2004 Saab 9-5 2.3L Petrol · WA04 CNF

The 2004 SAAB 9-5 presents a stable and reassuring maintenance trend based on the available DVSA MOT records. The most recent test, conducted on 25 February 2022 at 147,175 miles, resulted in a clean pass with zero defects recorded. This outcome, combined with the preceding tests in February 2021 and February 2020, both of which also passed without advisories or failures, indicates a vehicle that has been consistently maintained to a roadworthy standard. The maintenance trend is stable, with no evidence of recurring mechanical or structural faults over the documented period. The mileage pattern tells a straightforward story. Between the February 2020 test at 141,947 miles and the February 2022 test at 147,175 miles, the vehicle covered approximately 5,228 miles over two years, equating to roughly 2,614 miles annually. This is notably lower than the vehicle's lifetime average of approximately 6,690 miles per year, suggesting the car saw reduced use in its most recent documented period. Critically, the recorded mileage has remained static at 147,175 miles since the February 2022 test, meaning the vehicle has accumulated no further miles in over four years as of today's date in June 2026. This extended period without a recorded MOT raises a significant concern about whether the vehicle has been in regular use or has been sitting stationary for a prolonged duration. A vehicle standing idle for extended periods can develop issues that do not appear on historical MOT records. Brake discs and calipers are prone to surface corrosion and seizure when a car is not driven regularly. Tyres can develop flat spots and perished sidewalls from prolonged static loading. Suspension bushes and seals may dry out, and fuel system components can suffer from degraded or stale petrol. The SAAB 9-5 is also known for sensitivity to electrical gremlins and turbocharger oil feed issues, both of which can worsen with infrequent use. A prospective buyer should thoroughly inspect the underside for structural corrosion, particularly around the subframes and sills, test the handbrake and footbrake for binding, and verify that all dashboard warning lights illuminate and extinguish correctly on start-up. A pre-purchase inspection by a SAAB-specialist mechanic is strongly recommended given the four-year gap in documented activity.