2005 Saab 9'3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Saab 9'3 passed 73.0% of its 27,775 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.6%) and suspension (12.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 2,235 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.8% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.0pp more often than petrol ones (29.5% vs 26.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 33.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.0% in 2021 to 25.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 4,330 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.8% | 3,544 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.2% | 2,548 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.8% | 1,599 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.7% | 1,585 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 1,402 |
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 | 2,235 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 2,061 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,651 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 1,537 |
| 5 | Wipers | 930 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 904 |
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 | 33.8% | 9,379 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.0% | 7,505 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.9% | 7,467 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.2% | 5,621 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 4,679 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.7% | 4,073 |
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 | 125 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,519 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 5,501 | 23.5% |
| 90-120k | 8,823 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 6,849 | 28.5% |
| 150k+ | 4,913 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 22,697 | 26.5% |
| Diesel | 5,078 | 29.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,042 | 28.0% |
| 2022 | 6,568 | 27.0% |
| 2023 | 5,411 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 4,290 | 25.8% |
| 2025 | 3,464 | 25.7% |
What to check before buying a 2005 9'3
On a 2005 9'3, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.8% 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 (9.2% 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
How many 2005 Saab 9'3s pass their MOT?
73.0% of the 27,775 2005 Saab 9'3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Saab 9'3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by suspension (12.8%).
Does the 2005 9'3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,775 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.