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R185 YLC

1998 Saab 9-3

Silver Petrol 1985cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires3 Jul 2026
Tests23 (20 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate87%

Mileage

135,297 mi
Last recorded135,297 miles
Recorded on30 Jun 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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR185 YLC
MakeSaab
Model9-3
Year1998
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,985cc

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 3 fail
Pass 30 Jun 2025 135,297 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 4 Jul 2024 132,395 miles
Pass 7 Jun 2023 131,158 miles
Pass 26 May 2022 129,634 miles
Pass 15 Jun 2021 127,504 miles
Pass 8 Jun 2020 124,676 miles
Pass 20 Jun 2019 121,812 miles

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

Pass 18 Apr 2018 121,550 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

slight oil leak

Pass 20 Apr 2017 121,179 miles

rear exhaust corroded

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Pass 20 Apr 2016 120,631 miles

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Fail 20 Apr 2016 120,631 miles

Hazard warning switch insecure (1.4.B.1d)

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

o/s and n/s outer body sill covers fitted

Pass 22 Apr 2015 119,966 miles
Fail 16 Apr 2015 119,950 miles

Front Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) leaking from a joint (2.3.3b)

Power steering pump leaking from a failed seal (2.3.3b)

Pass 15 Apr 2014 118,876 miles

Centre Upper Stop lamp has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% (1.2.1b)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

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

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

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Pass 16 Apr 2013 117,638 miles

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

offside wiper split on tip

rear number plate loose on one corner

Pass 26 Apr 2012 106,789 miles
Pass 7 Jul 2011 99,536 miles
Pass 12 Aug 2010 89,608 miles

Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Fail 10 Aug 2010 89,608 miles

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

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Pass 11 May 2009 77,475 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2008 65,112 miles

both rear shock absorbers are slightly damp

front brake pads are low

rear brake pads are low

Pass 26 Apr 2007 51,130 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2006 50,010 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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R185 YLC is a 1998 Saab 9-3 in Silver with a 1,985cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 87%.

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 R185 YLC, 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 R185 YLC?

You can check the full history of R185 YLC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R185 YLC registered?

R185 YLC is a 1998 Saab 9-3, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is R185 YLC safe to buy?

The MOT history for R185 YLC shows 23 tests with a 87% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R185 YLC 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 R185 YLC. 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.