Does the Saab 9-3 fail the MOT on steering more than it should?
The Saab 9-3 records 3.36 steering failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 5.12 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−1.76, 95% interval −1.83 to −1.68). It ranks 452 of 640 models on steering (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on steering · check a Saab 9-3 by registration
What exactly fails on steering?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Saab 9-3 is “A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play”, recorded 2,393 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 2,393 | 0.72 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 2,087 | 0.62 |
| Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated | 1,954 | 0.58 |
| Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning | 1,781 | 0.53 |
| Excessive wear or play in a universal joint or a flexible coupling excessively deteriorated | 620 | 0.19 |
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 steering advisory, how often does it fail next time?
10.0% of Saab 9-3 MOTs with a steering advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 4,977 miles later (8,314 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 8,314 (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 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 suspension failures · Saab 9-3 tyres failures · Saab 9-3 visibility failures