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MOT History from tests of petrol SAAB 9-3s year 2012

Review the list of common SAAB 9-3 failures below or to perform a specific mot history check on your SAAB then use our popular KnowYourCar service

mot history
Pass percent:77.86%
(The average a petrol SAAB 9-3 year 2012 passes without issue)
Based on:1,260 MOT Tests
Most common failuresNo# failures
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively37
Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))23
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))22
Headlamp aim out of alignment15
Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))13
Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))11
Offside Front coil spring broken |2.4.C.1a|11
Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))9
Registration plate issues7
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))6
Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))5
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken |5.3.1 |b| |i||5
Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak5
Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened4
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour |1.4.A.2f|4
Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment (1.1.6 (c))4
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))4
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))4
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))4
Front Sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))4
Nearside Front coil spring broken |2.4.C.1a|4
Windscreen washer not working 4
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour |1.4.A.2f|3
Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))3
Registration plate lamp issues3
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour |4.4.3 |a||3
Parking brake efficiency below requirements |1.4.2 |a| |i||3
Nearside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))3
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))3
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))2
Front Service brake excessively fluctuating (1.2.1 (e))2
Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))2
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |2.4.G.2|2
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |5.3.4 |b| |ii||2
Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |5.3.4 |b| |ii||2
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|2
Offside Stop lamp|s| not working |4.3.1 |a| |ii||2
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|2
Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))2
Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken |5.3.1 |b| |i||2
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour |4.4.3 |a||2
Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |5.3.4 |b| |ii||2
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn |5.3.4 |a| |i||2
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))2
Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))2
Offside Rear Service brake excessively fluctuating (1.2.1 (e))2
Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorbers likely to become detached (5.3.2 (a) (ii))2
Brake hose excessively deteriorated2
Offside Rear Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))2
Offside Rear Position lamp light intensity significantly reduced (4.2.3 (a) (ii))1
Nearside Rear Position lamp with a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (4.2.1 (a) (ii))1
Offside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Offside Front Lower coil spring broken |2.4.C.1a|1
Nearside Front Lower Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))1
Offside Rear Direction indicator has less than 50% of the light sources illuminating |1.4.A.2c|1
Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |2.4.G.2|1
Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |2.4.G.2|1
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii))1
Brake pedal has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))1
Nearside Rear Parking (secondary brake) on a single line braking system has inadequate effort at a wheel (1.3.1 (a) (i))1
Offside Rear Parking (secondary brake) on a single line braking system has inadequate effort at a wheel (1.3.1 (a) (i))1
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak |2.7.3|1
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|1
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|1
Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))1
Rear Seat belt not functioning as intended UNABLE TO CHECK, REAR SEAT FULL OF FISHING GEAR (7.1.2 (c))1
Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing |3.3.A.1b|1
Nearside Rear Shock absorbers insecurely attached top mounting corrodded (5.3.2 (a) (i))1
Offside Front Shock absorbers insecurely attached top mounting corrodded (5.3.2 (a) (i))1
Nearside Rear Shock absorbers insecurely attached upper mount (5.3.2 (a) (i))1
Offside Rear Shock absorbers insecurely attached upper mount (5.3.2 (a) (i))1
Nearside Front Suspension component pin or bush excessively worn drop link boot insecure (5.3.4 (a) (i))1
Offside Rear Suspension arm insecurely attached trailing arm mount bolt insecure (5.3.3 (a) (i))1
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Nearside Rear Road wheel fixing missing |5.2.1 |a| |i||1
Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))1
Nearside Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|1
Nearside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn |5.3.4 |a| |i||1
Offside Rear Position lamp not working |4.2.1 |a||1
Offside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))1
Offside Power steering pipe/hose modification unsafe rubbing against rack (2.1.5 (f) (i))1
Offside Rear Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))1
Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |5.3.4 |b| |ii||1
Nearside Front Lower Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))1
Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt droplink |2.4.G.2|1
Central Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|1
Offside Obligatory mirror missing (3.3 (a))1
Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover missing (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Central Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))1
Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |2.1.3 |g| |ii||1
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))1
Offside Rear Outer Stop lamp(s) emits other than a steady red light (4.3.3 (a) (ii))1
Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt boot split (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Brake performance not tested (1.2.1 (g))1
Nearside Front Hydraulic brake cylinder leaking hydraulic fluid (1.1.16 (b) (i))1
Nearside Front Service brake lagging in operation (1.2.1 (d))1
Bonnet retaining device ineffective |8.4.2|1
Nearside Rear Upper Suspension component attachment bracket/mounting fractured shock absorber mount (5.3.3 (b) (ii))1
Nearside Front Inner Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))1
Offside Front Inner Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))1
Nearside Rear Upper Suspension component attachment bracket/mounting corroded and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))1
Offside Rear Upper Suspension component attachment bracket/mounting corroded and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))1
Offside Rear Shock absorbers insecurely attached Top mount broken (5.3.2 (a) (i))1
Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint excessively worn |5.3.4 |a| |i||1
Nearside Headlamp aim so that beam "kick up" is not visible on the screen |4.1.2 |a||1
Driver`s view of the road through the swept area of the windscreen materially affected by an obstruction |3.1 |a| |ii||1
Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour both sides |1.4.A.2f|1
Offside Front Coil spring corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened (5.3.1 (b) (i))1
Centre Front passenger door does not latch securely closed |6.2.B.1a|1
Nearside Rear Service brake excessively binding |1.2.1 |f||1
Rear Fuel hose leaking |6.1.3 |b| |i||1
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |2.4.G.2|1
Nearside Rear Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt boot insecure (6.1.7 (g) (ii))1
Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))1
Offside Rear Outer Position lamp showing white light to the rear (4.2.3 (a) (ii))1
Offside Stop lamp(s) emits other than a steady red light showing white light (4.3.3 (a) (ii))1
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt dust cover is split (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))1
Offside Rear Parking |secondary brake| on a single line braking system has no recorded effort at a wheel |1.3.1 |a| |ii||1
Nearside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))1
Offside Front Outer Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))1
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|1
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))1
Nearside Rear Service brake excessively fluctuating (1.2.1 (e))1
Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))1
Steering rack has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) (2.3 (a) (i))1
Nearside Front Road wheel more than one fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (ii))1
Nearside Rear Road wheel more than one fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (ii))1
Offside Front Road wheel more than one fixing missing (5.2.1 (a) (ii))1
Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))1
Offside Front Torque/reaction arm has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|1
Electronic stability system warning lamp indicates a fault |3.4.1c|1
Brake lever has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))1
Offside Stop lamp(s) emits other than a steady red light (4.3.3 (a) (ii))1
Nearside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))1
Nearside Front Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a pin/bush |2.4.G.2|1
Offside Front Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|1
Front Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))1
Offside Rear Upper Shock absorbers likely to become detached (5.3.2 (a) (ii))1
Offside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded Due to subframe being excessively corroded (2.1.2 (e) (i))1
Emissions unable to be completed (8.2.1.2 (d))1
Rear Sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))1
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Due to subframe being excessively corroded (5.3.6 (a) (i))1
Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Due to subframe being excessively corroded (5.3.6 (a) (i))1
Nearside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded Due to subframe being excessively corroded (2.1.2 (e) (i))1
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))1
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Due to subframe being excessively corroded (5.3.6 (a) (i))1
Nearside Rear Shock absorbers likely to become detached Top mounting excessively corroded (5.3.2 (a) (ii))1
Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Due to subframe being excessively corroded (5.3.6 (a) (i))1
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))1
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt |5.3.4 |b| |ii||1
Nearside Rear Service brake excessively fluctuating |1.2.1 |e||1
Offside Rear Service brake excessively fluctuating |1.2.1 |e||1
Central Upper Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|1
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint |2.4.G.2|1
Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn bothfront (5.3.4 (a) (i))1
Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment lever travels to its stop (1.1.6 (c))1
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))1
Nearside Rear Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))1
Offside Position lamp not working |4.2.1 |a||1
Offside Rear Suspension component attachment bracket/mounting fractured (5.3.3 (b) (ii))1
Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) emits other than a steady red light (4.3.3 (a) (ii))1
Offside Obligatory mirror does not provide a view to the rear (3.3 (c))1
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))1
Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded steering rack mounting point onto / within subframe subscribed area holed (2.1.2 (e) (i))1
Nearside Front Service brake excessively binding also unable to test wheel bearing (1.2.1 (f))1
Front Service brake grabbing severely (1.2.1 (c))1
Nearside Rear Road wheel badly distorted |5.2.2 |c| |i||1
Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))1
Offside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak1
Offside Front Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view |8.1.2a|1
Centre Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|1
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))1
Obligatory mirror missing both door mirrors (3.3 (a))1
Reversing lamp inoperative (4.6.1 (a))1
Exhaust system insecure (6.1.2 (a))1
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases at flexi + backbox (6.1.2 (a))1
Offside Rear Rear position lamp|s| incorrect colour |1.1.A.3e|1
Nearside Rear Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))1
Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak1
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort1
Horn not working (7.7 (a))1
Nearside Front Position lamp not working side lamp inop (4.2.1 (a) (ii))1
Brakes imbalanced across an axle1
Offside Rear Brake disc significantly and obviously worn corroded only braking on half of disc (1.1.14 (a) (i))1
Offside Rear Service brake effort inadequate at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (i))1
Nearside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour |1.4.A.2f|1
Offside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour |1.4.A.2f|1
Stop lamp not working |1.2.1b|1
Nearside Stop lamp emits other than a steady red light |1.2.1e|1
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn INNER FRONT BUSH (5.3.4 (a) (i))1
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play |2.2.B.1f|1
Offside Rear fog lamp not working |1.3.2b|1
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam |1.7.5a|1
Offside Headlamp aim not tested |1.8.A.1c|1
Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour both |4.4.3 |a||1
Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn |5.3.4 |a| |i||1
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))1
Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))1
Nearside Front Headlamp cleaning device for LED or HID headlamp inoperative |4.1.6 |a| |ii||1
Offside Front Headlamp cleaning device for LED or HID headlamp inoperative |4.1.6 |a| |ii||1
Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken osf coil spring broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))1
Front Suspension rod ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Nsf drop link top bush split (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1
Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Nsf top ball joint cover slpit (5.3.4 (b) (ii))1

We get to these numbers by trawling through over 1 billion MOT test results since 2004 and crunched the numbers. We remove anything to do with Tyres, as they are model independent and group together common non-model specific issues. We are trying to get to a picture of what models have what issues.

Please note: We take the data from the DVSA. This data is raw and can contain typos and spelling mistakes that garages may have entered while recording a MOT result. Specifically miss-match on names of models and makes. We are constantly cleaning the data so bear with the odd issue.

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