Saab 9-3 Se Tid MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,198 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 48.7%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Saab 9-3 Se Tid MOT Reliability Overview
The Saab 9-3 Se Tid is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,198 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 5 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 51.3% and a failure rate of 48.7%, which is below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Saab 9-3 Se Tid earns a "Poor" reliability rating. The average Saab 9-3 Se Tid presents for MOT with approximately 139,222 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2001 models achieve the highest pass rate at 55.1%, while 1999 models have the lowest at 37.6%. This 17.5 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 Se Tid is Brakes, affecting 41.7% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment at 32.8%. Suspension rounds out the top three at 28.1%. 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
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 | Brakes | 61.6% | 738 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 45.2% | 541 |
| 3 | Tyres | 36.1% | 432 |
| 4 | Suspension | 35.4% | 424 |
| 5 | Driver's View Of The Road | 16.1% | 193 |
| 6 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 7.5% | 90 |
| 7 | Steering | 5.4% | 65 |
| 8 | Registration Plates And Vin | 5.4% | 65 |
| 9 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 3.5% | 42 |
| 10 | Road Wheels | 3.0% | 36 |
| 11 | Body, Structure And General Items | 2.6% | 31 |
| 12 | Items Not Tested | 0.9% | 11 |
| 13 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 0.7% | 8 |
| 14 | Non-component Advisories | 0.3% | 4 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 139,222 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 4.42 | 61.6% | 738 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 3.24 | 45.2% | 541 |
| Tyres | 2.59 | 36.1% | 432 |
| Suspension | 2.54 | 35.4% | 424 |
| Visibility | 1.16 | 16.1% | 193 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.54 | 7.5% | 90 |
| Steering | 0.39 | 5.4% | 65 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.39 | 5.4% | 65 |
| Seat Belts | 0.25 | 3.5% | 42 |
| Body & Structure | 0.24 | 3.3% | 39 |
| Wheels | 0.22 | 3.0% | 36 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.07 | 0.9% | 11 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.02 | 0.3% | 4 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Saab 9-3 Se Tid has 139,222 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 Se Tid has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 3.50% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Saab 9-3 Se Tid MOT Data
The Saab 9-3 Se Tid is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,198 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 5 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 51.3% and a failure rate of 48.7%, which is below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Saab 9-3 Se Tid owners, these results suggest above-average failure risk — thorough pre-MOT checks are recommended. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 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 Se Tid is likely to perform.
Brakes — 41.7% of failures
Brakes issues account for 41.7% of MOT failures on the Saab 9-3 Se Tid. 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).
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.8% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 32.8% of MOT failures on the Saab 9-3 Se Tid. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Suspension — 28.1% of failures
Suspension issues account for 28.1% of MOT failures on the Saab 9-3 Se Tid. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Saab 9-3 Se Tid?
Based on 1,198 MOT tests in our database, the Saab 9-3 Se Tid has an overall pass rate of 51.3% (48.7% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Saab 9-3 Se Tid?
The top 3 reasons a Saab 9-3 Se Tid fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (41.7%), 2. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (32.8%), 3. Suspension (28.1%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Saab 9-3 Se Tid reliable?
With a 48.7% MOT failure rate, the 9-3 Se Tid is less reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Saab 9-3 Se Tid?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (41.7%); Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (32.8%); Suspension (28.1%). 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.