |
| 2025 | 79 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a Saab 9-3 Tid 150
- Suspension (13.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (7.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Emissions & environmental (6.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Saab 9-3 Tid 150?
74.4% of the 512 Saab 9-3 Tid 150 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 25.6% fail rate, across model years 2009–2011.
What does the Saab 9-3 Tid 150 most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 13.9% of tests, then tyres (7.2%).
How much does mileage affect 9-3 Tid 150 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 27.9% for cars in the 60-90k band and 25.3% for 150k+, a 2.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 512 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.