Saab Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems by model
Free Saab vehicle check by reg: MOT history, mileage and tax. Buying one? The full car history check shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, keepers and plate changes.
- 76% MOT pass rate (UK 77%)
- 649 Saabs checked
Saab reg check
Full Saab history check from £3.99
The MOT record is free, and it only shows the car's condition on test day. What a seller may not mention is in the full Saab car check:
- Outstanding finance: lender and agreement
- Insurance write-off: Cat S, N, C or D
- Police stolen marker
- High risk register
- Previous keepers and last change
- Plate and colour changes
- Scrapped, imported or exported
- Mileage anomaly check
£3.99 a report in the 5-report bundle, £11.99 for a single report; unused reports never expire. Shown on screen straight away and sent by email. No subscription. Start with the free check: you only pay for the full report.
Saab car check by model
MOT pass rate of each Saab model, all its versions included; the line marks the UK average (77%). Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.
- Saab 9-3 532 vehicles checked 76% Top failure area: suspension
- Saab 9-5 77 vehicles checked
- Saab 900 22 vehicles checked
Free Saab MOT History and Mileage Data
What the MOT records of 649 Saab vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.
- 76%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
- 6,300typical miles a year
- 7.7%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
- 12,379MOT tests analysed
- 2004–2008built (middle half)
- 58%petrol; 41% diesel
Saab common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories
The defects MOT testers record most often on Saab vehicles, as a share of all their MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once).
Top 20 Saab MOT failures
Reasons the car failed its MOT.
- Coil spring fractured or broken2.2%
- Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.0%
- Position lamp not working1.8%
- Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively1.7%
- Coil spring broken1.6%
- Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.5%
- Parking brake efficiency below requirements1.1%
- Headlamp aim too low1.0%
- Tyre has ply or cords exposed0.9%
- Headlamp not working on dipped beam0.9%
Show all 20
- Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid0.9%
- Stop lamp not working0.9%
- Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.8%
- Headlamp aim too high0.8%
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.6%
- Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn0.6%
- Windscreen washer not working0.6%
- Headlamp not working on main beam0.6%
- Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases0.5%
- Direction indicator incorrect colour0.5%
Top 20 Saab MOT advisories
Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.
- Tyre worn close to the legal limit6.1%
- Brake pad wearing thin6.0%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge5.5%
- Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened5.4%
- Oil leak, but not excessive4.9%
- Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread2.7%
- Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases2.2%
- Coil spring corroded2.0%
- Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened1.8%
- Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing1.8%
Show all 20
- Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule1.3%
- Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.2%
- Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play1.2%
- Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'1.2%
- Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement1.2%
- Direction indicator slightly discoloured1.1%
- Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources1.0%
- Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A'0.9%
- Nail in tyre0.9%
- Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material0.9%
Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 649 Saab vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp (12,379 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check. Market-wide figures: UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Before buying a used Saab
The MOT record shows condition on the day of the test. Run these checks on the Saab you're looking at too:
Saab MOT questions
Is a Saab car check free?
The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any Saab are free. The full car history check (finance, write-off, stolen, keepers and 150+ data points) is paid, from £3.99 a report.
What is the most common MOT failure on the Saab?
Coil spring fractured or broken: found at 2.2% of the Saab MOT tests we analysed. By area, suspension items appear in 37% of failed tests.
What is the Saab MOT pass rate?
76% of 12,379 MOT tests on 649 Saab vehicles checked on CarCheckUp were passed (retests included). The UK average across all vehicles we checked is 77%.
What are the common problems with the Saab?
Going by its MOT records, the Saab's most common failures are coil spring fractured or broken (2.2% of tests); tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.0% of tests); position lamp not working (1.8% of tests). The full list of the top 20 MOT failures and advisories is on this page.
What is the most common MOT advisory on the Saab?
Tyre worn close to the legal limit: noted at 6.1% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.
How many miles a year is a Saab typically driven?
About 6,300 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 7.7% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.