2004 Saab 9-5 — MOT failures & pass rate
5,934 MOT tests on the 2004 Saab 9-5 are in this dataset, and 74.4% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 24.3% of the time, so this is 1.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.2% of tests against 10.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 552 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 28.9% versus 16.3%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 24.6% fail against 29.3% for diesel, a 4.7-point gap across 5,932 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.8% in 2021 to 23.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 961 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.9% | 650 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.9% | 531 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 405 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.8% | 346 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 254 |
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 | 552 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 539 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 295 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 284 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 258 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 255 |
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 | 38.7% | 2,295 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.2% | 2,088 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.9% | 1,420 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.6% | 1,282 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 1,012 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.5% | 860 |
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 | 184 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 868 | 19.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,475 | 25.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,516 | 27.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,870 | 28.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,634 | 24.6% |
| Diesel | 1,298 | 29.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,741 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 1,375 | 24.9% |
| 2023 | 1,146 | 26.3% |
| 2024 | 941 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 731 | 23.5% |
What to check before buying a 2004 9-5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.9% 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 (8.9% 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 2004 Saab 9-5s pass their MOT?
74.4% of the 5,934 2004 Saab 9-5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Saab 9-5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.2% of tests, followed by suspension (10.9%).
Does the 2004 9-5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.3% in the 30-60k band to 28.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,934 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.