2006 Saab 9-5 MOT pass rate: 69.0% (2,922 tests)
Is the 2006 9-5 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2006-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 69.6% +5.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 69.6% +5.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 67.3% +2.4 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 2006 9-5
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 620 | 22.4% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 553 | 20.0% |
| 3 | Suspension | 535 | 19.3% |
| 4 | Tyres | 302 | 10.9% |
| 5 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 300 | 10.8% |
| 6 | Body, chassis, structure | 183 | 6.6% |
All 9-5 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 2,248 | 68.4% | +4.1 pts | 127,248 |
| 2005 | 2,757 | 68.7% | +4.2 pts | 126,617 |
| 2006 (this page) | 2,922 | 69.0% | +4.6 pts | 125,917 |
| 2007 | 3,026 | 71.0% | +5.9 pts | 122,588 |
| 2008 | 2,601 | 71.4% | +6.2 pts | 119,842 |
| 2009 | 1,787 | 73.0% | +6.6 pts | 113,540 |
| 2010 | 1,790 | 75.5% | +8.2 pts | 106,728 |
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FAQs
Is a 2006 Saab 9-5 reliable?
2006-registered examples passed 69.0% of their MOT tests (2,922 tests, 2023–2025), +4.6 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 20 years old with a median 125,917 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2006 9-5?
The median tested example shows 125,917 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.