2010 · 14 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2010 Saab 9-5 MOT pass rate and common faults

627 MOT tests in 2024. 70.2% passed first time, compared with 59.6% for all cars the same age.

118Well above average
Passed first time70.2%
Failed or needed repairs29.8%
Typical mileage at test109,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 627 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working6.9%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.0%
  3. Rear fog lamp: not working1.9%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.8%
    14 marked dangerous
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.8%
    17 marked dangerous
  6. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.8%
  7. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.6%
    18 marked dangerous
  8. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side1.1%
  9. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.1%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics17.7%
  2. Brakes10.0%
  3. Suspension8.1%
  4. Tyres5.9%
  5. Emissions & leaks3.7%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.3%
  7. Body & chassis2.2%
  8. Steering1.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.9%
  2. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened10.5%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine9.7%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.3%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.0%

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: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2009 9-5All 9-5 years2011 9-5 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2010 Saab 9-5?

In 2024, 70.2% of 2010 Saab 9-5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 627 tests. The average for all 14-year-old cars was 59.6%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2010 Saab 9-5?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; coil spring: fractured or broken; rear fog lamp: not working. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2010 Saab 9-5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 118, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).