1985 Saab 900 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age

41 years

Current Age

76.7%

Latest Pass Rate

1,061

Total Tests (All Years)

129,738 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1985 Saab 900 as it ages.

24 yrs46.7%

→ ↑4.1%

25 yrs50.8%

→ ↑3.3%

26 yrs54.1%

→ ↓8.6%

27 yrs45.5%

→ ↑5.1%

28 yrs50.6%

→ ↑5.6%

29 yrs56.2%

→ ↓0.0%

30 yrs56.2%

→ ↑1.4%

31 yrs57.6%

→ ↓13.2%

32 yrs44.4%

→ ↓4.9%

33 yrs39.5%

→ ↑14.3%

34 yrs53.8%

→ ↓1.0%

35 yrs52.8%

→ ↑10.4%

36 yrs63.2%

→ ↑13.5%

39 yrs76.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
24 yrs	46.7%	152
25 yrs	50.8%	130
26 yrs	54.1%	109
27 yrs	45.5%	99
28 yrs	50.6%	87
29 yrs	56.2%	73
30 yrs	56.2%	73
31 yrs	57.6%	59
32 yrs	44.4%	63
33 yrs	39.5%	43
34 yrs	53.8%	39
35 yrs	52.8%	36
36 yrs	63.2%	38
39 yrs	76.7%	60

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1985 Saab 900 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (39 yrs)	76.7%	60
2021 (36 yrs)	63.2%	38
2020 (35 yrs)	52.8%	36
2019 (34 yrs)	53.8%	39
2018 (33 yrs)	39.5%	43
2017 (32 yrs)	44.4%	63
2016 (31 yrs)	57.6%	59
2015 (30 yrs)	56.2%	73
2014 (29 yrs)	56.2%	73
2013 (28 yrs)	50.6%	87
2012 (27 yrs)	45.5%	99
2011 (26 yrs)	54.1%	109
2010 (25 yrs)	50.8%	130
2009 (24 yrs)	46.7%	152

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

46.7%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 152Avg Mileage 130,714Top Failure Brakes — 28.9%

2010High Fail Rate

50.8%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 130Avg Mileage 134,490Top Failure Brakes — 28.5%

2011High Fail Rate

54.1%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 109Avg Mileage 134,209Top Failure Brakes — 25.7%

2012High Fail Rate

45.5%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 99Avg Mileage 134,457Top Failure Brakes — 35.4%

2013High Fail Rate

50.6%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 87Avg Mileage 134,482Top Failure Brakes — 82.8%

2014High Fail Rate

56.2%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 73Avg Mileage 123,130Top Failure Brakes — 65.8%

2015High Fail Rate

56.2%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 73Avg Mileage 135,344Top Failure Suspension — 64.4%

2016High Fail Rate

57.6%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 59Avg Mileage 127,157Top Failure Suspension — 45.8%

2017High Fail Rate

44.4%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 63Avg Mileage 137,872Top Failure Suspension — 71.4%

2018High Fail Rate

39.5%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 43Avg Mileage 141,391Top Failure Brakes — 60.5%

2019High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 39Avg Mileage 144,606Top Failure Brakes — 76.9%

2020High Fail Rate

52.8%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 36Avg Mileage 138,029Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 41.7%

2021High Fail Rate

63.2%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 38Avg Mileage 142,476Top Failure Brakes — 44.7%

2024

76.7%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 60Avg Mileage 129,738Top Failure Brakes — 30.0%

MOT results for 1985 Saab 900 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	24	46.7%	152	130,714	Brakes — 28.9%
2010	25	50.8%	130	134,490	Brakes — 28.5%
2011	26	54.1%	109	134,209	Brakes — 25.7%
2012	27	45.5%	99	134,457	Brakes — 35.4%
2013	28	50.6%	87	134,482	Brakes — 82.8%
2014	29	56.2%	73	123,130	Brakes — 65.8%
2015	30	56.2%	73	135,344	Suspension — 64.4%
2016	31	57.6%	59	127,157	Suspension — 45.8%
2017	32	44.4%	63	137,872	Suspension — 71.4%
2018	33	39.5%	43	141,391	Brakes — 60.5%
2019	34	53.8%	39	144,606	Brakes — 76.9%
2020	35	52.8%	36	138,029	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 41.7%
2021	36	63.2%	38	142,476	Brakes — 44.7%
2024	39	76.7%	60	129,738	Brakes — 30.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1985 Saab 900, with age trends.

Brakes

47.0%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

42.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

40.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

31.0%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

25.5%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	22.4% (24 yrs)	16.7% (39 yrs)	-5.7%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	28.9% (24 yrs)	30.0% (39 yrs)	+1.1%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1971 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

← Back to Saab 900 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Saab 900 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Saab 900 cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,061 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.