Saab 9-3 s eco vs Saab 9-5: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Saab 9-3 s eco
76%
MOT pass rate · 42 vehicles
Saab 9-5
74%
MOT pass rate · 55,962 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Saab 9-3 s eco (76%) and Saab 9-5 (74%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Saab 9-3 s eco | Saab 9-5 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 76% ✓ | 74% |
| MOT failure rate | 24% ✓ | 26% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.9 ✓ | 2.1 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 2% | 1% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 84,271 mi | 136,801 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 42 | 55,962 |
Most common faults
Saab 9-3 s eco
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
- Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
- Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
Saab 9-5
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Oil leak
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Saab 9-3 s eco (76%) and Saab 9-5 (74%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Saab 9-3 s eco report Full Saab 9-5 report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.