2005 Saab 9-5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Saab 9-5 passed 73.9% of its 7,215 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 24.1% of the time, so this is 2.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.0% of all tests — 6.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 747 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.1% in the 30-60k band and 28.5% in the 150k+ band, a 12.4-point spread.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.6pp more often than petrol ones (28.6% vs 25.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 40.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.7% in 2021 to 24.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.0% | 1,227 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.4% | 753 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.8% | 707 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 447 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.1% | 437 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 376 |
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 | 747 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 654 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 360 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 354 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 321 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 296 |
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 | 40.3% | 2,910 |
| 2 | Brakes | 36.9% | 2,664 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.0% | 1,876 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 25.1% | 1,812 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 1,236 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 965 |
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 | 236 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 944 | 22.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,001 | 25.9% |
| 120-150k | 2,012 | 26.6% |
| 150k+ | 2,009 | 28.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,130 | 25.0% |
| Diesel | 2,084 | 28.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,079 | 26.7% |
| 2022 | 1,686 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 1,364 | 25.5% |
| 2024 | 1,123 | 25.2% |
| 2025 | 963 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a 2005 9-5
On a 2005 9-5, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.4% 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 (9.8% 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 2005 Saab 9-5s pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 7,215 2005 Saab 9-5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Saab 9-5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.0% of tests, followed by suspension (10.4%).
Does the 2005 9-5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.1% in the 30-60k band to 28.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,215 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.