Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 3,396 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 40.5%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp MOT Reliability Overview
The Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 3,396 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 5 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 59.5% and a failure rate of 40.5%, which is slightly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp earns a "Below Average" reliability rating. The average Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp presents for MOT with approximately 100,083 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2006 models achieve the highest pass rate at 65.9%, while 2003 models have the lowest at 57.6%. This 8.3 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp is Suspension, affecting 38.6% of all tests. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. The second most common issue is Brakes at 27.6%. Tyres rounds out the top three at 23.5%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 5 to 14 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp shows a relatively stable failure rate after warranty — the change of 0% is negligible. Peak failure occurs at age 12 (48.6% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 43.6% | 1,480 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 33.6% | 1,139 |
| 3 | Brakes | 32.5% | 1,103 |
| 4 | Tyres | 28.2% | 958 |
| 5 | Driver's View Of The Road | 9.2% | 312 |
| 6 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 3.7% | 127 |
| 7 | Steering | 3.6% | 123 |
| 8 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 3.4% | 117 |
| 9 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 2.8% | 94 |
| 10 | Visibility | 2.5% | 86 |
| 11 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 2.4% | 81 |
| 12 | Registration Plates And Vin | 2.2% | 75 |
| 13 | Non-component Advisories | 1.8% | 61 |
| 14 | Road Wheels | 1.4% | 48 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 100,083 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 4.35 | 43.6% | 1,480 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 3.35 | 33.6% | 1,139 |
| Brakes | 3.25 | 32.5% | 1,103 |
| Tyres | 2.82 | 28.2% | 958 |
| Visibility | 1.17 | 11.7% | 398 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.37 | 3.7% | 127 |
| Steering | 0.36 | 3.6% | 123 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.34 | 3.4% | 117 |
| Body & Structure | 0.28 | 2.8% | 94 |
| Seat Belts | 0.24 | 2.4% | 81 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.22 | 2.2% | 75 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.18 | 1.8% | 61 |
| Wheels | 0.14 | 1.4% | 48 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp has 100,083 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.05% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp MOT Data
The Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 3,396 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 5 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 59.5% and a failure rate of 40.5%, which is slightly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp owners, these results suggest average reliability — some preparation before MOT can improve pass chances. Focus your pre-MOT checks on suspension and brakes for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp is likely to perform.
Suspension — 38.6% of failures
Suspension issues account for 38.6% of MOT failures on the Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Brakes — 27.6% of failures
Brakes issues account for 27.6% of MOT failures on the Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Tyres — 23.5% of failures
Tyres issues account for 23.5% of MOT failures on the Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp?
Based on 3,396 MOT tests in our database, the Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp has an overall pass rate of 59.5% (40.5% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp?
The top 3 reasons a Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp fails its MOT are: 1. Suspension (38.6%), 2. Brakes (27.6%), 3. Tyres (23.5%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp reliable?
With a 40.5% MOT failure rate, the 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp is about average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp?
Based on failure data, focus on: Suspension (38.6%); Brakes (27.6%); Tyres (23.5%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.