1998 Saab 900 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 687 MOT tests, the 1998 Saab 900 recorded a 74.5% pass rate. Executive cars of a similar age fail 22.8% of the time, so this is 2.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.0% of all tests — 4.6 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and exhaust system — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 47 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.9% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 33.9% once past 150k — 3.1× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 28.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 96 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.3% | 64 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.3% | 64 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 57 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 50 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.0% | 41 |
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 | 47 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 38 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 38 |
| 4 | Wipers | 34 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 31 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 29 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 28.2% | 194 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.6% | 176 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.6% | 162 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.3% | 146 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.6% | 121 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 105 |
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 | 55 | 10.9% |
| 60-90k | 134 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 213 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 146 | 26.7% |
| 150k+ | 130 | 33.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 207 | 25.1% |
| 2022 | 146 | 21.9% |
| 2023 | 135 | 31.9% |
| 2024 | 105 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 94 | 25.5% |
What to check before buying a 1998 900
On a 1998 900, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.3% 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.
- Suspension (9.3% 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.
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 1998 Saab 900s pass their MOT?
74.5% of the 687 1998 Saab 900 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Saab 900?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by brakes (9.3%).
Does the 1998 900 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 30-60k band to 33.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 687 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.