Used car guide

2005 Saab 9-5: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Saab 9-5s, from 790 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

790MOT tests in 2025
63%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
6,400typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Saab 9-5s than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Engine oil leaks1.9× usual
    Saab 9-5
    27.6% All 2005 cars
    14.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.3%, against 0.3% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Suspension arm2.9× usual
    Saab 9-5
    12% All 2005 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.4% of all 2005 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.

  • Rust around sub-frame mountings2.5× usual
    Saab 9-5
    3.8% All 2005 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.3% of all 2005 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 belts2.3× usual
    Saab 9-5
    3.9% All 2005 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.6% of all 2005 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.

Better than most

Track rod ends: 2.5% here, against 6.1% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 Saab 9-5 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    46% 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
    43% 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
    35% 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
    28% 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.

  • Tyres
    27% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Saab 9-5?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2010573Suspension 33%
2009577Suspension 42%
2008776Suspension 45%
2007868Suspension 47%
2006798Suspension 47%
2004601Suspension 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 Saab 9-5s registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score