Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2005 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 2005 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 2005 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.

How many 2005 Saab 9 5 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

33% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2005 Saab 9 5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 5,095 vehicles, the 2005 Saab 9 5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 74.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2005 Saab 9 5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2005 Saab 9 5 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (74.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (69.1% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (59.8% 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 2005 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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Saab 9 5 (2005)

5,095 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74.9% first-time pass rate

2005 Saab 9 5

CarHunch analysed 5,095 real MOT records for the 2005 Saab 9 5. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2005 SAAB 9-5 falls short of the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 74.9% versus 80% nationally—a meaningful gap that signals above-average maintenance needs. More concerning, nearly a third of these cars (32.6%) have recorded at least one dangerous defect during their MOT history, which is well above acceptable for a buyer's peace of mind.

At 85,000 miles median mileage for an 18-year-old car, these vehicles have been driven reasonably hard, yet they still accumulate an average of 4 failures and nearly 25 advisories per test—pointing to systemic wear in suspension, electrics, and cooling systems rather than isolated problems. Before making an offer, insist on a pre-purchase inspection by a SAAB-familiar mechanic and obtain the full MOT history to see whether failures are concentrated in one area or scattered across multiple systems.

The 2005 Saab 9 5 has a below-average first-time pass rate (74.9% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

74.9%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

32.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.04

Over 15.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

85k

Middle half: 67k–105k

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 24.7 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 5,095 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 5,095 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 74.1%

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.

Other issues 54%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · Oil leak · …

Brake wear 28.6%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake lever has little reserve travel · …

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 2005.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,095 Saab 9 5 cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.5 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

75.6%

Petrol

2,637 vehicles

74.1%

Diesel

2,443 vehicles

Before you buy a 2005 Saab 9 5

Based on MOT data from 5,095 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 32.6% 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 (52%)	2,637	75.6%	4.06
Diesel (48%)	2,443	74.1%	4.02

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 2005 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.

85,235

typical

67,415

low mileage

105,006

high mileage

Half of all 2005 Saab 9 5 vehicles fall between 67,415 and 105,006 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 67,415 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.

✓ 67,415–105,006 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2005 Saab 9 5s sit.

⚠ Over 141,758 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2005 Saab 9 5 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 17% of 2005 Saab 9 5s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 737 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (17% 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

15.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.04

Avg failures per vehicle

24.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Or browse all models: Saab →

Compare with another model

See how the 2005 Saab 9 5 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on