Saab 9-3
From 62,095 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer 9-3s fare better: 2012 models pass at 85.1% vs 70.2% for 1998.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened and a tyre seriously damaged. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 2,654 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 2,654 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 2,549 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 1,223 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,219 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,213 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 1,139 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 1,097 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 1,026 |
| a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 969 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 959 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 25.4% of 9-3 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 42.2% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £143.
Saab 9-3 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 5,365 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 5 newly registered, a net loss of 5,360. At this rate, roughly 8.3 years until none remain. Now at 30.6% of its peak (144,778 in 2011 Q1).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 29,283 | 14,984 | +0 | -1,048 | -1,048 |
| 2025 Q2 | 30,463 | 14,852 | +1 | -1,125 | -1,124 |
| 2025 Q1 | 30,817 | 15,622 | +2 | -1,495 | -1,493 |
| 2024 Q4 | 32,258 | 15,674 | +2 | -1,697 | -1,695 |
| 2024 Q3 | 34,517 | 15,110 | +0 | -1,480 | -1,480 |
| 2024 Q2 | 36,011 | 15,096 | +0 | -1,071 | -1,071 |
| 2024 Q1 | 36,865 | 15,313 | +0 | -1,782 | -1,782 |
| 2023 Q4 | 38,450 | 15,510 | +1 | -1,451 | -1,450 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp | Gas | 1,781 | 11% |
| 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp | Gas | 1,417 | 9% |
| 9-3 Vector | Gas | 1,200 | 7% |
| 9-3 Aero Ttid | Diesel | 1,114 | 7% |
| 9-3 Aero | Petrol | 1,007 | 6% |
| 9-3 Se Turbo | Gas | 851 | 5% |
| 9-3 Vector Sport Tid | Diesel | 799 | 5% |
| 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-A | Petrol | 779 | 5% |
| 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp S-A | Gas | 766 | 5% |
| 9-3 Turbo Edition Tid 150 | Diesel | 731 | 5% |
| 9-3 Linear Se Tid 150 | Diesel | 675 | 4% |
| 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp Auto | Gas | 603 | 4% |
| 9-3 Vector Sport Dth | Diesel | 593 | 4% |
| 9-3 Turbo Edition Ttid 160 | Diesel | 582 | 4% |
| 9-3 Linear 150 Bhp | Petrol | 567 | 4% |
| 9-3 Vector Sport Tid Auto | Diesel | 551 | 3% |
| 9-3 Vector 175 Bhp | Gas | 537 | 3% |
| 9-3 Aero Ttid Auto | Diesel | 527 | 3% |
| 9-3 Vector Sport Dth A | Diesel | 524 | 3% |
| 9-3 Vector Auto | Petrol | 506 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 85.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2011 | 75.2% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2010 | 74.3% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2009 | 73.9% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
11 earlier years
| 2008 | 72.4% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2007 | 71.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2006 | 69.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2005 | 69.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 67.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2003 | 69.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2002 | 70% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2001 | 70.7% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2000 | 70.9% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 1999 | 73.4% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 1998 | 70.2% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, exhaust system leaking or insecure |
Typical mileage
Half of all 9-3s tested had between 83,298 and 131,900 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 102,045 median miles, the 9-3 has 0.028 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Saab models
Common questions
What is the Saab 9-3 MOT pass rate?
The Saab 9-3 has a 71.6% MOT pass rate based on 62,095 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Saab 9-3?
The most common MOT failure on the Saab 9-3 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 2,654 failures. Other common issues include a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened.
How many Saab 9-3s are on UK roads?
There are 29,283 Saab 9-3s currently licensed on UK roads, with 14,984 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Saab 9-3 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Saab 9-3 is 102,045 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 83,298 and 131,900 miles.
Buying a used 9-3?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 71.6% pass rate and an average repair bill of £143 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 25.4% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.