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VU53 DFD

2003 Saab 9-3

Black Petrol 1998cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires5 Apr 2027
Tests30 (21 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate70%

Mileage

79,882 mi
Last recorded79,882 miles
Recorded on31 Mar 2026
Typical for 2003 Saab 9-385,740 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationVU53 DFD
MakeSaab
Model9-3
Year2003
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,998cc

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

21 pass 9 fail
Pass 31 Mar 2026 79,882 miles
Fail 31 Mar 2026 79,882 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp lens seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Headlamp lens seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

Pass 19 Mar 2025 78,089 miles
Fail 18 Mar 2025 78,089 miles

Exhaust system insecure (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 3 Apr 2024 75,686 miles
Fail 2 Apr 2024 75,686 miles

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

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Nearside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure inner sidewall (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 28 Mar 2023 73,691 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

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

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

Pass 15 Mar 2022 71,128 miles
Fail 15 Mar 2022 71,128 miles

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre(s) of different sizes are fitted on the same axle. (5.2.3 (b))

Pass 30 Mar 2021 67,518 miles
Fail 30 Mar 2021 67,518 miles

Fuel cap/sealing device ineffective (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Headlamp lens seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

Offside Headlamp lens seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

Pass 19 Mar 2020 63,740 miles
Fail 19 Mar 2020 63,740 miles

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

Pass 3 Apr 2019 58,722 miles
Pass 6 Apr 2018 55,983 miles
Pass 30 Nov 2016 50,227 miles
Pass 5 Mar 2016 46,345 miles

Nearside Rear tyre is splitting in tread

Offside Front tyre is splitting in tread

Offside Rear tyre is splitting in tread

Fail 26 Feb 2016 46,244 miles

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear tyre is splitting in tread

Offside Front tyre is splitting in tread

Offside Rear tyre is splitting in tread

Pass 27 Feb 2015 40,835 miles
Fail 27 Feb 2015 40,835 miles

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Pass 25 Mar 2014 40,241 miles

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

Pass 5 Mar 2013 39,517 miles

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

Pass 15 Mar 2012 38,824 miles

Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Pass 28 Jan 2011 38,376 miles

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

Pass 22 Jan 2010 36,127 miles
Fail 20 Jan 2010 36,102 miles

Offside Front coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

Pass 16 Jan 2009 33,133 miles
Pass 11 Jan 2008 29,088 miles
Pass 10 Jan 2007 22,298 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2006 21,434 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)

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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VU53 DFD is a 2003 Saab 9-3 in Black with a 1,998cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70%.

Across all 2003 Saab 9-3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.0% with a typical mileage of 85,740 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 VU53 DFD, 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 23 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 VU53 DFD?

You can check the full history of VU53 DFD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was VU53 DFD registered?

VU53 DFD is a 2003 Saab 9-3, first registered on 15 October 2003.

Is VU53 DFD safe to buy?

The MOT history for VU53 DFD shows 30 tests with a 70% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does VU53 DFD 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 VU53 DFD. 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.