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R438 FRO

1998 Saab 9-3

Red Petrol 1985cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires29 Dec 2025
Tests22 (19 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate86.4%

Mileage

144,979 mi
Last recorded144,979 miles
Recorded on30 Dec 2024
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

RegistrationR438 FRO
MakeSaab
Model9-3
Year1998
ColourRed
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

19 pass 3 fail
Pass 30 Dec 2024 144,979 miles

Gearbox mounting defective ()

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing (5.3.2 (b))

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

Offside Front Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing (5.3.2 (b))

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) lens defective which has no effect on emitted light (4.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Pass 21 Dec 2023 144,830 miles

Lower Gearbox mounting defective ()

Rear Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Spare Wheel Well (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 9 Dec 2022 144,170 miles
Pass 9 Nov 2021 143,987 miles
Pass 23 Oct 2020 143,139 miles
Pass 25 Apr 2019 141,381 miles
Fail 3 Apr 2019 141,342 miles

Front Engine mounting bracket damaged or deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (6.1.8 (a) (i))

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Brake hose excessively damaged (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Power steering ram leaking (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 4 Jan 2018 137,086 miles

Nearside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 9 Dec 2016 133,689 miles

Nearside Front Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension coupling gaiter damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.4e)

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

Pass 13 Nov 2015 127,150 miles
Fail 13 Nov 2015 127,150 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 7 Oct 2014 120,169 miles
Fail 7 Oct 2014 120,169 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 28 Sep 2013 114,724 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2012 109,118 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Offside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

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

Pass 3 Sep 2011 102,502 miles
Pass 14 Sep 2010 97,476 miles
Pass 30 Sep 2009 95,780 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2008 89,528 miles
Pass 18 Jun 2007 78,577 miles
Pass 21 Jun 2006 64,343 miles
Pass 18 Jul 2005 56,526 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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R438 FRO is a 1998 Saab 9-3 in Red with a 1,985cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 86.4%.

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 R438 FRO, 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 R438 FRO?

You can check the full history of R438 FRO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R438 FRO registered?

R438 FRO is a 1998 Saab 9-3, first registered on 13 May 1998.

Is R438 FRO safe to buy?

The MOT history for R438 FRO shows 22 tests with a 86.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R438 FRO 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 R438 FRO. 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.