Large family car · 1997–2014 cars

Saab 9-3 reliability

The Saab 9-3 fails 37.3% of first MOT tests, 12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 148,253 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

About averageReliability score 61/100#10 of 29 large family cars

Checking a Saab 9-3 before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 37.3%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 12% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 148,253; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 8,900; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Saab 9-3 ages

Each point is the share of Saab 9-3s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Saab 9-3All cars

Saab 9-3 first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Saab 9-3	All cars
10	30.9%	31.8%
11	32.6%	34.6%
12	33.3%	37.3%
13	33.6%	39.5%
14	35.2%	41.1%
15	37.5%	42.3%
16	38.9%	42.9%
17	40.3%	43.4%
18	40.7%	43.5%
19	41%	43.4%
20	39%	42.8%
21	37.7%	41.4%
22	36%	40.6%
23	35.9%	38.9%
24	33.9%	37.1%
25	35.7%	35.8%

By year

The best and worst Saab 9-3 years

2009 cars come out best and 1998 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Saab 9-3 MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2012	686	21.9%	31% fewer fails	69,168
2011 9-3	8,587	32.7%	13% fewer fails	104,419
2010 9-3	12,492	32.5%	17% fewer fails	104,956
2009 9-3	13,835	33.8%	18% fewer fails	107,680
2008 9-3	23,110	35.5%	18% fewer fails	119,080
2007 9-3	27,411	37.9%	13% fewer fails	115,007
2006 9-3	22,265	41.1%	7% fewer fails	115,788
2005 9-3	14,253	40.6%	9% fewer fails	112,359
2004 9-3	9,202	42.2%	5% fewer fails	111,044
2003 9-3	3,893	41.1%	7% fewer fails	111,959
2002 9-3	3,314	38.8%	9% fewer fails	105,614
2001 9-3	2,964	35.5%	14% fewer fails	102,320
2000 9-3	2,507	35.9%	10% fewer fails	103,940
1999 9-3	2,416	34.4%	11% fewer fails	101,994
1998 9-3	1,281	37.2%	1% fewer fails	107,992

Common problems

What fails most on a Saab 9-3

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Suspension15.8%7% below avg
Lights and electrics13.2%35% below avg
Brakes10.5%14% below avg
Tyres6.7%9% below avg
Body, chassis and structure6.1%22% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks5.9%10% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5.7%18% below avg
Steering2.3%38% below avg
Seat belts and airbags1.5%36% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Coil spring fractured or broken 6.11% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
2
Position lamp not working 2.98% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 2.28% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.17% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
5
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.07% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
6
Exhaust has major gas leak 2.01% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
7
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 1.98% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
8
Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint worn 1.6% of tests
A worn linkage ball joint can rattle, affect handling and eventually fail, so it should be replaced.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Saab 9-3's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit14.63%
Engine oil leak, not excessive11.08%
Brake disc pitted or scored10.58%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking7.77%
Brake pads wearing thin6.77%
Sub-frame showing corrosion6.37%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Saab 9-3

1
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Saab 9-3 covers about 8,900 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Petrol53.1%
Diesel46.8%
LPG0.1%
Other0%

Most common colours

Black, Silver, Blue, Grey, Red

Average engine size: 2.0 litres.

Compare

How the Saab 9-3 compares with its rivals

Saab 9-3 against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Skoda Superb	21.4%	17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Saab 9-3	37.3%	12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Toyota Avensis	33.7%	11% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Honda Accord	38.7%	8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mazda 6	30%	4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Tesla Model 3	14.7%	about average for its age
Vauxhall Vectra	45.9%	6% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every large family car ranked in the large family car reliability index, or all Saab models.

Questions

Saab 9-3 questions, answered

Is the Saab 9-3 reliable?

On MOT results, the Saab 9-3 is about average: it fails 37.3% of first MOT tests, 12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 10 of 29 large family car models in our index.

What fails most on a Saab 9-3 MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Saab 9-3 are coil spring fractured or broken (6.11% of tests), position lamp not working (2.98% of tests), brake pads worn below 1.5mm (2.28% of tests). By area, suspension fails 15.8% of its tests.

Which Saab 9-3 year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2009 cars do best (18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 1998 cars do worst (about average for its age).

How many miles does a Saab 9-3 do a year?

A typical Saab 9-3 covers about 8,900 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Saab 9-3 before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

Found a Saab 9-3? Check it free.

MOT history, mileage record, ULEZ, tax and recalls on any UK car, in seconds. No sign-up, no card.