Saab 9-5

What fails its inspection

Great Britain's MOT record for the 2006 2.3 petrol. 176 of 743 tests failed, 24%.

Better than 69% of 2006 cars. The typical one fails 27%, across 889 models with enough tests behind them to say.

The defects inspectors cite

• A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
• Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
• Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
• A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
• Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
• Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• Brakes — 36% of its failures
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
• Suspension — 34% of its failures
  • A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
• Tyres and wheels — 28% of its failures
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A tyre seriously damaged
  • A tyre cords visible or damaged
• Exhaust and emissions — 25% of its failures
• Lights and electrics — 28% of its failures
  • A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
• Body and structure — 18% of its failures
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded

When it starts failing

At 180–200k miles this one fails 30% of its inspections, about what an ordinary car of the same age does.

692 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.

Half of these have more than 120k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.

Specification