2010 Saab 9-3 Tid 150 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 393 MOT tests, the 2010 Saab 9-3 Tid 150 recorded a 73.0% pass rate. That is 2.7 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.2%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 15.0% of tests against 8.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and on or after 01/07/2008 — coil spring alone was recorded 43 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2010 9-3 Tid 150 fails 27.9% of the time in the 60-90k band and 28.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.1 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.0% | 59 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.1% | 32 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.6% | 26 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 25 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 16 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.6% | 14 |
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 | 43 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 25 |
| 3 | On or after 01/07/2008 | 23 |
| 4 | Flexible brake hoses | 12 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 10 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 9 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 32.3% | 127 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.5% | 120 |
| 3 | Suspension | 29.5% | 116 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.7% | 46 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 28 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 22 |
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 | 111 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 116 | 25.9% |
| 120-150k | 73 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 82 | 28.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 90 | 27.8% |
| 2022 | 85 | 23.5% |
| 2023 | 86 | 29.1% |
| 2024 | 69 | 26.1% |
| 2025 | 63 | 28.6% |
What to check before buying a 2010 9-3 Tid 150
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.0% 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 (8.1% 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.
- Brakes (6.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2010 Saab 9-3 Tid 150s pass their MOT?
73.0% of the 393 2010 Saab 9-3 Tid 150 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Saab 9-3 Tid 150?
Suspension, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by tyres (8.1%).
Does the 2010 9-3 Tid 150 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.9% in the 60-90k band to 28.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 393 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.