Used car guide

1998 Saab 9-3: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1998 Saab 9-3s, from 253 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 253 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

253MOT tests in 2025
64%pass first time (all 1998 cars: 66%)
4,100typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for exhaust system

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1998 Saab 9-3s than on all cars registered in 1998.

  • Exhaust system2.1× usual
    Saab 9-3
    17.8% All 1998 cars
    8.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 2.3% of all 1998 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

By area

The share of 1998 Saab 9-3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    36% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    35% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    32% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    29% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    23% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    19% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2012194Suspension 32%
20112,263Suspension 44%
20103,244Suspension 45%
20093,329Suspension 43%
20085,041Suspension 43%
20075,777Suspension 43%
20064,425Suspension 48%
20052,853Suspension 48%
20041,859Suspension 47%
2003784Suspension 44%
2002712Suspension 35%
2001650Brakes 34%
2000597Brakes 36%
1999476Suspension 30%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1998 Saab 9-3s registered in 1998. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score