2008 Saab 9-5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,261 MOT tests, the 2008 Saab 9-5 recorded a 76.9% pass rate. That is effectively the same as executive cars of a similar age (22.4% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.5%) and brakes (8.5%) 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 rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 384 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 27.6% versus 14.8%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 20.9% fail against 25.1% for diesel, a 4.2-point gap across 6,261 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 718 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.5% | 535 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.1% | 509 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.7% | 484 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.9% | 370 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 233 |
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 | 384 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 276 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 230 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 222 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 216 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 200 |
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 | 36.4% | 2,282 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.3% | 1,709 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.9% | 1,620 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.8% | 1,239 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.5% | 780 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 631 |
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 | 325 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,026 | 20.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,939 | 23.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,701 | 23.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,243 | 27.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,318 | 25.1% |
| Petrol | 2,943 | 20.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,592 | 22.7% |
| 2022 | 1,418 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 1,253 | 23.5% |
| 2024 | 1,074 | 23.6% |
| 2025 | 924 | 22.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 9-5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.5% 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.
- Suspension (8.1% 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.
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 2008 Saab 9-5s pass their MOT?
76.9% of the 6,261 2008 Saab 9-5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Saab 9-5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by brakes (8.5%).
Does the 2008 9-5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.8% in the 30-60k band to 27.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,261 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.