Does the Saab 9-3 fail the MOT on suspension more than it should?
The Saab 9-3 records 29.55 suspension failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 28.20 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (+1.35, 95% interval +1.17 to +1.54). It ranks 215 of 701 models on suspension (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on suspension · check a Saab 9-3 by registration
What exactly fails on suspension?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Saab 9-3 is “A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened”, recorded 29,011 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 29,011 | 8.68 |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 24,797 | 7.42 |
| A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 14,113 | 4.22 |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 12,551 | 3.75 |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 5,062 | 1.51 |
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 suspension advisory, how often does it fail next time?
24.6% of Saab 9-3 MOTs with a suspension advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 4,897 miles later (54,950 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 54,950 (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 steering failures · Saab 9-3 tyres failures · Saab 9-3 visibility failures