1994 Saab 900 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1994 Saab 900 passed 73.6% of its 337 recorded MOT tests. Executive cars of a similar age fail 20.9% of the time, so this is 5.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (13.7%) and lighting & signalling (12.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and wipers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 37 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 27.4% versus 17.5%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: emissions & environmental was flagged on 27.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.9% in 2021 to 18.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 13.7% | 46 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 41 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 30 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.6% | 29 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.0% | 27 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 17 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 37 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 27 |
| 3 | Wipers | 18 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 15 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 13 |
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 | 27.3% | 92 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.2% | 78 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.6% | 76 |
| 4 | Tyres | 16.3% | 55 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.2% | 48 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.9% | 30 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 40 | 17.5% |
| 90-120k | 106 | 34.0% |
| 120-150k | 46 | 23.9% |
| 150k+ | 124 | 27.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 104 | 27.9% |
| 2022 | 65 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 64 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 56 | 28.6% |
| 2025 | 48 | 18.8% |
What to check before buying a 1994 900
On a 1994 900, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (13.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.9% 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 1994 Saab 900s pass their MOT?
73.6% of the 337 1994 Saab 900 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Saab 900?
Brakes, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.2%).
Does the 1994 900 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.5% in the 60-90k band to 27.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 337 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.