2009 Saab 9'3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Saab 9'3 passed 75.8% of its 25,404 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 21.7% of the time, so this is 2.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 13.3% of all tests — 6.6 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, on or after 01/07/2008 and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 2,122 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.8% versus 10.9%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.2pp more often than petrol ones (25.4% vs 21.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.3% | 3,371 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.7% | 1,703 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 1,682 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.2% | 1,316 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 1,281 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 962 |
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 | 2,122 |
| 2 | On or after 01/07/2008 | 714 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 692 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 688 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 652 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 554 |
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 | 27.3% | 6,939 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.7% | 6,516 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.0% | 6,362 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.9% | 2,765 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 2,342 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.5% | 2,149 |
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 | 340 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 2,413 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 5,661 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 7,266 | 25.6% |
| 120-150k | 5,646 | 26.8% |
| 150k+ | 4,069 | 27.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 18,313 | 25.4% |
| Petrol | 7,091 | 21.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,063 | 25.3% |
| 2022 | 5,616 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 5,080 | 23.5% |
| 2024 | 4,570 | 24.0% |
| 2025 | 4,075 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 9'3
On a 2009 9'3, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.3% 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 (6.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2009 Saab 9'3s pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 25,404 2009 Saab 9'3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Saab 9'3?
Suspension, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by brakes (6.7%).
Does the 2009 9'3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 27.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,404 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.