2012 Saab 9'3 — MOT failures & pass rate
1,051 MOT tests on the 2012 Saab 9'3 are in this dataset, and 81.7% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 18.4%, so the 2012 9'3 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 11.7% of all tests — 7.1 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, linkage ball joint dust cover and service brake performance — coil spring alone was recorded 92 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.0% versus 10.9%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 17.8% of the time against 18.8% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.7% | 123 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 48 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.2% | 44 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.9% | 30 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 21 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 16 |
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 | 92 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 22 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 20 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 14 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 14 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.7% | 249 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.1% | 211 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.6% | 185 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 73 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 72 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 71 |
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 | 64 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 312 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 325 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 198 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 112 | 22.3% |
| 150k+ | 40 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 528 | 18.8% |
| Diesel | 523 | 17.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 219 | 20.5% |
| 2022 | 209 | 16.3% |
| 2023 | 218 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 200 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 205 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 2012 9'3
On a 2012 9'3, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (11.7% 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 (4.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.2% 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 2012 Saab 9'3s pass their MOT?
81.7% of the 1,051 2012 Saab 9'3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Saab 9'3?
Suspension, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.6%).
Does the 2012 9'3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 20.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,051 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.