1988 Saab 900 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1988 Saab 900 passed 79.2% of its 544 recorded MOT tests. Against executive cars of a similar age (17.4% fail rate), the 1988 900 comes out 3.4pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.1% of tests against 7.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, exhaust system and washers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 42 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 15.7% versus 21.9%.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 30.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.1% | 66 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 41 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.3% | 40 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.8% | 37 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 32 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 42 |
| 2 | Exhaust system | 25 |
| 3 | Washers | 19 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 18 |
| 5 | Flexible brake hoses | 18 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 16 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 30.1% | 164 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.2% | 110 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.0% | 109 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.9% | 70 |
| 5 | Tyres | 11.8% | 64 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.4% | 51 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 41 | 21.9% |
| 60-90k | 44 | 18.2% |
| 90-120k | 111 | 27.9% |
| 120-150k | 162 | 21.6% |
| 150k+ | 172 | 15.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 128 | 18.8% |
| 2022 | 128 | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 110 | 21.8% |
| 2024 | 97 | 17.5% |
| 2025 | 81 | 19.8% |
What to check before buying a 1988 900
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Brakes (7.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1988 Saab 900s pass their MOT?
79.2% of the 544 1988 Saab 900 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1988 Saab 900?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (7.5%).
Does the 1988 900 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.9% in the 30-60k band to 15.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 544 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.