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V978 DEF

1999 Saab 9-3

Silver Petrol 1985cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires1 Jul 2025
Tests31 (19 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate61.3%

Mileage

134,399 mi
Last recorded134,399 miles
Recorded on10 Jun 2025
Typical for 1999 Saab 9-398,368 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationV978 DEF
MakeSaab
Model9-3
Year1999
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

19 pass 12 fail
Fail 10 Jun 2025 134,399 miles

Hazard warning switch inoperative (4.4.2 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 2 Jul 2024 134,002 miles

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

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

Fail 27 Jun 2024 134,002 miles

Nearside Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle by more than 50% (1.2.1 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Pass 15 Jun 2023 133,681 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 20 Jun 2022 133,344 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Rear Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 21 Jun 2021 132,343 miles

Central Outer Slight corrosion on O/S Inner sill under plastic panel (unable to test correctly)

Pass 26 Jun 2020 131,187 miles
Fail 26 Jun 2020 131,187 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 4 Jul 2019 129,268 miles
Fail 4 Jul 2019 129,268 miles

Offside Rear Exhaust system insecure (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 5 Feb 2018 128,223 miles

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

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

Fail 23 Jan 2018 128,169 miles

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

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

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

Windscreen has damage to the swept area in excess of a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Nearside Rear Tread starting to crack

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

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

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

Pass 12 Jan 2017 126,166 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 12 Jan 2017 126,166 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 18 Jan 2016 121,424 miles

Nearside Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Fail 14 Jan 2016 121,355 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded Inner Wheel Arch (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 20 Jan 2015 115,259 miles
Fail 20 Jan 2015 115,259 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

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

Offside rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Pass 23 Jan 2014 106,804 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Fail 20 Jan 2014 106,774 miles

Nearside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

Rear engine mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (6.1.D.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 10 Jan 2013 98,864 miles

Gearbox mounting defective

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 13 Jan 2012 88,921 miles

Offside Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 13 Jan 2012 88,921 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Offside Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 7 Jan 2011 77,605 miles

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

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

Offside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Pass 22 Jan 2010 66,240 miles

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

Fail 26 Jan 2009 54,875 miles

Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

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

Pass 26 Jan 2009 54,875 miles

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

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

Pass 17 Sep 2007 52,833 miles
Pass 22 Sep 2006 47,647 miles

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

Fail 21 Sep 2006 47,647 miles

Nearside Outer Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Outer Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Pass 15 Sep 2005 42,839 miles

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

nearside rear brake dragging slightly

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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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.

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V978 DEF is a 1999 Saab 9-3 in Silver with a 1,985cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.3%.

Across all 1999 Saab 9-3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.8% with a typical mileage of 98,368 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 V978 DEF, 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 27 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 V978 DEF?

You can check the full history of V978 DEF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was V978 DEF registered?

V978 DEF is a 1999 Saab 9-3, first registered on 8 October 1999.

Is V978 DEF safe to buy?

The MOT history for V978 DEF shows 31 tests with a 61.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does V978 DEF 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 V978 DEF. 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.