2000 Saab 9'3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2000 Saab 9'3 passed 75.1% of its 5,031 recorded MOT tests. Against executive cars of a similar age (23.7% fail rate), the 2000 9'3 comes out 1.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.8%) and brakes (10.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, prescribed areas and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 346 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.5% in the 0-30k band and 33.3% in the 150k+ band, a 26.8-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.7% 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 22.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 592 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.2% | 514 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.4% | 473 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 364 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 266 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.9% | 245 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 346 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 243 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 224 |
| 4 | Wipers | 219 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 210 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 182 |
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 | 30.7% | 1,546 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.7% | 1,295 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.6% | 1,239 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.3% | 1,122 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.6% | 988 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.9% | 650 |
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 | 92 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 400 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,230 | 21.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,546 | 25.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,093 | 27.3% |
| 150k+ | 669 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,926 | 24.8% |
| Diesel | 105 | 27.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,386 | 26.4% |
| 2022 | 1,160 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 974 | 23.4% |
| 2024 | 800 | 23.9% |
| 2025 | 711 | 22.6% |
What to check before buying a 2000 9'3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.2% 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.
- Suspension (9.4% 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.
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 2000 Saab 9'3s pass their MOT?
75.1% of the 5,031 2000 Saab 9'3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Saab 9'3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.8% of tests, followed by brakes (10.2%).
Does the 2000 9'3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 33.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,031 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.