Saab
9 5
15,021 MOT tests analysed. lands in the middle of the pack — here's where 9 5s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 6.5 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
71.0%
Pass-after-fix
5.7%
Fail
22.5%
Avg miles
124,550
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
Saab 9 5: mixed MOT record across 11,522 tests
The Saab 9-5 is an executive car, manufactured and marketed by Saab from 1997 to 2012, across two generations.
MOT data from 11,522 tests puts this car on a 70.5% first-time pass rate, below the UK fleet average. Average mileage at test is 123,900 miles. The most common fail item is cracked or discoloured windscreen, followed by lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning.
Distinctive design. Comfortable cabin. Impressive rear passenger room and large boot. Fuel efficient 2.0 TiD engine. Well equipped as standard.
The 9 5's pass rate warrants caution in the used market. Factor in likely first-test remedial work on the common failure items and get a pre-purchase inspection that covers the specific items this car trips on most.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 20–32
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
20–32
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
548 occurrences · 3.6% of tests
- 02
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
432 occurrences · 2.9% of tests
- 03
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
418 occurrences · 2.8% of tests
- 04
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
372 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
- 05
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
328 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
- 06
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
313 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
- 07
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
304 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 08
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
302 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
- 09
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
286 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 10
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
260 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£18–£115
If every one of this 9 5's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Headlight restoration kit
Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
H7 / W21W bulb pack
A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
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Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Owner reports · Honest John
What owners actually report.
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
What's good
Distinctive design. Comfortable cabin. Impressive rear passenger room and large boot. Fuel efficient 2.0 TiD engine. Well equipped as standard.
Where it falls short
Firm ride. Notchy manual gearbox. Interior doesn't feel as upmarket as it should given the price. Liquidation likely to seriously affect parts supply.
Buying or keeping a 9 5?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 9 5 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.