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ALZ 181

2001 Saab 9-3

Silver Petrol 1985cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Sep 2026
Tests28 (20 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

160,269 mi
Last recorded160,269 miles
Recorded on8 Sep 2025
Typical for 2001 Saab 9-390,711 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Saab
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationALZ 181
MakeSaab
Model9-3
Year2001
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,985cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

20 pass 8 fail
Pass 8 Sep 2025 160,269 miles

Nearside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Inner wheel arch (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Inner wheel arch (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Steering component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Bulkhead area showing signs of movement/flex on lock to lock check (2.1.2 (e) (i))

Pass 29 Aug 2024 159,799 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Steering component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Bulkhead area showing signs of movement/flex on lock to lock check (2.1.2 (e) (i))

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Fail 28 Aug 2024 159,799 miles

Battery insecure and likely to cause a short circuit (4.13 (a) (ii))

Engine management light on

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Steering component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Bulkhead area showing signs of movement/flex on lock to lock check (2.1.2 (e) (i))

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 4 Sep 2023 158,719 miles

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (i))

Gearbox mounting defective ()

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Steering component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive bulkhead area showing signs of movement/flex on full lock check (2.1.2 (e) (i))

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 12 Sep 2022 158,031 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 2 Sep 2021 157,120 miles

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases corroded at joint/clamp (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive upper spring mount/chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Steering component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive bulkhead area showing signs of movement/flex on full lock check (2.1.2 (e) (i))

Rear exhaust box deteriorated

Pass 25 Sep 2020 156,118 miles

Gearbox mounting defective ()

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 27 Sep 2019 154,497 miles

Gearbox mounting defective ()

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Fail 16 Sep 2019 154,490 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner wheel arch (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired inner wheel arch (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Engine management light on

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Gearbox mounting defective ()

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 18 Sep 2018 152,103 miles

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 17 Sep 2018 152,098 miles

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Nearside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear, at the rear (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded inner wing (2.1.2 (e) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake hose leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.12 (c) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 29 Sep 2017 148,510 miles

Front tyres starting to split around inner tread band

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Fail 18 Sep 2017 148,500 miles

Central Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded centre inner wheel arch (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded inner wheel arch (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded centre inner wheel arch (2.4.A.3)

Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported Clamp (7.1.1)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Windscreen has damage to the swept area in excess of a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Front tyres starting to split around inner tread band

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Rear rear inner wheel arch to boot floor excessively corroded, not in a prescribed area

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 26 Sep 2016 145,366 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner wheel arch (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner wheel arch (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 15 Sep 2015 139,189 miles

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner wing (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 10 Oct 2014 135,422 miles

Large crack in nearside windscreen, not affecting drivers view

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Fail 8 Oct 2014 135,418 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Large crack in nearside windscreen, not affecting drivers view

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Pass 6 Nov 2013 130,599 miles

Exhaust heat shield insecure

Gearbox mounting defective

Pass 2 Nov 2012 124,446 miles

Offside Rear Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Oil leak

Spare tyre defective

nearside front tyre has a small split in tread but not to cords

Fail 1 Nov 2012 124,441 miles

Nearside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Nail in nearside front tyre

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak

Spare tyre defective

nearside front tyre has a small split in tread but not to cords

rear exhaust clamp missing

Fail 14 Oct 2011 119,694 miles

205/50 tyres fitted to front axle, 205/55 tyres fitted to rear axle

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nail in nearside front tyre

Nearside Front Tyre(s) incorrect because tyres with different aspect ratios are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

Nearside Rear Tyre(s) incorrect because tyres with different aspect ratios are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

Offside Rear Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Pass 14 Oct 2011 119,694 miles

205/50 tyres fitted to front axle, 205/55 tyres fitted to rear axle

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nail in nearside front tyre

Offside Rear Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Pass 10 Nov 2010 113,155 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Offside Front Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Fail 3 Nov 2010 113,150 miles

Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Steering arm damaged and unserviceable (2.2.C.1d)

Offside Rear Brake hose twisted (3.6.B.4c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe kinked (3.6.B.2b)

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Offside Front Road wheel slightly damaged (4.2.A.1a)

Pass 2 Feb 2009 98,778 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 28 Jan 2008 89,720 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 27 Nov 2006 75,528 miles
Pass 21 Feb 2006 69,598 miles

How Reliable is the Saab 9-3?

Based on 2,294,034 MOT tests across 155,316 vehicles.

73.6%
Pass Rate
6,682
Miles/Year
28
Year Lifespan
155,316
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 75,543
coil spring broken 47,423
position lamp(s) not working 38,332
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 35,584
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 34,513
Full Saab 9-3 reliability report

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ALZ 181 is a 2001 Saab 9-3 in Silver with a 1,985cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

Across all 2001 Saab 9-3 models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.1% with a typical mileage of 90,711 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Saab 9-3 fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 75,543 recorded failures. If you're considering buying ALZ 181, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Saab 9-3 typically stays on UK roads for around 28 years. At 25 years old, this Saab 9-3 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of ALZ 181?

You can check the full history of ALZ 181 by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was ALZ 181 registered?

ALZ 181 is a 2001 Saab 9-3, first registered on 13 December 2001.

Is ALZ 181 safe to buy?

The MOT history for ALZ 181 shows 28 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does ALZ 181 have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on ALZ 181. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.