Does the Saab 9-5 fail the MOT on noise, emissions and leaks more than it should?
The Saab 9-5 records 9.37 noise, emissions and leaks failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 7.90 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+1.47, 95% interval +1.25 to +1.69). It ranks 114 of 678 models on noise, emissions and leaks (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on noise, emissions and leaks · check a Saab 9-5 by registration
What exactly fails on noise, emissions and leaks?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Saab 9-5 is “Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction”, recorded 3,300 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 3,300 | 4.48 |
| Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limit | 750 | 1.02 |
| Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users | 724 | 0.98 |
| Emissions test unable to be completed | 448 | 0.61 |
| Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 409 | 0.56 |
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 noise, emissions and leaks advisory, how often does it fail next time?
9.9% of Saab 9-5 MOTs with a noise, emissions and leaks advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 4,330 miles later (9,867 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 9,867 (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 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 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