Does the Saab 9-3 fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Saab 9-3 records 9.29 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 11.35 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−2.06, 95% interval −2.18 to −1.95). It ranks 454 of 663 models on body, chassis and structure (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on body, chassis and structure · check a Saab 9-3 by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Saab 9-3 is “Exhaust system leaking or insecure”, recorded 9,056 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 9,056 | 2.71 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 6,282 | 1.88 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 5,834 | 1.74 |
| Fuel system leaking excessively or a risk of fire | 2,141 | 0.64 |
| Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 1,297 | 0.39 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 334,332 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Saab 9-3 gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
14.3% of Saab 9-3 MOTs with a body, chassis and structure advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 4,863 miles later (18,719 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 18,719 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Saab 9-3 1998 · Saab 9-3 1999 · Saab 9-3 2000 · Saab 9-3 2001 · Saab 9-3 2002 · Saab 9-3 2003 · Saab 9-3 2004 · Saab 9-3 2005 · Saab 9-3 2006 · Saab 9-3 2007 · Saab 9-3 2008 · Saab 9-3 2009 · Saab 9-3 2010 · Saab 9-3 2011 · Saab 9-3 2012 · Saab 9-3 in Norway · Saab 9-3 in Finland · Saab 9-3 in the Netherlands · Saab 9-3 by postcode area · Saab 9-3 brakes failures · Saab 9-3 vehicle identification failures · Saab 9-3 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Saab 9-3 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Saab 9-3 road wheels failures · Saab 9-3 seat belts and airbags failures · Saab 9-3 steering failures · Saab 9-3 suspension failures · Saab 9-3 tyres failures · Saab 9-3 visibility failures