Does the Saab 9-5 fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Saab 9-5 records 31.51 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 34.71 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−3.20, 95% interval −3.62 to −2.77). It ranks 460 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Saab 9-5 by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Saab 9-5 is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 4,121 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 4,121 | 5.59 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 2,981 | 4.05 |
| Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 2,807 | 3.81 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 2,063 | 2.80 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 1,982 | 2.69 |
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 lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
31.1% of Saab 9-5 MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 3,585 miles later (1,939 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,939 (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 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