Saab 9'3 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Saab 9'3 appears in 277,322 MOT tests spanning model years 1997–2021, and 74.5% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 22.8% of the time, so this is 2.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
Best and worst 9'3 years
Ranked across 9'3 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Not every year is equal — 81.7% of 2012 examples pass against 72.5% of 2004 ones.
No single area dominates — suspension (13.0%) and lighting & signalling (10.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and headlamp — coil spring alone was recorded 18,372 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.1% in the 0-30k band and 29.2% in the 150k+ band, a 17.1-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 24.7% fail against 26.5% for diesel, a 1.8-point gap across 277,298 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 29.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.4% in 2021 to 24.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 9'3 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2,219 | 74.3% | 25.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 3,906 | 76.1% | 23.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 5,031 | 75.1% | 24.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 5,664 | 75.0% | 24.9% | Brakes |
| 2002 | 6,228 | 75.7% | 24.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 7,537 | 73.5% | 26.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 18,089 | 72.5% | 27.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 27,775 | 73.0% | 27.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 42,867 | 73.1% | 26.9% | Suspension |
| 2007 | 51,939 | 74.3% | 25.7% | Suspension |
| 2008 | 42,767 | 74.9% | 25.1% | Suspension |
| 2009 | 25,404 | 75.8% | 24.2% | Suspension |
| 2010 | 22,138 | 76.6% | 23.4% | Suspension |
| 2011 | 14,571 | 76.6% | 23.4% | Suspension |
| 2012 | 1,051 | 81.7% | 18.3% | Suspension |
| 2013 | 40 | 82.5% | 17.5% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.0% | 35,963 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 29,130 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.2% | 22,718 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.5% | 15,104 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 13,523 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 12,998 |
| 7 | Visibility | 4.4% | 12,284 |
| 8 | Steering | 1.8% | 4,963 |
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 | 18,372 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 11,313 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 9,617 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 9,585 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 7,790 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 7,660 |
| 7 | Wipers | 7,156 |
| 8 | Exhaust system | 6,849 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 29.8% | 82,603 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.4% | 73,280 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.3% | 72,991 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.8% | 41,017 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.8% | 32,767 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 32,057 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 2,355 | 12.1% |
| 30-60k | 18,972 | 17.8% |
| 60-90k | 56,685 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 82,189 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 66,455 | 27.9% |
| 150k+ | 50,435 | 29.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 148,284 | 24.7% |
| Diesel | 129,014 | 26.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 73,330 | 26.4% |
| 2022 | 63,648 | 25.5% |
| 2023 | 55,067 | 25.5% |
| 2024 | 46,100 | 24.9% |
| 2025 | 39,177 | 24.7% |
What to check before buying a Saab 9'3
- Suspension (13.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.2% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Saab 9'3?
74.5% of the 277,322 Saab 9'3 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 25.5% fail rate, across model years 1997–2021.
What does the Saab 9'3 most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 13.0% of tests, then lighting & signalling (10.5%).
Which 9'3 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2012 has the best pass rate at 81.7% and 2004 the weakest at 72.5%, from 1,051 and 18,089 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect 9'3 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 29.2% for 150k+, a 17.1-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel 9'3 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 24.7% of the time against 26.5% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 277,322 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.