Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Saab 9 5?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1998 Saab 9 5?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1998 Saab 9 5?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1998 Saab 9 5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 5,199 vehicles, the 1998 Saab 9 5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 74.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Saab 9 5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Saab 9 5 are: Oil leak (79% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (53.5% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (50.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1998 Saab 9 5?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Saab 9 5 (1998)

5,199 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74.1% first-time pass rate

1998 Saab 9 5

CarHunch analysed 5,199 real MOT records for the 1998 Saab 9 5. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1998 SAAB 9-5 passes its MOT first time in just 71.2% of cases, notably below the UK average of 80%, which suggests these cars are prone to developing issues by the time they reach test day. With a dangerous defect rate of 15.5%, you're also looking at a meaningful risk of safety-critical failures — not extremely high, but worth factoring into your pre-purchase inspection.

These vehicles are now 26 years old and averaging 116,723 miles, which is reasonable for their age, yet they're still clocking up an average of 2.32 failures and 10.6 advisories per test. This pattern points to ageing systems — electrics, suspension, and seals — that deteriorate steadily rather than catastrophically. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brake condition, electrical gremlins, and the integrity of the fuel system, which were common weak points on this generation.

The 1998 Saab 9 5 has a below-average first-time pass rate (74.1% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

74.1%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

15.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.32

Over 8.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

114k

Middle half: 94k–137k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 10.6 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 5,199 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 5,199 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 79%

Oil leak · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' · …

Tyre wear 53.5%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Lighting 35.6%

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated · Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Brake wear 22.6%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,199 Saab 9 5 cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Saab 9 5

Based on MOT data from 5,199 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 15.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	5,175	74.1%	2.32

Colour Breakdown

Based on 55,800 Saab 9 5 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 28.8%

16,046

Blue 22.1%

12,323

Black 18.2%

10,150

Grey 17%

9,461

Green 5.6%

3,152

Red 5.5%

3,044

Beige 2.1%

1,144

White 0.6%

360

Brown 0.1%

Bronze 0%

Gold 0%

Maroon 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Saab 9 5 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

113,795

typical

93,989

low mileage

137,023

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Saab 9 5 vehicles fall between 93,989 and 137,023 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 93,989 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 93,989–137,023 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Saab 9 5s sit.

⚠ Over 184,981 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Saab 9 5 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 1998 Saab 9 5s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 63 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (6% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

8.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.32

Avg failures per vehicle

10.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Saab 9 5: All 9 5 years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 1998 Saab 9 5 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on