SAAB 9 3 Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 4,685 MOT tests from 240 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®. The figures below describe that VehicleScore® sample. Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are not a claim that every SAAB 9 3 has the same fault.

SAAB 9 3's have a average reliability rating of 487/999. The score was calculated from the average of every SAAB 9 3 that has had a registered MOT.

We calculated all of the below figures by getting the score from each vehicle make/model/year/fuel, which are each calculated a score. We then generate the average score, taking into account factors such as mileage and emissions.

Also check BHP & performance, road tax, fuel economy, and CO2 emissions for the SAAB 9 3.

SAAB 9 3 (example)

Check the reliability of your Saab 9-3

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Fuel Type	Year	Reliability Score	Avg Mileage	Sample Size
Diesel	2011	527/999Above average	82,246 miles	709 vehicles
Petrol	2010	520/999Above average	90,669 miles	555 vehicles
Diesel	2009	499/999Average	81,348 miles	1,156 vehicles
Diesel	2008	479/999Average	81,288 miles	1,705 vehicles
Petrol	2008	484/999Average	87,863 miles	1,162 vehicles
Diesel	2007	462/999Average	81,082 miles	2,616 vehicles
Diesel	2005	454/999Average	82,184 miles	1,801 vehicles
Petrol	2003	442/999Average	81,672 miles	2,813 vehicles
Diesel	2002	451/999Average	84,386 miles	1,023 vehicles
Petrol	2001	489/999Average	81,041 miles	2,411 vehicles
Petrol	2000	510/999Above average	86,474 miles	2,927 vehicles
Petrol	1998	530/999Above average	90,787 miles	828 vehicles

How reliable is the SAAB 9 3?

Based on 4,685 MOT tests from 240 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®.

Vehicles

240

MOT tests

4,685

Pass rate

77.2%

Median mileage

107,560 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every SAAB 9 3 has the same fault. The median VehicleScore® in this sample is 522 out of 999.

Common SAAB 9 3 MOT problems

These groups combine equivalent MOT comments, such as the same tyre note on different corners. Counts are comment occurrences in the sample, not a percentage of cars.

Tyre wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 845 advisory comments and 46 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record tyres that were worn, damaged, or close to the legal tread depth when the car was inspected.

What to inspect

Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT TYRE WORN CLOSE TO THE LEGAL LIMIT (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 222 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an oil leak noted by the tester. Shock absorber misting is counted as a damper issue, not as an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.

Example MOT wording: OIL LEAK, BUT NOT EXCESSIVE (8.4.1 (A) (I))

Coil spring issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 193 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record coil springs that were corroded, fractured, or otherwise defective. They are counted separately from shock absorbers.

What to inspect

Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED OR BROKEN (5.3.1 (B) (I))

Corrosion

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 152 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record corrosion the tester could see on the body or structure. Corrosion already named on a spring, brake, or other component is counted with that component.

What to inspect

Inspect the underside, sills, and subframe for heavy corrosion, especially where an advisory mentions it.

Example MOT wording: REAR SUB-FRAME CORRODED BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (5.3.3 (B) (I))

Brake disc wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 104 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake discs that were worn, scored, pitted, or corroded.

What to inspect

Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE DISC WORN, PITTED OR SCORED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (1.1.14 (A) (II))

Brake pad wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 59 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake pads that were worn or below the inspection limit.

What to inspect

Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.

Example MOT wording: REAR BRAKE PAD(S) WEARING THIN (1.1.13 (A) (II))

Anti-roll bar issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 32 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record wear or damage in the anti-roll bar, its links, or its bushes.

What to inspect

Listen for a knock when driving over uneven ground at low speed.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE FRONT ANTI-ROLL BAR LINKAGE BALL JOINT EXCESSIVELY WORN (5.3.4 (A) (I))

Parking brake faults

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 29 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a parking brake that did not hold well enough or had a component defect.

What to inspect

Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.

Example MOT wording: PARKING BRAKE EFFICIENCY BELOW REQUIREMENTS (1.4.2 (A) (I))

SAAB 9 3 MOT reliability by year

A model year is only commented on when VehicleScore® has at least 5 vehicles from that year.

Year	Vehicles	MOT tests	Pass rate	Recurring issues seen
2011	17	257	78.6%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2010	23	397	76.3%	Tyre wear, Corrosion
2009	20	366	78.4%	Tyre wear, Corrosion
2008	28	531	80.2%	Tyre wear, Corrosion
2007	48	961	78%	Tyre wear, Oil leak
2006	23	516	75.2%	Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
2005	26	583	76%	Tyre wear, Oil leak
2004	11	244	77.9%	Tyre wear, Indicator faults
2001	5	128	70.3%	Corrosion, Tyre wear
1999	5	131	73.3%	Corrosion, Registration plate condition
1998	5	105	74.3%	Tyre wear, Exhaust

What to check when buying a used SAAB 9 3

This is an inspection checklist based on MOT comments in the VehicleScore® sample. It does not mean the car you are looking at has these defects.

Tyre wear. Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.
Oil leak. Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.
Coil spring issues. Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.
Corrosion. Inspect the underside, sills, and subframe for heavy corrosion, especially where an advisory mentions it.
Brake disc wear. Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.
Brake pad wear. Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.
Anti-roll bar issues. Listen for a knock when driving over uneven ground at low speed.
Parking brake faults. Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.

Buying a SAAB 9 3?

Common problems tell you what can affect SAAB 9 3s generally. VehicleScore® can check the history of the actual car you're considering.

Where does this data come from?

VehicleScore® analyses MOT histories from vehicles in its own dataset. Sample sizes vary by model, and a small sample is labelled as such. MOT data records roadworthiness and inspection defects. It does not capture every mechanical or electronic problem a car can have, and a comment on one test is not proof that the model has an inherent fault.

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