CarVerify

Free Car Check

FN53 AFA

2003 Saab 9-3

Grey Petrol 1988cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires29 Jan 2027
Tests27 (20 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate74.1%

Mileage

120,891 mi
Last recorded120,891 miles
Recorded on30 Jan 2026
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

RegistrationFN53 AFA
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

20 pass 7 fail
Pass 30 Jan 2026 120,891 miles

Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively O/s & n/s (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, but not excessively O/s & n/s (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 5 Dec 2024 120,850 miles
Pass 4 Dec 2023 120,651 miles
Pass 3 Jan 2023 118,483 miles
Fail 16 Dec 2022 118,437 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

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

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 10 Dec 2021 115,291 miles
Pass 11 Dec 2020 112,489 miles

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

Pass 6 Dec 2019 108,428 miles
Pass 12 Dec 2018 101,591 miles
Pass 1 Dec 2017 96,698 miles
Pass 16 Dec 2016 91,694 miles
Pass 16 Dec 2015 84,336 miles
Fail 7 Dec 2015 84,255 miles

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

Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement o/s & n/s top at hub (2.4.G.2)

Pass 17 Dec 2014 77,474 miles

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

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

Pass 12 Dec 2013 66,646 miles
Pass 17 Dec 2012 58,636 miles
Fail 11 Dec 2012 58,626 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 11 Nov 2011 50,531 miles

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

front brake discs slightly worn

Fail 11 Nov 2011 50,531 miles

Front coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

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

front brake discs slightly worn

Fail 4 Oct 2011 50,516 miles

Front coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

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

front brake discs slightly worn

Pass 5 Oct 2010 41,957 miles
Fail 4 Oct 2010 41,957 miles

Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

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

Pass 2 Oct 2009 35,181 miles

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

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

Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

front reg slightly deteriorated

Pass 30 Sep 2008 28,324 miles
Fail 30 Sep 2008 28,324 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Pass 10 Sep 2007 21,572 miles

brakes noisy on application

Pass 12 Sep 2006 20,552 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

FN53 AFA is a 2003 Saab 9-3 in Grey with a 1,988cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 74.1%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 FN53 AFA, 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 FN53 AFA?

You can check the full history of FN53 AFA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was FN53 AFA registered?

FN53 AFA is a 2003 Saab 9-3, first registered on 26 September 2003.

Is FN53 AFA safe to buy?

The MOT history for FN53 AFA shows 27 tests with a 74.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does FN53 AFA 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 FN53 AFA. 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.