2002 Saab 9-3 MOT pass rate: 71.6% (2,483 tests)

2002-registered Saab 9-3s passed 71.6% of 2,483 MOT tests in 2023–2025 — 5.9 points better than all UK cars registered in 2002 (65.7%). This is one of the strongest 9-3 years in the age-adjusted MOT ranking, although the individual car still matters more.

71.6%Pass rate, 2002 cars

105.9Age-adjusted index (100 = average)

2,483Tests analysed

104,305 miMedian mileage at test

72.4% / 58.1%Petrol vs diesel pass rate

Is the 2002 9-3 getting worse?

Pass rate of 2002-registered cars across recent test years:

Test year	Pass rate
2023	70.3% +5.1 vs same-age
2024	69.4% +4.0 vs same-age
2025	75.8% +9.1 vs same-age

The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.

What fails on a 2002 9-3

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Brakes	560	23.5%
2	Suspension	487	20.4%
3	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	404	16.9%
4	Body, chassis, structure	260	10.9%
5	Tyres	203	8.5%
6	Noise, emissions and leaks	157	6.6%

All 9-3 years compared

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2001	2,287	70.5%	+3.9 pts	102,469
2002 (this page)	2,483	71.6%	+5.9 pts	104,305
2003	2,803	68.2%	+3.2 pts	108,142
2004	6,638	66.2%	+1.9 pts	110,520
2005	10,164	66.2%	+1.7 pts	112,168
2006	15,847	65.7%	+1.3 pts	114,925
2007	20,014	67.4%	+2.3 pts	114,761
2008	17,119	68.7%	+3.6 pts	119,978
2009	10,703	69.9%	+3.5 pts	109,395
2010	9,708	70.5%	+3.2 pts	106,816
2011	6,524	70.1%	+0.9 pts	107,130

Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Saab 9-3 years to avoid.

Buying a 2002 9-3? Two checks first

Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

FAQs

Is a 2002 Saab 9-3 reliable?

2002-registered examples passed 71.6% of their MOT tests (2,483 tests, 2023–2025), +5.9 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 24 years old with a median 104,305 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.

What mileage is too high for a 2002 9-3?

The median tested example shows 104,305 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.