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R261 VMJ

1998 Saab 9-3

Blue Petrol 1985cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires9 Jul 2015
Tests14 (8 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate57.1%

Mileage

171,204 mi
Last recorded171,204 miles
Recorded on5 Oct 2015
Typical for 1998 Saab 9-3103,203 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Saab
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR261 VMJ
MakeSaab
Model9-3
Year1998
ColourBlue
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

8 pass 6 fail
Fail 5 Oct 2015 171,204 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

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

Offside Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Macpherson strut corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Rear coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Offside Side repeater incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 21 Jun 2014 164,823 miles

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

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

Pass 10 Jul 2013 163,988 miles
Pass 19 Jul 2011 161,230 miles

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

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

rear brake imbalance high

slight oil leak on engine

Fail 19 Jul 2011 161,230 miles

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

Offside Rear position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

rear brake imbalance high

slight oil leak on engine

Pass 28 Jul 2010 155,331 miles

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

Oil leak

o/s/f wiper blade split

unable to fully inspect rear brake pads

Fail 3 Apr 2010 153,264 miles

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

Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

Steering column will not lock in a fixed position (adjustable type) (2.1.2a)

bulkhead has some flex on lock to lock

n/s/r disc corroded slightly

oil leak has left oil on exhaust - oil is burning

Pass 12 Mar 2009 146,865 miles
Fail 10 Mar 2009 146,865 miles

Nearside Steering rack gaiter insecure (2.2.D.2d)

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

Pass 18 Mar 2008 141,033 miles
Fail 13 Mar 2008 140,997 miles

Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

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

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

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

off side front tyre damaged

Pass 20 Mar 2007 133,572 miles

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

f/o/side tyer as wall damage reccomend replacement

Pass 13 Mar 2006 126,714 miles
Fail 6 Mar 2006 126,710 miles

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

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

rear tyres uneven wear and close to limit

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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R261 VMJ is a 1998 Saab 9-3 in Blue with a 1,985cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 14 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 57.1%.

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 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 R261 VMJ, 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 R261 VMJ?

You can check the full history of R261 VMJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R261 VMJ registered?

R261 VMJ is a 1998 Saab 9-3, first registered on 17 July 1998.

Is R261 VMJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for R261 VMJ shows 14 tests with a 57.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R261 VMJ 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 R261 VMJ. 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.