2008 Saab 9-3 1.9L Diesel · AF08 REU

A chronic rear brake and suspension issue defines the MOT history of this 9-3, with both rear friction components and rear coil springs appearing repeatedly across the test record. The most recent assessment on 19 December 2025 returned a clean pass with no advisories recorded, but the vehicle failed in the same month a year earlier on a fractured offside rear coil spring and an excessively binding nearside rear service brake, and before that it failed on 20 December 2023 for fluctuating rear brake effort on both sides, accompanied by advisories for pitted rear brake discs and binding brake action. The rear discs themselves have been flagged for inner face pitting or scoring at every test between late 2021 and late 2023, only clearing in the two most recent passes. An exhaust back box failure was also recorded in November 2021, with the middle pipe noted as corroded at the same time. The pattern points to rear axle components that have been a recurring source of wear rather than a one-off event. Annual mileage of roughly 9,600 miles is broadly typical for an eighteen year old vehicle, and the test cadence over the last five years shows consistent use without any multi-year gaps off the road. The mileage progression between tests is steady rather than erratic, with no sudden jumps that would suggest towing, fleet work, or prolonged motorway use. The exhaust leak and corroded middle pipe recorded in 2021, combined with the fractured rear spring and binding calipers of 2023 and 2024, are consistent with a car that is driven regularly enough to suffer normal wear on consumables but is also old enough for chassis and underbody items to be reaching the end of their service life. A prospective buyer should focus the test drive specifically on the rear axle, because the MOT record shows it is the weakest area of this vehicle. Listen for any clonking or knocking from the rear over speed humps or rough tarmac, particularly on one side, which could indicate worn suspension bushes, top mounts, or a fractured spring that has only just begun to split. On a quiet stretch of road, apply the brakes firmly from around 40 mph and feel for any rear-wheel lock tendency, pedal judder, or the car pulling sideways, all of which can point to sticking rear calipers or warped rear discs. Check that the handbrake holds the car on a slope without needing excessive lever travel, as a binding caliper will often show up here as either a dragging rear wheel or a handbrake that will not fully release. On the test, the rear brake discs should be inspected with a torch for visible lipping or scoring on the inner face, and the caliper slide pins should be checked to ensure they move freely without seizing. The exhaust system also warrants close physical inspection despite no recent advisories. The 2021 failure flagged a major leak at the back box and corrosion of the middle pipe, and SAAB 9-3 underbodies of this age are known to suffer further corrosion once a leak begins. From underneath the car, tap the system with a rubber mallet to listen for thin, papery sounds that suggest rusted-through sections, and watch for soot streaks around joints when the engine is revved. With underbody covers also noted as fitted in 2021, an inspector should ask for these to be removed so the rear subframe mounting points, brake pipes along the axle, and coil spring lower seats can be visually checked for the rust that often develops unseen on these vehicles, particularly given that the advisory history extends back over five consecutive tests.