Does the Saab 9-3 fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Saab 9-3 records 25.18 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 32.92 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−7.74, 95% interval −7.93 to −7.54). It ranks 575 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Saab 9-3 by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Saab 9-3 is “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”, recorded 11,072 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 11,072 | 3.31 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 11,013 | 3.29 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 9,294 | 2.78 |
| Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 8,194 | 2.45 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 6,357 | 1.90 |
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 lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
26.4% of Saab 9-3 MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 4,468 miles later (8,548 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 8,548 (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 body, chassis and structure failures · Saab 9-3 brakes failures · Saab 9-3 vehicle identification 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