2000 Saab 9-5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2000 Saab 9-5 passed 75.3% of its 2,145 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 23.7% of the time, so this is 1.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.2%) and suspension (10.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 108 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 31.8% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 39.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.0% in 2021 to 22.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 282 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.6% | 227 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 193 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 133 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.4% | 115 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 113 |
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 | 108 |
| 2 | Wipers | 88 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 86 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 80 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 74 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 72 |
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 | 39.6% | 849 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.3% | 821 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 28.9% | 620 |
| 4 | Tyres | 23.2% | 497 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.7% | 379 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.2% | 283 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 131 | 12.2% |
| 60-90k | 339 | 20.1% |
| 90-120k | 500 | 23.2% |
| 120-150k | 562 | 24.0% |
| 150k+ | 611 | 31.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 619 | 26.0% |
| 2022 | 496 | 25.2% |
| 2023 | 410 | 24.1% |
| 2024 | 339 | 24.5% |
| 2025 | 281 | 22.1% |
What to check before buying a 2000 9-5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.6% 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.
- Brakes (9.0% 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 2000 Saab 9-5s pass their MOT?
75.3% of the 2,145 2000 Saab 9-5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Saab 9-5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by suspension (10.6%).
Does the 2000 9-5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.2% in the 30-60k band to 31.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,145 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.