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Saab 900 SE V6 Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Saab 900 SE V6 Auto car check

Is the Saab 900 SE V6 Auto reliable? We analysed 709 real MOT tests across 173 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 709 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
65.4%
Typical Mileage
115,918mi
Annual Mileage
6,000mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
33yrs

The Saab 900 SE V6 Auto 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 windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Saab 900 SE V6 Auto.

Saab 900 SE V6 Auto Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Saab 900 SE V6 Auto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Saab 900 SE V6 Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Saab 900 SE V6 Auto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

66.7%
1997
65.9%
1996
68.1%
1995
63.2%
1994
66%
1993

Saab 900 SE V6 Auto Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Saab 900 SE V6 Auto fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 46
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 45
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 36
Brake pipe excessively corroded 33
position lamp(s) not working 33
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 32
Direction indicator incorrect colour 32
Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded 28
parking brake recording little or no effort 27
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 24

Saab 900 SE V6 Auto Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Saab 900 SE V6 Auto owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,721 mi/yr
Typical
6,000 mi/yr
Average
6,783 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,914 mi/yr

Saab 900 SE V6 Auto MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Saab 900 SE V6 Auto year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1997 90 66.7% 98,671 127,461 148,752
1996 85 65.9% 92,581 114,998 131,303
1995 182 68.1% 85,812 109,931 128,744
1994 299 63.2% 101,389 116,741 132,208
1993 53 66.0% 89,096 123,084 173,518

How Long Does a Saab 900 SE V6 Auto Last?

Based on 173 Saab 900 SE V6 Auto vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.4 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
33 years

Saab 900 SE V6 Auto Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Saab 900 SE V6 Auto MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
115,918 mi
75th Percentile
135,260 mi
95th Percentile
173,714 mi
Max Recorded
206,114 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Saab 900 SE V6 Auto

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1995

68.1% MOT pass rate from 182 tests

Year to avoid
1994

63.2% MOT pass rate from 299 tests

The best year to buy a used Saab 900 SE V6 Auto is 1995, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 68.1% across 182 tests. The 1994 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.2% — 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 SE V6 Auto Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Saab 900 SE V6 Auto THIS CAR 65.4% 709 115,918 mi 33 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 900 67.7% 358,142 113,382 mi 39 yrs
Toyota Century 82.7% 342 120,575 mi — yrs

Compared to the Saab 9-3 (73.6% pass rate) and the Saab 9-5 (74.3% pass rate), the Saab 900 SE V6 Auto trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Saab 900 SE V6 Auto?

The Saab 900 SE V6 Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.4% across 709 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Saab 900 SE V6 Auto are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (46 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (45), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (36). 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 SE V6 Auto owner drives around 6,000 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 SE V6 Auto models stay on UK roads for around 33 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.

Saab 900 SE V6 Auto — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Saab 900 SE V6 Auto reliable?
Based on 709 MOT tests, the Saab 900 SE V6 Auto has a 65.4% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Saab 900 SE V6 Auto?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, parking brake: efficiency below requirements, and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Saab 900 SE V6 Auto do per year?
The typical Saab 900 SE V6 Auto does around 6,000 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Saab 900 SE V6 Auto last?
Most Saab 900 SE V6 Auto models stay on UK roads for around 33 years based on our analysis of 173 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Saab 900 SE V6 Auto?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Saab 900 SE V6 Auto?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Saab 900 SE V6 Auto is 1995 with a 68.1% pass rate across 182 tests.