Does the Saab 9-5 fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Saab 9-5 records 8.42 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 12.52 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−4.10, 95% interval −4.35 to −3.84). It ranks 518 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 9-5 by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Saab 9-5 is “A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated”, recorded 1,515 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 1,515 | 2.06 |
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 1,318 | 1.79 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,196 | 1.62 |
| Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 445 | 0.60 |
| Fuel system leaking excessively or a risk of fire | 379 | 0.51 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 73,669 (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 9-5 gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
13.2% of Saab 9-5 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 3,819 miles later (4,089 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 4,089 (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 9-5 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 2005 · 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 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