1989 Saab 900 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 904 MOT tests, the 1989 Saab 900 recorded a 76.0% pass rate. Against executive cars of a similar age (17.7% fail rate), the 1989 900 comes out 6.3pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.3%) and brakes (9.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and washers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 93 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1989 900 fails 26.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 26.2% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.2 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: emissions & environmental was flagged on 34.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 111 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.8% | 89 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 76 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.3% | 75 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.4% | 58 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 47 |
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 | 93 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 52 |
| 3 | Washers | 51 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 38 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 35 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 32 |
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 | 34.4% | 311 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.1% | 227 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.9% | 198 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.7% | 160 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.8% | 152 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.6% | 78 |
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 | 50 | 26.0% |
| 60-90k | 74 | 16.2% |
| 90-120k | 221 | 23.1% |
| 120-150k | 223 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 317 | 26.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 193 | 23.8% |
| 2022 | 209 | 23.4% |
| 2023 | 166 | 21.7% |
| 2024 | 169 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 167 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 1989 900
On a 1989 900, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.4% 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+.
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 1989 Saab 900s pass their MOT?
76.0% of the 904 1989 Saab 900 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1989 Saab 900?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by brakes (9.8%).
Does the 1989 900 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.0% in the 30-60k band to 26.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 904 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.