2006 Saab 9'3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 42,867 MOT tests, the 2006 Saab 9'3 recorded a 73.1% pass rate. Against executive cars of a similar age (23.6% fail rate), the 2006 9'3 comes out 3.2pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.6%) and lighting & signalling (12.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 2,750 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.2% in the 0-30k band and 30.1% in the 150k+ band, a 15.8-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 25.2% fail against 29.2% for diesel, a 3.9-point gap across 42,864 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.1% in 2021 to 25.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.6% | 5,847 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 5,355 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.7% | 3,732 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 2,491 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.6% | 2,408 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 2,405 |
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 | 2,750 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 2,531 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,684 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 1,436 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,410 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,340 |
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 | 33.3% | 14,282 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.7% | 11,885 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.6% | 11,414 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.7% | 6,301 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.3% | 5,255 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.1% | 5,196 |
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 | 197 | 14.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,211 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 8,002 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 12,546 | 26.8% |
| 120-150k | 11,205 | 28.9% |
| 150k+ | 8,666 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 25,199 | 25.2% |
| Diesel | 17,665 | 29.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,048 | 27.1% |
| 2022 | 10,182 | 27.0% |
| 2023 | 8,521 | 27.5% |
| 2024 | 6,764 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 5,352 | 25.5% |
What to check before buying a 2006 9'3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.6% 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 (12.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.7% 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 2006 Saab 9'3s pass their MOT?
73.1% of the 42,867 2006 Saab 9'3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Saab 9'3?
Suspension, recorded in 13.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.5%).
Does the 2006 9'3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.2% in the 0-30k band to 30.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 42,867 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.