Used car guide · 1971–2012

Saab 9-5 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Saab 9-5, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 23,992 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 1997 Saab 9-5

Too few Saab 9-5 cars first registered in 1997 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Saab 9-5 as a whole.

23on the UK register at the end of 2025
Petrolmost common fuel (also diesel)
What to check on a 1997 car
  • MOT history

    Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.

  • Service history

    Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.

  • Finance and write-offs

    MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.

  • Test drive

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997197619751974197319721971

What usually goes wrong with a Saab 9-5?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Saab 9-5 in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Saab 9-5 MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Sub-frame bushes

    up to 9.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Suspension arm

    up to 3.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Engine warning light

    up to 3.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Seat belts

    up to 3.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock and retract smoothly.

  • Flexible brake hoses

    up to 3.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007 and 2009.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

Diesel

  • Suspension arm

    up to 4.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Diesel smoke emissions

    up to 6.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007 and 2009.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Seat belts

    up to 3.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock and retract smoothly.

  • Sub-frame

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Engine warning light

    up to 3.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008 and 2009.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005 and 2008.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Saab 9-5 MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2011 Saab 9-5 did best (74% passed first time, 12 points above all 2011 cars) and the 2005 did worst (63%, 6 points above all 2005 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201174%62% +12992
201070%60% +101,856
200967%59% +81,905
200865%57% +82,685
200765%57% +83,089
200663%56% +73,000
200563%57% +62,803
200462%57% +52,262
200361%57% +41,427
200259%58% +11,271
200167%60% +7992
200063%61% +2848
199968%63% +5603
199863%65% -2259 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Saab 9-5

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 4.4× as often on the Saab 9-5 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the Saab 9-5 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the sub-frame bushes? (Flagged at MOT 9.8× as often on the Saab 9-5 as on other cars the same age.)
  4. 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, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score