1997 Saab 900 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1997 Saab 900 passed 74.9% of its 2,029 recorded MOT tests. Against executive cars of a similar age (22.3% fail rate), the 1997 900 comes out 2.8pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.8% of tests against 10.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, exhaust system and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 154 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.8% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.8% in 2021 to 24.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 321 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.1% | 205 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.0% | 182 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.7% | 176 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 128 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.7% | 115 |
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 | 154 |
| 2 | Exhaust system | 122 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 104 |
| 4 | Wipers | 88 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 78 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 77 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 33.2% | 673 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.4% | 555 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.0% | 487 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.2% | 409 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 19.5% | 396 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 351 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 33 | 21.2% |
| 30-60k | 179 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 416 | 18.5% |
| 90-120k | 669 | 24.5% |
| 120-150k | 426 | 27.5% |
| 150k+ | 299 | 34.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 549 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 482 | 24.9% |
| 2023 | 397 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 316 | 24.1% |
| 2025 | 285 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a 1997 900
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (9.0% 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 1997 Saab 900s pass their MOT?
74.9% of the 2,029 1997 Saab 900 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Saab 900?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by suspension (10.1%).
Does the 1997 900 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.2% in the 0-30k band to 34.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,029 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.