2010 Saab 9-5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,887 MOT tests, the 2010 Saab 9-5 recorded an 80.5% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail 20.8% of the time, so this is 1.3pp better 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 11.4% of all tests — 4.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, coil spring and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 271 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.4% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.5pp more often than petrol ones (20.8% vs 17.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 443 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.3% | 285 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.5% | 213 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.5% | 175 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 144 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 86 |
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 | 271 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 143 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 109 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 89 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 88 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 71 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 24.5% | 953 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.7% | 884 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.3% | 791 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.3% | 399 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.3% | 323 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 268 |
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 | 125 | 18.4% |
| 30-60k | 336 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 889 | 17.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,147 | 20.7% |
| 120-150k | 804 | 20.5% |
| 150k+ | 518 | 23.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,482 | 20.8% |
| Petrol | 1,405 | 17.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 880 | 18.5% |
| 2022 | 818 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 777 | 20.1% |
| 2024 | 739 | 19.8% |
| 2025 | 673 | 20.5% |
What to check before buying a 2010 9-5
On a 2010 9-5, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.3% 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 (5.5% 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.
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 2010 Saab 9-5s pass their MOT?
80.5% of the 3,887 2010 Saab 9-5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Saab 9-5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.4% of tests, followed by suspension (7.3%).
Does the 2010 9-5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.4% in the 0-30k band to 23.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,887 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.