2007 Saab 9-5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 7,568 MOT tests, the 2007 Saab 9-5 recorded a 76.3% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 23.1%, so the 2007 9-5 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.6%) and suspension (8.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, malfunction indicator lamp and pins and bushes — position lamp alone was recorded 423 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 26.4% versus 15.9%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.1pp more often than petrol ones (25.5% vs 22.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 881 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.9% | 672 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.2% | 621 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 566 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.5% | 488 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 332 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 423 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 335 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 302 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 272 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 260 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 247 |
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 | 36.3% | 2,744 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.1% | 2,206 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.9% | 2,034 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 26.3% | 1,987 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.6% | 881 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.0% | 835 |
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 | 334 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 1,209 | 20.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,161 | 21.4% |
| 120-150k | 2,111 | 26.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,717 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,491 | 22.4% |
| Diesel | 3,076 | 25.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,014 | 23.2% |
| 2022 | 1,791 | 24.1% |
| 2023 | 1,500 | 24.6% |
| 2024 | 1,217 | 22.4% |
| 2025 | 1,046 | 23.8% |
What to check before buying a 2007 9-5
On a 2007 9-5, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.9% 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 (8.2% 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 2007 Saab 9-5s pass their MOT?
76.3% of the 7,568 2007 Saab 9-5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Saab 9-5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.6% of tests, followed by suspension (8.9%).
Does the 2007 9-5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.9% in the 30-60k band to 26.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,568 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.