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Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a car check

Is the Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a reliable? We analysed 2,274 real MOT tests across 163 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,274 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
76.0%
Typical Mileage
70,606mi
Annual Mileage
4,822mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
22yrs

The Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include coil spring broken, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a.

Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

83.5%
2009
75.6%
2007
75.5%
2006
74.6%
2005
76.3%
2004

Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

coil spring broken 42
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 42
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 39
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 28
position lamp(s) not working 24
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 23
Registration plate lamp not working 17
Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint 14
coil spring fractured 14

Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,710 mi/yr
Typical
4,822 mi/yr
Average
5,637 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,713 mi/yr

Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2009 85 83.5% 32,172 52,773 68,085
2007 168 75.6% 37,202 56,863 72,997
2006 625 75.5% 48,034 70,438 98,981
2005 781 74.6% 49,962 73,090 100,866
2004 317 76.3% 45,185 68,326 87,096

How Long Does a Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a Last?

Based on 163 Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.5 years
Median
17.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
22 years

Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
70,606 mi
75th Percentile
96,216 mi
95th Percentile
137,407 mi
Max Recorded
651,323 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2009

83.5% MOT pass rate from 85 tests

Year to avoid
2005

74.6% MOT pass rate from 781 tests

The best year to buy a used Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a is 2009, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.5% across 85 tests. The 2005 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a THIS CAR 76.0% 2,274 70,606 mi 22 yrs
Saab 9-3 73.6% 2,294,034 88,441 mi 28 yrs
Saab 9-5 74.3% 735,114 97,615 mi 29 yrs
Saab 900 67.7% 358,142 113,382 mi 39 yrs
Mercedes-benz Slr 92.7% 1,033 13,636 mi 22 yrs

Compared to the Saab 9-3 (73.6% pass rate) and the Saab 9-5 (74.3% pass rate), the Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a?

The Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.0% across 2,274 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a are coil spring broken (42 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (42), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (39). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a owner drives around 4,822 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a models stay on UK roads for around 22 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a reliable?
Based on 2,274 MOT tests, the Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a has a 76.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a?
The most common MOT failures are coil spring broken, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a do per year?
The typical Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a does around 4,822 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a last?
Most Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a models stay on UK roads for around 22 years based on our analysis of 163 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Saab 9-3 Vector 150 Bhp S-a is 2009 with a 83.5% pass rate across 85 tests.