2011 Saab 9-5 petrol: common problems and MOT failures
What MOT testers find on the petrol Saab 9-5 first registered in 2011 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 208 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
Small sample: there were only 208 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.
What goes wrong more than usual on a 2011 Saab 9-5 petrol?
Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2011 Saab 9-5 petrol than on all cars registered in 2011.
- Sub-frame3.3× usualSaab 9-514.4% All 2011 cars4.3%
Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.3% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimateAt the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.
Common 2011 Saab 9-5 petrol MOT failures and advisories
The share of 2011 Saab 9-5 petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Suspension25% of testsRough price £120–£400
At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
- Tyres22% of testsRough price £70–£150
At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
- Brakes16% of testsRough price £150–£350
At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
- Lights and electrics16% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Exhaust and emissions11% of testsRough price £100–£1,200
At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.
- Oil and fluid leaks9% of testsRough price £80–£600
At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.
Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2011 Saab 9-5 petrol
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the 2011 Saab 9-5 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
Looking at a Saab 9-5?
Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Other years
Every year of the Saab 9-5 compared
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | – | Too few tests |
| 2010 | 1,856 | Suspension 31% |
| 2009 | 1,905 | Suspension 40% |
| 2008 | 2,685 | Suspension 43% |
| 2007 | 3,089 | Suspension 43% |
| 2006 | 3,000 | Suspension 45% |
| 2005 | 2,803 | Suspension 46% |
| 2004 | 2,262 | Suspension 48% |
| 2003 | 1,427 | Suspension 47% |
| 2002 | 1,271 | Suspension 47% |
| 2001 | 992 | Suspension 43% |
| 2000 | 848 | Suspension 43% |
| 1999 | 603 | Suspension 43% |
| 1998 | 259 | Suspension 45% |
| 1997 | – | Too few tests |
| 1976 | – | Too few tests |
| 1975 | – | Too few tests |
| 1974 | – | Too few tests |
| 1973 | – | Too few tests |
| 1972 | – | Too few tests |
| 1971 | – | Too few tests |
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Saab 9-5 cars first registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score