Used car guide

2004 Saab 9-5: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Saab 9-5s, from 601 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

601MOT tests in 2025
66%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
6,000typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 Saab 9-5s than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Suspension arm2.3× usual
    Saab 9-5
    9.5% All 2004 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.4% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Flexible brake hoses2× usual
    Saab 9-5
    11.3% All 2004 cars
    5.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 1.2% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

  • Sub-frame bushes10× usual
    Saab 9-5
    5% All 2004 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.1% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Seat belts2.9× usual
    Saab 9-5
    5.3% All 2004 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.6% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock and retract smoothly.

By area

The share of 2004 Saab 9-5 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    50% 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
    42% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    36% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    28% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    25% 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
    12% 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
2010573Suspension 33%
2009577Suspension 42%
2008776Suspension 45%
2007868Suspension 47%
2006798Suspension 47%
2005790Suspension 46%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 Saab 9-5s registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score