2009 Saab 9-5 — MOT failures & pass rate
4,058 MOT tests on the 2009 Saab 9-5 are in this dataset, and 77.5% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail at 21.7%, so the 2009 9-5 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.3% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, malfunction indicator lamp and rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 306 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.0% once past 150k — 4.3× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 7.6pp more often than petrol ones (26.1% vs 18.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.1% in 2021 to 20.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 498 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 364 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.2% | 331 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.0% | 285 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.4% | 220 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 117 |
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 | 306 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 242 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 146 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 143 |
| 5 | On or after 01/07/2008 | 117 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 111 |
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 | 34.8% | 1,413 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.8% | 1,005 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.1% | 980 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.6% | 675 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.8% | 440 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.7% | 354 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 49 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 322 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 856 | 19.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,205 | 22.8% |
| 120-150k | 910 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 715 | 26.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,150 | 26.1% |
| Petrol | 1,908 | 18.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 962 | 24.1% |
| 2022 | 875 | 22.2% |
| 2023 | 827 | 23.3% |
| 2024 | 742 | 21.7% |
| 2025 | 652 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 9-5
On a 2009 9-5, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- 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 2009 Saab 9-5s pass their MOT?
77.5% of the 4,058 2009 Saab 9-5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Saab 9-5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (9.0%).
Does the 2009 9-5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 26.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,058 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.