MOT performance
Saab 9-5 MOT pass rate and common failures
Across 17,430 MOT tests of the Saab 9-5 in 2023–2024, 64.1% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Saab 9-5s failed 19% less often than comparable cars. The most common failure item was “position lamp: not working”, on 5.61% of tests.
17,430 MOT tests on 9,492 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 64.1% | ±0.7 pts (95%), n = 17,430 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.81× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 9.1% | n = 17,430 |
| Average age at test | 17.2 years | n = 17,430 |
| Median mileage at test | 120,603 miles | n = 17,430 |
| Vehicles tested | 9,492 | 2023–2024 |
Where Saab 9-5s fail
The share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel.
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 17.0% | -22% |
| Suspension | 11.4% | -36% |
| Brakes | 10.5% | -20% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 8.0% | +1% |
| Tyres | 6.8% | -9% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 5.3% | -38% |
| Driver's view of the road | 3.9% | -46% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 2.2% | -20% |
| Steering | 1.3% | -67% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.6% | -4% |
| Road wheels | 0.5% | -10% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | -56% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 5.61% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.96% |
| Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements | Brakes | 2.52% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.40% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 2.16% |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | Suspension | 2.05% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 1.96% |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | Brakes | 1.91% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 1.68% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 1.65% |
Most common advisories
Advisories are items the tester expects to need attention soon; they don't fail the test.
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine | Noise, emissions and leaks | 22.25% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 16.79% |
| Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened | Brakes | 11.47% |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 10.54% |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | Brakes | 10.54% |
Pass rate by age
| Age at test (years) | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-12 | 958 | 72.2% | -29% |
| 13-15 | 4,553 | 66.3% | -23% |
| 16+ | 11,899 | 62.6% | -17% |
Pass rate by registration year
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 692 | 74.0% | 0.65× |
| 2010 | 1,296 | 69.8% | 0.73× |
| 2009 | 1,345 | 65.8% | 0.80× |
| 2008 | 1,923 | 64.1% | 0.81× |
| 2007 | 2,232 | 64.3% | 0.78× |
| 2006 | 2,212 | 63.4% | 0.79× |
| 2005 | 2,016 | 62.8% | 0.80× |
| 2004 | 1,666 | 60.5% | 0.85× |
| 2003 | 1,050 | 60.0% | 0.87× |
| 2002 | 919 | 59.0% | 0.92× |
| 2001 | 733 | 66.7% | 0.77× |
| 2000 | 619 | 62.5% | 0.90× |
| 1999 | 439 | 67.0% | 0.85× |
Years with fewer tests are shown for completeness; only years with enough tests have their own page.
Check a specific Saab 9-5
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.