Large family car · 1997–2016 cars

Saab 9-5 reliability

The Saab 9-5 fails 35.9% of first MOT tests, 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 31,252 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 65/100#5 of 29 large family cars

Checking a Saab 9-5 before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 35.9%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 17% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 31,252; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 8,700; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Saab 9-5 ages

Each point is the share of Saab 9-5s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Saab 9-5All cars

Saab 9-5 first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Saab 9-5	All cars
11	27.7%	34.6%
12	28.9%	37.3%
13	31.4%	39.5%
14	33%	41.1%
15	35.2%	42.3%
16	37.5%	42.9%
17	38.2%	43.4%
18	37.9%	43.5%
19	38.6%	43.4%
20	40.9%	42.8%
21	37.4%	41.4%
22	37.9%	40.6%
23	37.6%	38.9%
24	34.5%	37.1%
25	33.9%	35.8%

By year

The best and worst Saab 9-5 years

2011 cars come out best and 2002 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Saab 9-5 MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2011 9-5	1,198	25.3%	35% fewer fails	103,555
2010 9-5	2,218	29%	27% fewer fails	105,659
2009 9-5	2,228	33.8%	18% fewer fails	109,707
2008 9-5	3,442	34%	22% fewer fails	118,387
2007 9-5	4,050	36%	18% fewer fails	119,058
2006 9-5	4,041	36.6%	18% fewer fails	124,683
2005 9-5	3,556	38.3%	15% fewer fails	125,768
2004 9-5	2,954	39.4%	13% fewer fails	128,281
2003 9-5	1,877	40.3%	11% fewer fails	130,287
2002 9-5	1,698	41.4%	6% fewer fails	123,423
2001 9-5	1,299	35.6%	17% fewer fails	120,963
2000 9-5	1,101	38.7%	7% fewer fails	123,056
1999 9-5	1,017	34.3%	13% fewer fails	121,733
1998	452	36.9%	3% fewer fails	116,453

Common problems

What fails most on a Saab 9-5

Its weak spot is exhaust, emissions and leaks: 16% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics16.8%20% below avg
Suspension11.3%35% below avg
Brakes10.4%20% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks8%16% above avg
Tyres7.1%4% below avg
Body, chassis and structure5.5%37% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors4.1%42% below avg
Seat belts and airbags2.2%19% below avg
Steering1.4%67% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 4.78% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 3.51% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
3
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 2.36% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
4
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 2.25% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
5
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.12% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
6
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.87% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
7
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 1.74% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
8
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 1.68% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Saab 9-5's MOT certificate most often.

Engine oil leak, not excessive18.98%
Tyre worn close to legal limit14.91%
Brake disc pitted or scored9.78%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear9.38%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy9.2%
Suspension arm showing corrosion6.77%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Saab 9-5

1
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.
2
Engine warning light inoperative or lit
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
3
Parking brake efficiency below minimum
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
4
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
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 9-5 covers about 8,700 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

Petrol67.3%
Diesel32.5%
LPG0.2%

Most common colours

Silver, Grey, Black, Blue, Red

Average engine size: 2.1 litres.

Compare

How the Saab 9-5 compares with its rivals

Saab 9-5 against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Volkswagen Arteon	11.9%	25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Saab 9-5	35.9%	17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Subaru Outback	25.8%	16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Kia Optima	19.8%	9% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Rover 75	42.5%	about average for its age
Peugeot 407	46.1%	6% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Renault Laguna	45.8%	10% 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 9-5 questions, answered

Is the Saab 9-5 reliable?

On MOT results, the Saab 9-5 is better than average: it fails 35.9% of first MOT tests, 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 5 of 29 large family car models in our index.

What fails most on a Saab 9-5 MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Saab 9-5 are position lamp not working (4.78% of tests), engine warning light inoperative or lit (3.51% of tests), parking brake efficiency below minimum (2.36% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 16.8% of its tests.

Which Saab 9-5 year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2011 cars do best (35% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2002 cars do worst (6% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Saab 9-5 do a year?

A typical Saab 9-5 covers about 8,700 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 9-5 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.

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