Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2007 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 2007 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 2007 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 2007 Saab 9 5 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

39% 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 2007 Saab 9 5 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,955 vehicles, the 2007 Saab 9 5 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 77.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2007 Saab 9 5?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2007 Saab 9 5 are: Oil leak, but not excessive (82.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (58.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (54.7% 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 2007 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 (2007)

2,955 real MOT outcomes analysed • 77.5% first-time pass rate

2007 Saab 9 5

CarHunch analysed 2,955 real MOT records for the 2007 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? →

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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 2007 SAAB 9-5 passes its MOT first time in 77.5% of cases, which is slightly below the UK average of 80%, and a concerning 39.3% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above what you'd want to see in a used purchase. Diesel models fare worse than petrol ones, with a 76.1% pass rate versus 79.1% for petrol, suggesting the diesel engines are more prone to trouble.

These cars are averaging around 90,600 miles, which is reasonable for their age, but the real red flag is the sheer number of advisories: 23.7 per vehicle on average. That signals widespread wear across suspension, brakes, and ancillaries rather than isolated problems, so budget for ongoing maintenance and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brake condition and undercarriage rust, which are common trouble spots on this generation.

The 2007 Saab 9 5 has a decent first-time pass rate (77.5%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

77.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

39.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.56

Over 15 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

95k

Middle half: 76k–116k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 23.7 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 2,955 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,955 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 82.1%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · …

Tyre wear 58.9%

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.

Brake wear 31.8%

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

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

Suspension & steering 18.1%

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2007.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,955 Saab 9 5 cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 3 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

79.1%

Petrol

1,391 vehicles

76.1%

Diesel

1,556 vehicles

Before you buy a 2007 Saab 9 5

Based on MOT data from 2,955 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 39.3% 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
Diesel (53%)	1,556	76.1%	3.63
Petrol (47%)	1,391	79.1%	3.49

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 2007 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.

95,450

typical

76,057

low mileage

115,605

high mileage

Half of all 2007 Saab 9 5 vehicles fall between 76,057 and 115,605 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 76,057 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.

✓ 76,057–115,605 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2007 Saab 9 5s sit.

⚠ Over 156,066 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2007 Saab 9 5 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 30% of 2007 Saab 9 5s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 805 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (30% 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.56

Avg failures per vehicle

23.7

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 2005 2006 2008 2009 2010 2011

Or browse all models: Saab →

Compare with another model

See how the 2007 Saab 9 5 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing