Saab 9-3 Vector MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

Saab 9-3 Vector MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The Saab 9-3 Vector passed on its first attempt in 70.6%, and its overall record sits −4.4 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Saab 9-3 Vector in the 2023–2025 data: 1,823 tests across 8 model years (2004–2011). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.

Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.

Most Common Saab 9-3 Vector MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Saab 9-3 Vector, the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.

Shares are over the Saab 9-3 Vector's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded Saab 9-3 Vector DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Saab 9-3 Vector, each with how many of the model's 1,823 tests it was noted on.

• "Coil spring fractured or broken" (Major) — noted on about 88 Saab 9-3 Vector tests, 4.8% of the model's MOT record.
• "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 72 Saab 9-3 Vector tests, 3.9% of the model's MOT record.
• "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (Minor) — noted on about 58 Saab 9-3 Vector tests, 3.2% of the model's MOT record.
• "Headlamp lens slightly defective" (Minor) — noted on about 53 Saab 9-3 Vector tests, 2.9% of the model's MOT record.
• "Position lamp not working" (Major) — noted on about 46 Saab 9-3 Vector tests, 2.5% of the model's MOT record.
• "Ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated" (Minor) — noted on about 33 Saab 9-3 Vector tests, 1.8% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst Saab 9-3 Vector Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest Saab 9-3 Vector model year on record is 2010 (79.5% across 78 tests), and the weakest is 2004 (74.0%). The gap between them is 5.5 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.

Saab 9-3 Vector reliability is improving in the DVSA data — the pass rate moves about 0.8 points a year across the most recent model years shown above.

Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.

Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Saab 9-3 Vector Owners

These checks follow this Saab 9-3 Vector's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Saab 9-3 Vector.

• the coil springs — “coil spring fractured or broken”

  Look up inside each wheel arch with a torch, all the way round the spring. A snapped spring usually breaks at the very bottom coil, where a quick glance will not reach.

• the lights — “registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”

  Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.

• the windscreen — “windscreen damaged”

  Check the driver’s side of the screen within the swept area for chips and cracks; anything larger than 10mm in the driver’s central view is a fail. Most chips can be resin-repaired for far less than a new screen.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Saab 9-3 Vector. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Saab 9-3 Vector MOT & Reliability