Saab 900 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Saab 900 car check
Is the Saab 900 reliable? We analysed 358,142 real MOT tests across 40,566 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Saab 900? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Saab 900 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and brake hose ferrule excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Saab 900.
Saab 900 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Saab 900. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Saab 900 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Saab 900 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Saab 900 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Saab 900 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Saab 900 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Saab 900 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Saab 900 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Saab 900 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 174 | 67.2% | 97,910 | 121,107 | 156,494 |
| 1998 | 28,450 | 69.3% | 78,228 | 100,828 | 126,159 |
| 1997 | 93,121 | 69.0% | 81,604 | 103,926 | 128,686 |
| 1996 | 66,069 | 67.6% | 86,015 | 108,260 | 133,454 |
| 1995 | 37,138 | 66.6% | 87,794 | 111,757 | 137,288 |
| 1994 | 18,703 | 65.5% | 92,142 | 117,774 | 144,117 |
| 1993 | 22,824 | 67.8% | 99,358 | 128,045 | 159,378 |
| 1992 | 21,721 | 67.3% | 103,160 | 130,972 | 162,470 |
| 1991 | 15,917 | 66.9% | 107,827 | 136,403 | 169,748 |
| 1990 | 18,567 | 67.2% | 101,566 | 131,953 | 161,127 |
| 1989 | 11,252 | 66.7% | 99,653 | 130,399 | 161,731 |
| 1988 | 7,592 | 67.3% | 103,508 | 134,016 | 164,718 |
| 1987 | 6,079 | 64.6% | 97,610 | 129,292 | 165,280 |
| 1986 | 3,355 | 64.2% | 88,742 | 116,523 | 148,634 |
| 1985 | 2,909 | 65.3% | 93,500 | 131,601 | 169,938 |
| 1984 | 1,863 | 66.6% | 91,025 | 129,442 | 164,916 |
| 1983 | 874 | 68.5% | 72,351 | 100,136 | 144,302 |
| 1982 | 306 | 68.6% | 78,116 | 131,106 | 157,268 |
| 1981 | 181 | 72.9% | 81,852 | 109,887 | 156,540 |
| 1980 | 191 | 72.3% | 67,966 | 92,612 | 115,721 |
How Long Does a Saab 900 Last?
Based on 40,566 Saab 900 vehicles on UK roads.
Saab 900 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Saab 900 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Saab 900
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
73.7% MOT pass rate from 114 tests
64.2% MOT pass rate from 3,355 tests
The best year to buy a used Saab 900 is 1979, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 73.7% across 114 tests. The 1986 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Saab 900 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saab 900 THIS CAR | 67.7% | 358,142 | 113,382 mi | 39 yrs |
| Saab 9-3 | 73.6% | 2,294,034 | 88,441 mi | 28 yrs |
| Saab 9-5 | 74.3% | 735,114 | 97,615 mi | 29 yrs |
| Saab 9000 Cse | 66% | 66,427 | 129,814 mi | 33 yrs |
| Volkswagen Eos | 77.7% | 319,116 | 65,585 mi | 20 yrs |
Compared to the Saab 9-3 (73.6% pass rate) and the Saab 9-5 (74.3% pass rate), the Saab 900 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Saab 900 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Saab 900Should you buy a used Saab 900?
The Saab 900 has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.7% across 358,142 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Saab 900 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (16,771 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (14,261), and brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (13,034). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Saab 900 owner drives around 3,962 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Saab 900 models stay on UK roads for around 39 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.