Skip to content

Saab 9-3 vs Saab 9000 i: 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
More reliable
Saab 9000 i
63%
MOT pass rate · 8,770 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Saab 9-3 is the more reliable of the two — 74% pass first time versus 63%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.

Head to head

Measure Saab 9-3 Saab 9000 i
MOT pass rate 74% ✓ 63%
MOT failure rate 26% ✓ 37%
Faults & advisories per test 1.9 ✓ 2.3
Dangerous-fault share 1% 0% ✓
Average mileage 130,302 mi 147,618 mi
Sample size (vehicles) 155,267 8,770

Most common faults

Saab 9-3

  1. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
  2. Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
  3. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
  4. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
  5. Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
  6. Oil leak

Saab 9000 i

  1. Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
  2. Oil leak
  3. Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)
  4. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
  5. Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)
  6. Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Reliability FAQ

On MOT pass rate, the Saab 9-3 is the more reliable of the two — 74% pass first time versus 63%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.

Full Saab 9-3 report Full Saab 9000 i 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.