Saab 9-3 vs Saab 9-5 arc tid: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Saab 9-3
74%
MOT pass rate · 155,267 vehicles
Saab 9-5 arc tid
75%
MOT pass rate · 73 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Saab 9-3 (74%) and Saab 9-5 arc tid (75%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Saab 9-3 | Saab 9-5 arc tid |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 74% | 75% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 26% | 25% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.9 | 1.2 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 1% | 0% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 130,302 mi | 123,936 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 155,267 | 73 |
Most common faults
Saab 9-3
- 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)
- 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))
- Oil leak
Saab 9-5 arc tid
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Saab 9-3 (74%) and Saab 9-5 arc tid (75%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Saab 9-3 report Full Saab 9-5 arc tid 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.