CarVerify

Free Car Check

R179 MUD

1998 Saab 9-3

Black Petrol 2000cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 Nov 2026
Tests28 (20 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

142,448 mi
Last recorded142,448 miles
Recorded on13 Nov 2025
Typical for 1998 Saab 9-3103,203 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR179 MUD
MakeSaab
Model9-3
Year1998
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,000cc

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 8 fail
Pass 13 Nov 2025 142,448 miles

Offside Rear tyre slight wear on edges.

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

Rear axle rusty.

Fail 12 Nov 2025 142,441 miles

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

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords on tread (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords on tread (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Offside Front tyre worn on edges

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

Rear axle rusty.

Pass 5 Nov 2024 139,424 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing nearside and offside. (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 20 Nov 2023 135,034 miles

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing nearside and offside (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Pass 16 Nov 2022 128,280 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Rear spare wheel compartment holed/rusty

Fail 14 Nov 2022 128,275 miles

Offside Front Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sil,wing area. (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Power steering pipe/hose excessively corroded (2.1.5 (g) (i))

Offside Front Power steering pipe/hose leaking (2.1.5 (a))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Rear spare wheel compartment holed/rusty

Pass 17 Nov 2021 120,904 miles

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 17 Nov 2021 120,904 miles

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 17 Nov 2020 113,694 miles
Fail 17 Nov 2020 113,694 miles

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

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

Pass 18 Nov 2019 109,933 miles

Front shock housing rusty still

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 19 Nov 2018 107,451 miles

Front shock housing body rusty

Nearside Front tyre wear inside edges

Pass 21 Nov 2017 105,091 miles
Pass 7 Jun 2016 104,013 miles
Pass 15 Jun 2015 102,362 miles

all prescribed areas and chassis beginning to show signs of light corrosion

rear coil springs showing slight corrosion

Pass 3 Jun 2014 101,269 miles
Pass 5 Jun 2013 100,883 miles
Pass 9 Jun 2012 99,035 miles

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

Gearbox mounting defective

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

Pass 8 Jun 2011 97,348 miles
Fail 8 Jun 2011 97,348 miles

Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Pass 9 Jun 2010 88,398 miles

Centre Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Rear brake flexi hoses ferrules corroded.

Fail 9 Jun 2010 88,398 miles

Centre Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

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

Rear brake flexi hoses ferrules corroded.

Pass 15 Jun 2009 82,005 miles

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

near side rear brake flexi brake hose ferrule slightly corroded.

Fail 15 Jun 2009 82,005 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

near side rear brake flexi brake hose ferrule slightly corroded.

Pass 29 Jul 2008 75,081 miles
Fail 25 Jul 2008 75,081 miles

Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is fractured (3.6.C.3)

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

Steering component mounting prescribed area is fractured (2.2.C.1h)

Pass 23 Jul 2007 68,710 miles
Pass 31 Jul 2006 62,694 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

R179 MUD is a 1998 Saab 9-3 in Black with a 2,000cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

Across all 1998 Saab 9-3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.3% with a typical mileage of 103,203 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 R179 MUD, 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 28 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 R179 MUD?

You can check the full history of R179 MUD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R179 MUD registered?

R179 MUD is a 1998 Saab 9-3, first registered on 18 December 1998.

Is R179 MUD safe to buy?

The MOT history for R179 MUD shows 28 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R179 MUD 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 R179 MUD. 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.