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DX53 KWR

2003 Saab 9-3

Grey Petrol 1988cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 Dec 2026
Tests28 (19 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate67.9%

Mileage

196,946 mi
Last recorded196,946 miles
Recorded on12 Dec 2025
Typical for 2003 Saab 9-385,740 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Saab
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationDX53 KWR
MakeSaab
Model9-3
Year2003
ColourGrey
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,988cc

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 9 fail
Pass 12 Dec 2025 196,946 miles

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

Rear Sub-frame is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 12 Dec 2025 196,946 miles

Nearside Front Inner Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Rear Sub-frame is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 31 Oct 2024 192,843 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (l))

Offside Obligatory mirror slightly damaged (3.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Sub-frame is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 28 Oct 2024 192,842 miles

Exhaust emissions likely to be affected by an exhaust leak (8.2.1.1 (b))

Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases Flexi Pipe Area (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases Silencer Holed (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (l))

Offside Obligatory mirror slightly damaged (3.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Sub-frame is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 30 Oct 2023 188,283 miles

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play outer (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 25 Oct 2022 184,740 miles
Pass 18 Oct 2021 181,413 miles

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

Fail 18 Oct 2021 181,397 miles

Nearside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (5.2.3 (f))

Nearside Registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps (4.7.2 (a))

Offside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (7.1.2 (e))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has negligible damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

Offside Registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps (4.7.2 (a))

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

Pass 21 Oct 2020 178,621 miles

Front Slight free play detected at steering wheel

Offside play in steering rack inner joint

Parking brake lever defective but can be satisfactorily operated travel (1.1.6 (d))

Fail 21 Oct 2020 178,621 miles

Front Slight free play detected at steering wheel

Offside play in steering rack inner joint

Parking brake lever defective but can be satisfactorily operated travel (1.1.6 (d))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Pass 17 Sep 2019 175,412 miles

Exhaust front flexi pipe deteriorating.

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

travel on foot brake pedal when depressed,also travel on parking brake lever when pulled on

Pass 20 Sep 2018 168,969 miles

Coil spring corroded both rear in areas (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front tyre wearing on inner edge 225/45/17

both front headlight beam images not fully clear

Fail 20 Sep 2018 168,969 miles

Coil spring corroded both rear in areas (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Headlamp aim too low both front (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front tyre wearing on inner edge 225/45/17

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps both rear (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

both front headlight beam images not fully clear

Pass 20 Sep 2017 161,549 miles

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

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

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

Oil leak

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

rear brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

Fail 19 Sep 2017 161,541 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Registration plate lamp not working Both (1.1.C.1d)

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

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

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

Oil leak

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

rear brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

Pass 3 Sep 2016 149,223 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Oil leak.

Pass 10 Sep 2015 133,936 miles

Nearside 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 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)

Oil Leak

Pass 28 Aug 2014 123,225 miles
Fail 20 Aug 2014 122,997 miles

Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

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

Offside Front Lower Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 19 Aug 2013 111,446 miles

Number plate lights on all time,key out/light switch off.

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

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

Pass 22 Aug 2012 101,800 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

front pipe brackets missing

Fail 18 Aug 2012 101,736 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

front pipe brackets missing

Oil leak

Pass 26 Jul 2011 91,554 miles
Pass 14 May 2010 80,495 miles
Fail 11 May 2010 80,491 miles

Offside Rear brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Chip in the windscreen

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

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

Pass 9 Apr 2009 71,365 miles
Pass 14 Sep 2007 55,874 miles
Pass 30 Aug 2006 43,393 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

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DX53 KWR is a 2003 Saab 9-3 in Grey with a 1,988cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 67.9%.

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 DX53 KWR, 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 DX53 KWR?

You can check the full history of DX53 KWR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was DX53 KWR registered?

DX53 KWR is a 2003 Saab 9-3, first registered on 26 September 2003.

Is DX53 KWR safe to buy?

The MOT history for DX53 KWR shows 28 tests with a 67.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does DX53 KWR 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 DX53 KWR. 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.