Saab 9-3 Linear 150 Bhp MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 3,288 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 34.5%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Saab 9-3 Linear 150 Bhp MOT Reliability Overview
The Saab 9-3 Linear 150 Bhp is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 3,288 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 6 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.5% and a failure rate of 34.5%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Saab 9-3 Linear 150 Bhp earns a "Good" reliability rating. The average Saab 9-3 Linear 150 Bhp presents for MOT with approximately 80,104 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2007 models achieve the highest pass rate at 70.6%, while 2002 models have the lowest at 58.2%. This 12.4 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 Linear 150 Bhp is Suspension, affecting 27.2% 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 22.0%. Tyres rounds out the top three at 20.1%. 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 Linear 150 Bhp. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 3 to 14 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Saab 9-3 Linear 150 Bhp ages relatively gracefully. The failure rate increase of 4% after warranty is below average, suggesting good long-term reliability. Peak failure occurs at age 13 (48.0% 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 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 30.5% | 1,003 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.8% | 948 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.1% | 793 |
| 4 | Tyres | 22.8% | 750 |
| 5 | Driver's View Of The Road | 7.4% | 244 |
| 6 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 2.9% | 94 |
| 7 | Steering | 2.6% | 84 |
| 8 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 2.5% | 82 |
| 9 | Visibility | 2.3% | 76 |
| 10 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 1.8% | 60 |
| 11 | Registration Plates And Vin | 1.6% | 53 |
| 12 | Non-component Advisories | 1.6% | 52 |
| 13 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 1.3% | 43 |
| 14 | Road Wheels | 0.9% | 29 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 80,104 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 3.81 | 30.5% | 1,003 |
| Suspension | 3.60 | 28.8% | 948 |
| Brakes | 3.01 | 24.1% | 793 |
| Tyres | 2.85 | 22.8% | 750 |
| Visibility | 1.22 | 9.7% | 320 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.36 | 2.9% | 94 |
| Steering | 0.32 | 2.6% | 84 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.31 | 2.5% | 82 |
| Body & Structure | 0.23 | 1.8% | 60 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.20 | 1.6% | 53 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.20 | 1.6% | 52 |
| Seat Belts | 0.16 | 1.3% | 43 |
| Wheels | 0.11 | 0.9% | 29 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Saab 9-3 Linear 150 Bhp has 80,104 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 Linear 150 Bhp has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.31% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Saab 9-3 Linear 150 Bhp MOT Data
The Saab 9-3 Linear 150 Bhp is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 3,288 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 6 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.5% and a failure rate of 34.5%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Saab 9-3 Linear 150 Bhp owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. 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 Linear 150 Bhp is likely to perform.
Suspension — 27.2% of failures
Suspension issues account for 27.2% of MOT failures on the Saab 9-3 Linear 150 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 — 22.0% of failures
Brakes issues account for 22.0% of MOT failures on the Saab 9-3 Linear 150 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 — 20.1% of failures
Tyres issues account for 20.1% of MOT failures on the Saab 9-3 Linear 150 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 Linear 150 Bhp?
Based on 3,288 MOT tests in our database, the Saab 9-3 Linear 150 Bhp has an overall pass rate of 65.5% (34.5% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Saab 9-3 Linear 150 Bhp?
The top 3 reasons a Saab 9-3 Linear 150 Bhp fails its MOT are: 1. Suspension (27.2%), 2. Brakes (22.0%), 3. Tyres (20.1%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Saab 9-3 Linear 150 Bhp reliable?
With a 34.5% MOT failure rate, the 9-3 Linear 150 Bhp is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Saab 9-3 Linear 150 Bhp?
Based on failure data, focus on: Suspension (27.2%); Brakes (22.0%); Tyres (20.1%). 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.