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Saab 9-5 Aero Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Saab 9-5 Aero Auto car check

Is the Saab 9-5 Aero Auto reliable? We analysed 572 real MOT tests across 113 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 572 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
76.6%
Typical Mileage
93,879mi
Annual Mileage
8,766mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
26yrs

The Saab 9-5 Aero Auto is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Saab 9-5 Aero Auto.

Saab 9-5 Aero Auto Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Saab 9-5 Aero Auto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Saab 9-5 Aero Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Saab 9-5 Aero Auto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

68.8%
2003
73.9%
2002
86.2%
2001
77.6%
2000

Saab 9-5 Aero Auto Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Saab 9-5 Aero Auto fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 26
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 15
position lamp(s) not working 14
Registration plate lamp not working 13
Headlamp not working on main beam 10
Headlamp aim too low 8
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 8
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 8
Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 7
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 7

Saab 9-5 Aero Auto Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Saab 9-5 Aero Auto owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,682 mi/yr
Typical
8,766 mi/yr
Average
9,794 mi/yr
Heavy usage
13,690 mi/yr

Saab 9-5 Aero Auto MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Saab 9-5 Aero Auto year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 80 68.8% 66,800 92,074 157,931
2002 119 73.9% 59,352 85,016 110,692
2001 94 86.2% 66,604 80,025 100,885
2000 174 77.6% 80,269 97,339 126,239

How Long Does a Saab 9-5 Aero Auto Last?

Based on 113 Saab 9-5 Aero Auto vehicles on UK roads.

Average
7.8 years
Median
7.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
26 years

Saab 9-5 Aero Auto Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Saab 9-5 Aero Auto MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
93,879 mi
75th Percentile
128,026 mi
95th Percentile
182,528 mi
Max Recorded
234,257 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Saab 9-5 Aero Auto

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

Best year
2001

86.2% MOT pass rate from 94 tests

Year to avoid
2003

68.8% MOT pass rate from 80 tests

The best year to buy a used Saab 9-5 Aero Auto is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.2% across 94 tests. The 2003 model year has the lowest pass rate at 68.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Saab 9-5 Aero Auto Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Saab 9-5 Aero Auto THIS CAR 76.6% 572 93,879 mi 26 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
Ford Transit Custom 340 Nugget Eblu 91.8% 280 16,534 mi — yrs

Compared to the Saab 9-3 (73.6% pass rate) and the Saab 9-5 (74.3% pass rate), the Saab 9-5 Aero Auto outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Saab 9-5 Aero Auto?

The Saab 9-5 Aero Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.6% across 572 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 9-5 Aero Auto are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (26 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (15), and position lamp(s) not working (14). 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 9-5 Aero Auto owner drives around 8,766 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 9-5 Aero Auto models stay on UK roads for around 26 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 9-5 Aero Auto — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Saab 9-5 Aero Auto reliable?
Based on 572 MOT tests, the Saab 9-5 Aero Auto has a 76.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Saab 9-5 Aero Auto?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively, and position lamp(s) not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Saab 9-5 Aero Auto do per year?
The typical Saab 9-5 Aero Auto does around 8,766 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Saab 9-5 Aero Auto last?
Most Saab 9-5 Aero Auto models stay on UK roads for around 26 years based on our analysis of 113 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Saab 9-5 Aero Auto?
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 9-5 Aero Auto?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Saab 9-5 Aero Auto is 2001 with a 86.2% pass rate across 94 tests.