MOT performance
Saab MOT pass rates and common failures
Across 106,670 MOT tests of Saab cars in 2023–2024, 63.0% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Saabs failed 14% less often than comparable cars. Of the 2 Saab models with enough tests, the Saab 9-5 failed least often relative to comparable cars.
106,670 MOT tests on 58,404 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 63.0% | ±0.3 pts (95%), n = 106,670 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.86× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 9.5% | n = 106,670 |
| Average age at test | 16.9 years | n = 106,670 |
Saab models
Where Saabs fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 14.7% | -13% |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 14.0% | -32% |
| Brakes | 10.8% | -13% |
| Tyres | 6.6% | -10% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.3% | -12% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 6.2% | -24% |
| Driver's view of the road | 5.4% | -22% |
| Steering | 2.1% | -43% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.7% | -31% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.6% | +1% |
| Road wheels | 0.5% | -8% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | -24% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 5.51% |
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.67% |
| Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements | Brakes | 2.54% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 2.28% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 2.20% |
| Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases | Body, chassis and structure | 2.18% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 2.13% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.85% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.81% |
| Washers: not working | Driver's view of the road | 1.64% |
Pass rate by age
| Age at test (years) | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-12 | 7,013 | 67.8% | -15% |
| 13-15 | 33,268 | 65.3% | -19% |
| 16+ | 66,247 | 61.3% | -11% |
MOT failures where Saab stands out
Individual failure items that Saabs record clearly more or less often than cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. All Saab MOT failure patterns.
- Coil spring: fractured or broken · 1.61× comparable cars
- Position lamp: not working · 0.65× comparable cars
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect · 0.56× comparable cars
- Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt · 0.54× comparable cars
Check a specific Saab
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.