CarVerify

Free Car Check

BX53 RCO

2003 Saab 9-3

Silver Petrol 1998cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires28 Jan 2026
Tests31 (19 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate61.3%

Mileage

249,080 mi
Last recorded249,080 miles
Recorded on29 Jan 2025
Typical for 2003 Saab 9-385,740 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Saab
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationBX53 RCO
MakeSaab
Model9-3
Year2003
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,998cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

19 pass 12 fail
Pass 29 Jan 2025 249,080 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement trailing arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 29 Jan 2025 249,080 miles

Nearside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn trailing arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement trailing arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 24 Jan 2024 243,173 miles

Offside Rear brake back plate poor condition

rear chassis ns & os corroded behind shock absorbers

rear sub frame corroded

Fail 24 Jan 2024 243,173 miles

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Offside Rear brake back plate poor condition

rear chassis ns & os corroded behind shock absorbers

rear sub frame corroded

Pass 18 Jan 2023 236,592 miles

airbag lamp removed?

front top suspension mounts noisy

rear beam corroded

Fail 17 Jan 2023 236,592 miles

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

rear beam corroded

airbag lamp removed?

front top suspension mounts noisy

Pass 26 Jan 2022 229,792 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Central Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Front Outer Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 26 Jan 2022 229,792 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Central Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Front Outer Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Fail 7 Jan 2022 229,659 miles

Brake lever has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn outer bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Shock absorbers insecurely attached os and ns rear top mounts (5.3.2 (a) (i))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both front to rear at rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Outer Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 4 Jan 2021 224,353 miles

Central Front dash indicates a bulb fault but everything working as it should

Coolant leak ()

Front bonnet release catch broken but operates from the front

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 9 Jan 2020 219,561 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 26 Apr 2018 212,335 miles

Front Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Fail 18 Apr 2018 212,032 miles

Nearside Rear Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Front Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Pass 20 Apr 2017 201,594 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 3 May 2016 190,693 miles
Fail 26 Apr 2016 190,529 miles

Nearside Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt x2 (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 16 Apr 2015 177,800 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has slight external damage to the casing (2.7.2a)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has slight external damage to the casing (2.7.2a)

Fail 15 Apr 2015 177,794 miles

Offside Rear Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has slight external damage to the casing (2.7.2a)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber has slight external damage to the casing (2.7.2a)

Pass 1 Apr 2014 160,230 miles

Nearside Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Offside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

advise battery security

engine oil leak

Fail 1 Apr 2014 160,230 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bearing (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front position lamp(s) has less than 50% of the light sources illuminating (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bearing (2.4.G.2)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Nearside Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Offside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

advise battery security

engine oil leak

Pass 12 Apr 2013 142,236 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Nearside Front Upper Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

engine oil leak

plastic sill covers fitted

rear exhaust mountings perished

Fail 2 Apr 2013 141,529 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

Brake hydraulic reservoir fluid level below minimum level (3.6.G.1b)

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (5.2.5b)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Nearside Front Upper Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

engine oil leak

plastic sill covers fitted

rear exhaust mountings perished

Pass 24 Apr 2012 123,475 miles

Nearside Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Rear Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak

Fail 24 Apr 2012 123,475 miles

Offside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Nearside Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Headlamp aim too far to the right (1.8)

Nearside Rear Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the right (1.8)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak

Pass 27 Apr 2011 105,739 miles

advise rear tyres cracking on outer side wall

Pass 1 May 2010 86,966 miles

BOTH REAR TYRE TREADS LIFTING SLIGHTLY

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

OFFSIDE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER CREAKING ON BRAKE APPLICATION

Oil leak

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 4 Aug 2009 85,013 miles
Pass 30 Aug 2008 77,377 miles
Fail 3 Sep 2007 68,837 miles

Nail in offside rear tyre

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Pass 3 Sep 2007 68,837 miles

Nail in offside rear tyre

Pass 6 Sep 2006 52,538 miles

How Reliable is the Saab 9-3?

Based on 2,294,034 MOT tests across 155,316 vehicles.

73.6%
Pass Rate
6,682
Miles/Year
28
Year Lifespan
155,316
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 75,543
coil spring broken 47,423
position lamp(s) not working 38,332
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 35,584
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 34,513
Full Saab 9-3 reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

BX53 RCO is a 2003 Saab 9-3 in Silver with a 1,998cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.3%.

Across all 2003 Saab 9-3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.0% with a typical mileage of 85,740 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Saab 9-3 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 75,543 recorded failures. If you're considering buying BX53 RCO, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Saab 9-3 typically stays on UK roads for around 28 years. At 23 years old, this Saab 9-3 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of BX53 RCO?

You can check the full history of BX53 RCO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was BX53 RCO registered?

BX53 RCO is a 2003 Saab 9-3, first registered on 10 September 2003.

Is BX53 RCO safe to buy?

The MOT history for BX53 RCO shows 31 tests with a 61.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does BX53 RCO have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on BX53 RCO. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.