Saab 9-5 2005: MOT failure rate for its age
42.0% of 9,209 MOT tests of the Saab 9-5 first registered in 2005 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 103.4 (95% CI 100.1–106.6; 100 = normal for this model at that age): close to other build years of the same model at the same age (within 5 points of normal).
| Measure | Value | Unit | Compared with | Years | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed first time | 42.0 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 9209 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 100.1–106.6) | 103.4 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 9209 |
| Rank among this model's 14 build years | 11 | of 14 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 9209 |
| Tested in 2024 | 907 | tests | median 126,310 miles | 2024 | 907 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2005 Saab 9-5 fail at each age?
Cars built in 2005 were tested at ages 14 to 19 between 2019 and 2024. Each row compares their first-time failure share with what this model normally shows at that age, after allowing for the overall failure level of each test year.
| Age | Tests | Failed, % | 95% interval | Normal for this model at that age, % | Index (100 = normal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 2,440 | 45.4 | 43.4–47.4 | 42 | 108.2 |
| 15 | 1,817 | 43 | 40.7–45.3 | 40.6 | 105.8 |
| 16 | 1,626 | 41.8 | 39.4–44.2 | 41.1 | 101.6 |
| 17 | 1,315 | 41.7 | 39–44.4 | 39.7 | 104.9 |
| 18 | 1,104 | 36.9 | 34.1–39.8 | 38.2 | 96.5 |
| 19 | 907 | 37.6 | 34.5–40.8 | 40 | 93.9 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 9,209 (initial tests) · Method: normal rate = this model's first-time failure share at that age across its build years (cells of 400+ tests), adjusted for each test year's overall level; cells of 30+ tests, under 500 marked rough · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
What fails most on the 2005 Saab 9-5?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2005 is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: 49.6 items per 100 first tests, against 31.5 across all build years of the Saab 9-5. These counts are not age-adjusted: cars built in 2005 were tested at ages 14 to 19.
| Failure group | Built 2005, per 100 | All build years, per 100 | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 49.6 | 31.5 | 4,566 |
| Brakes | 25.4 | 20.2 | 2,340 |
| Suspension | 24.9 | 21.5 | 2,292 |
| Visibility | 12.1 | 10.8 | 1,113 |
| Tyres | 11.6 | 11 | 1,067 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 9,209 (initial tests of this build year) · Method: failure items grouped by DVSA's top-level defect groups, per 100 initial tests; groups with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How does 2005 compare with the years around it?
Among the 14 published build years of the Saab 9-5, 2005 ranks 11 (1 = fails least for its age). 2004: index 103.9. 2006: index 96.5.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 87.1 | 75.1–99.2 | better (rough estimate) | 519 |
| 1999 | 101.3 | 93.0–109.5 | no different (rough estimate) | 1,329 |
| 2000 | 93.2 | 87.1–99.4 | better (rough estimate) | 2,235 |
| 2001 | 92.8 | 87.5–98.1 | better (rough estimate) | 3,027 |
| 2002 | 106.3 | 101.6–111.0 | worse | 4,511 |
| 2003 | 106.3 | 101.8–110.8 | worse | 4,909 |
| 2004 | 103.9 | 100.4–107.5 | worse | 7,803 |
| 2005 | 103.4 | 100.1–106.6 | worse | 9,209 |
| 2006 | 96.5 | 93.4–99.6 | better | 9,869 |
| 2007 | 94.7 | 91.6–97.9 | better | 9,199 |
| 2008 | 95.2 | 91.5–98.8 | better | 7,461 |
| 2009 | 96.0 | 91.3–100.7 | no different | 4,588 |
| 2010 | 85.5 | 80.7–90.3 | better | 4,257 |
| 2011 | 89.8 | 82.9–96.6 | better (rough estimate) | 2,263 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 71,179 (initial tests) · Method: observed failures against those expected for the same model at the same ages, test-year level adjusted; verdict follows the printed one-decimal bound · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Saab 9-5 2005 MOT statistics (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 30 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/saab-9-5/2005/
How every figure is calculated: methodology. Age, test year and build year are tied together (age = test year − build year), so the test-year level is taken as observed, not estimated.
Other pages for this model
Saab 9-5 1998 · Saab 9-5 1999 · Saab 9-5 2000 · Saab 9-5 2001 · Saab 9-5 2002 · Saab 9-5 2003 · Saab 9-5 2004 · Saab 9-5 2006 · Saab 9-5 2007 · Saab 9-5 2008 · Saab 9-5 2009 · Saab 9-5 2010 · Saab 9-5 2011 · Saab 9-5 in Norway · Saab 9-5 in Finland · Saab 9-5 in the Netherlands · Saab 9-5 by postcode area · Saab 9-5 body, chassis and structure failures · Saab 9-5 brakes failures · Saab 9-5 vehicle identification failures · Saab 9-5 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Saab 9-5 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Saab 9-5 road wheels failures · Saab 9-5 seat belts and airbags failures · Saab 9-5 steering failures · Saab 9-5 suspension failures · Saab 9-5 tyres failures · Saab 9-5 visibility failures