2001 Saab 9'3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,664 MOT tests, the 2001 Saab 9'3 recorded a 75.0% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 24.0%, so the 2001 9'3 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (10.4%) and lighting & signalling (10.3%) 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 exhaust system — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 428 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.0% versus 8.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 29.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.4% in 2021 to 24.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 10.4% | 587 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 586 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.4% | 534 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 400 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 317 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 287 |
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 | 428 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 246 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 228 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 219 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 219 |
| 6 | Wipers | 201 |
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 | 29.8% | 1,689 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.2% | 1,481 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.9% | 1,294 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.0% | 1,247 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.4% | 1,096 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.8% | 610 |
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 | 57 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 357 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,495 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,800 | 25.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,238 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 710 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,331 | 24.6% |
| Diesel | 333 | 30.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,538 | 26.4% |
| 2022 | 1,291 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 1,133 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 922 | 24.0% |
| 2025 | 780 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 2001 9'3
On a 2001 9'3, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (10.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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 2001 Saab 9'3s pass their MOT?
75.0% of the 5,664 2001 Saab 9'3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Saab 9'3?
Brakes, recorded in 10.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.3%).
Does the 2001 9'3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,664 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.