Saab 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,021 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 32.9%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Saab 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v MOT Reliability Overview
The Saab 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,021 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.1% and a failure rate of 32.9%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Saab 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v earns a "Good" reliability rating. The average Saab 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v presents for MOT with approximately 97,387 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2008 models achieve the highest pass rate at 69.1%, while 2007 models have the lowest at 67.0%. This 2.1 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 Vector Sport Tid 8v is Suspension, affecting 28.0% 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 20.6%. Tyres rounds out the top three at 18.6%. 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 | Suspension | 30.1% | 307 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.0% | 235 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.5% | 220 |
| 4 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 19.1% | 195 |
| 5 | Driver's View Of The Road | 8.5% | 87 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.6% | 47 |
| 7 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 4.5% | 46 |
| 8 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 2.6% | 27 |
| 9 | Visibility | 1.7% | 17 |
| 10 | Registration Plates And Vin | 1.5% | 15 |
| 11 | Road Wheels | 1.1% | 11 |
| 12 | Non-component Advisories | 1.1% | 11 |
| 13 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.7% | 7 |
| 14 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.6% | 6 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 97,387 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 | 3.09 | 30.1% | 307 |
| Brakes | 2.36 | 23.0% | 235 |
| Tyres | 2.21 | 21.5% | 220 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 1.96 | 19.1% | 195 |
| Visibility | 1.04 | 10.2% | 104 |
| Steering | 0.47 | 4.6% | 47 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.46 | 4.5% | 46 |
| Body & Structure | 0.27 | 2.6% | 27 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.15 | 1.5% | 15 |
| Wheels | 0.11 | 1.1% | 11 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.11 | 1.1% | 11 |
| Seat Belts | 0.07 | 0.7% | 7 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.06 | 0.6% | 6 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Saab 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v has 97,387 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 Vector Sport Tid 8v has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 3.38% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Saab 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v MOT Data
The Saab 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,021 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.1% and a failure rate of 32.9%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Saab 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v 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 Vector Sport Tid 8v is likely to perform.
Suspension — 28.0% of failures
Suspension issues account for 28.0% of MOT failures on the Saab 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v. 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 — 20.6% of failures
Brakes issues account for 20.6% of MOT failures on the Saab 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v. 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 — 18.6% of failures
Tyres issues account for 18.6% of MOT failures on the Saab 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v. 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 Vector Sport Tid 8v?
Based on 1,021 MOT tests in our database, the Saab 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v has an overall pass rate of 67.1% (32.9% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Saab 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v?
The top 3 reasons a Saab 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v fails its MOT are: 1. Suspension (28.0%), 2. Brakes (20.6%), 3. Tyres (18.6%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Saab 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v reliable?
With a 32.9% MOT failure rate, the 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Saab 9-3 Vector Sport Tid 8v?
Based on failure data, focus on: Suspension (28.0%); Brakes (20.6%); Tyres (18.6%). 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.