2003 Saab 9'3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Saab 9'3 passed 73.5% of its 7,537 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.1 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.0% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 527 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.6% in the 0-30k band and 29.0% in the 150k+ band, a 17.4-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.7% in 2021 to 23.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 1,204 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.2% | 918 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.9% | 746 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 464 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.4% | 410 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 381 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 527 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 505 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 436 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 280 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 251 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 246 |
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 | 35.2% | 2,651 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.0% | 2,335 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 27.7% | 2,087 |
| 4 | Tyres | 25.1% | 1,891 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 1,287 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.5% | 1,091 |
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 | 43 | 11.6% |
| 30-60k | 497 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,584 | 24.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,401 | 27.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,820 | 27.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,188 | 29.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 7,198 | 26.4% |
| Diesel | 339 | 27.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,179 | 27.7% |
| 2022 | 1,795 | 27.0% |
| 2023 | 1,478 | 26.3% |
| 2024 | 1,147 | 25.5% |
| 2025 | 938 | 23.9% |
What to check before buying a 2003 9'3
On a 2003 9'3, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.2% 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.
- Brakes (9.9% 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 2003 Saab 9'3s pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 7,537 2003 Saab 9'3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Saab 9'3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.0% of tests, followed by suspension (12.2%).
Does the 2003 9'3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.6% in the 0-30k band to 29.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,537 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.