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Saab 9-3 YS3D

1998 to 2001

Based on 1 source, each with its own reference date

No documented data yet for this generation

Recalls

Our EU Safety Gate feed only goes back to 17 July 2026

NHTSA

We could not check NHTSA for this model

EU Safety Gate

No recall found in EU Safety Gate, checked up to and including 2001

Safety rating

American crash test (NHTSA)

NHTSA SafetyRatings

American crash-test rating (NHTSA), for the American market. It does not automatically apply to this country

No safety rating found at NHTSA SafetyRatings, checked through 2001

Insurance loss

Compared with the US average. Not a chance of defects

IIHS/HLDI

Based on American insurance claims for this model. This does not automatically apply to this country

No insurance loss data found at IIHS/HLDI, checked through 2001

Inspection statistics for these model years

CZ STKNot checked recently

25 to 30 years: 237 inspections

  • Official inspection point: Braking equipment

    Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 57 of the 237 Czech inspection data, age 25-30 yr.

    CZ STK, data up to and including 03/07/2026

  • Official inspection point: Lighting equipment and parts of the electrical system

    Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 48 of the 237 Czech inspection data, age 25-30 yr.

    CZ STK, data up to and including 03/07/2026

  • Official inspection point: Chassis and chassis attachments

    Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 47 of the 237 Czech inspection data, age 25-30 yr.

    CZ STK, data up to and including 03/07/2026

  • Official inspection point: Steering

    Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 40 of the 237 Czech inspection data, age 25-30 yr.

    CZ STK, data up to and including 03/07/2026

  • Official inspection point: Visibility

    Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 29 of the 237 Czech inspection data, age 25-30 yr.

    CZ STK, data up to and including 03/07/2026

and 1 more

DVSA MOT-statistiekNot checked recently

24 to 26 years: 1,564 inspections

  • Official item from DVSA MOT-statistiek

    Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 536 of the 1564 British MOT statistics, age 24-26 yr.

    DVSA MOT-statistiek, data up to and including 2025

Noorse keuringsdata (periodieke voertuigkeuring)Not checked recently

25 to 30 years: 226 inspections

  • Official inspection point: Braking equipment

    Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 108 of the 226 Norwegian inspection data, age 25-30 yr.

    Noorse keuringsdata (periodieke voertuigkeuring), data up to and including 31/12/2025

  • Official inspection point: Lighting equipment and parts of the electrical system

    Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 93 of the 226 Norwegian inspection data, age 25-30 yr.

    Noorse keuringsdata (periodieke voertuigkeuring), data up to and including 31/12/2025

  • Official inspection point: Axles, wheels, tyres, suspension

    Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 58 of the 226 Norwegian inspection data, age 25-30 yr.

    Noorse keuringsdata (periodieke voertuigkeuring), data up to and including 31/12/2025

  • Official inspection point: Chassis and chassis attachments

    Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 57 of the 226 Norwegian inspection data, age 25-30 yr.

    Noorse keuringsdata (periodieke voertuigkeuring), data up to and including 31/12/2025

  • Official inspection point: Nuisance

    Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 43 of the 226 Norwegian inspection data, age 25-30 yr.

    Noorse keuringsdata (periodieke voertuigkeuring), data up to and including 31/12/2025

and 3 more

See the inspection statistics for all generations of 9-3

Go to 9-3

Inspections by country and age

This table shows, per age, how many cars of this model fail inspection, by country. An index of 100 is that country's average for that age.

AgeNetherlandsUnited KingdomCzechiaIrelandNO
25-30 years

No data

34.3% failed (536 of 1564)

country average 36.4%, index 94

Based on MOT age 24-26 and 27-29 years, not this exact band

No data

No data

No data

Czechia only counts serious defects, severity B or C. The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Norway count every inspection with a real defect.

Finland is not in this table. Finland counts defect points, not cars with a defect.

100 is that country's average for that age.

Buyer knowledge and checklist

Before you buy: the inspection requirement in this country, plus a checklist for the test drive.

Periodic inspection: APK (Algemene Periodieke Keuring, the Dutch periodic roadworthiness test): from 2 to 8 years old: every 2 years; diesel: annually from the first test onwards; other fuels: annually from 8 years old

Kentekenregister, checked on 05/08/2026

Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

Which defects are found most often at inspection for a Saab 9-3?

Official inspection point: Braking equipment. Note: this is a share of the cars tested in this age band. It is not a chance of defects and predicts nothing for this car. 57 of the 237 Czech inspection data, age 25-30 yr. CZ STK, data up to and including 03/07/2026. More age groups and categories are available in the inspection statistics on this page.

Where does this data come from?

CZ STK (data up to and including 03/07/2026), DVSA MOT-statistiek (data up to and including 2025), NHTSA Manufacturer Communications (data up to and including 2001), GDV Typklassenverzeichnis (data up to and including 2024), Norwegian inspection data (data up to and including 31/12/2025), Finnish inspection data (data up to and including 31/12/2025), Irish inspection data (data up to and including 31/12/2025). Every fact here has its own source and reference date.

Ready for a full analysis

Start an analysis

By Jon Mase, Plateop

Sources

  • EU Safety Gate, data up to and including 2001
  • NHTSA Manufacturer Communications, data up to and including 2001
  • NHTSA SafetyRatings, data up to and including 2001
  • IIHS/HLDI, data up to and including 2001

Other generations of 9-3