In 2025, 31,008 Saab 9-3 cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 64% passed first time, compared with 58% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the 9-3 better than average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 56 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 14 years old, 66% of 9-3s passed first time (all cars that age: 61%). By 20 years, that figure is 61% (all cars: 58%). It beats the average car at every age with enough data, from 14 to 20 years.
Saab 9-3 All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | 9-3 passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 years | 2,050 | 66% | 61% | 114,079 |
| 15 years | 3,005 | 66% | 59% | 112,615 |
| 16 years | 3,203 | 65% | 58% | 113,633 |
| 17 years | 4,842 | 64% | 57% | 123,061 |
| 18 years | 5,561 | 63% | 57% | 118,104 |
| 19 years | 4,239 | 61% | 57% | 117,078 |
| 20 years | 2,735 | 61% | 58% | 114,120 |
What fails most on a Saab 9-3
The area that lets the 9-3 down most, relative to other cars, is body and structure: 7.4% of tests failed on it, 1.8 times the rate for the average car.
Share of 9-3 tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 6.9% |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 6.3% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 5.2% |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 3.8% |
| A tyre seriously damaged | Tyres | 3.6% |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | Suspension | 3.5% |
What to check when buying a used 9-3
Based on where the 9-3 fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Body and structure: Get underneath with a torch: sills, jacking points, subframe mounts and floor pans. Structural rust is the failure that can make a car uneconomic to fix. Repair guide
- Emissions and leaks: Look for oil and coolant leaks underneath, listen for exhaust blows on a cold start, and watch for smoke when revving. Repair guide
- Suspension: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, look for leaking shock absorbers, and check the car sits level. Ask whether springs, bushes or drop links have been replaced. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific 9-3
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a 9-3Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Saab 9-3?
In 2025, 64% of Saab 9-3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 31,008 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 58%.
What do Saab 9-3 cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened (6.9% of tests); a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (6.3% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (5.2% of tests).
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.