Saab 900
From 6,333 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, caused 411 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 411 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 222 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 180 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 146 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 142 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 141 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 133 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 131 |
| parking brake inoperative on one side | 130 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 122 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 47.2% of 900 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 20.2% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £190.
Saab 900 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 252 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 251. At this rate, roughly 23.2 years until none remain. Now at 7.4% of its peak (79,435 in 1997 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,793 | 4,060 | +0 | -47 | -47 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,837 | 4,063 | +1 | -17 | -16 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,669 | 4,247 | +0 | -68 | -68 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,686 | 4,298 | +0 | -120 | -120 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,959 | 4,145 | +0 | -75 | -75 |
| 2024 Q2 | 2,007 | 4,172 | +0 | -0 | +21 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,865 | 4,293 | +0 | -127 | -127 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,879 | 4,406 | +0 | -41 | -41 |
14 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 900 I 16V | Petrol | 175 | 14% |
| 900 S | Petrol | 166 | 14% |
| 900 Turbo 3 Dohc 16 | Diesel | 122 | 10% |
| 900 S Convertible | Petrol | 104 | 9% |
| 900 T 16S Convertible | Petrol | 95 | 8% |
| 900 S Aero Turbo | Petrol | 76 | 6% |
| 900 Turbo 16 Conv | Gas | 75 | 6% |
| 900 I 16V Auto | Petrol | 65 | 5% |
| 900 I | Petrol | 59 | 5% |
| 900 Se Turbo | Petrol | 58 | 5% |
| 900 T 16S Convert A | Gas | 57 | 5% |
| 900 Turbo | Petrol | 54 | 4% |
| 900 S Auto | Petrol | 52 | 4% |
| 900 Xs | Gas | 50 | 4% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 70.1% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 1997 | 70.3% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, exhaust system leaking or insecure |
| 1996 | 70.4% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a brake hose ferrule excessively corroded |
| 1995 | 70.5% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a tyre seriously damaged |
9 earlier years
| 1994 | 63.6% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1993 | 71% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 1992 | 71.5% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 1991 | 72.9% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1990 | 72% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 1989 | 73.8% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1988 | 84.9% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, a shock absorber bush excessively worn |
| 1987 | 69.3% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1986 | 67% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
Typical mileage
Half of all 900s tested had between 98,216 and 135,948 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 118,014 median miles, the 900 has 0.024 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Saab models
Common questions
What is the Saab 900 MOT pass rate?
The Saab 900 has a 71.9% MOT pass rate based on 6,333 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Saab 900?
The most common MOT failure on the Saab 900 is the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, which caused 411 failures. Other common issues include parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement.
How many Saab 900s are on UK roads?
There are 1,793 Saab 900s currently licensed on UK roads, with 4,060 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Saab 900 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Saab 900 is 118,014 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 98,216 and 135,948 miles.
Buying a used 900?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 71.9% pass rate and an average repair bill of £190 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 47.2% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.