2012 · 12 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2012 Saab 9-3 MOT pass rate and common faults

190 MOT tests in 2024. 75.3% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

117Well above average
Passed first time75.3%
Failed or needed repairs24.7%
Typical mileage at test75,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 190 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.8%
  2. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.1%
  3. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.1%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.1%
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.1%
    6 marked dangerous
  6. Individual direction indicators: incorrect colour1.6%
  7. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened1.6%
  8. Service brake performance: excessively binding1.6%
  9. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam1.6%
  10. Shock absorbers: likely to become detached1.1%
    2 marked dangerous

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension14.7%
  2. Brakes7.9%
  3. Lights & electrics7.4%
  4. Tyres5.3%
  5. Emissions & leaks4.2%
  6. Body & chassis2.6%
  7. Steering1.1%
  8. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)0.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.2%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened11.1%
  3. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened9.5%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.4%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure6.8%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Saab 9-3?

In 2024, 75.3% of 2012 Saab 9-3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 190 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Saab 9-3?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2012 Saab 9-3 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 117, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).