1988 Saab 900 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age

38 years

Current Age

82.0%

Latest Pass Rate

3,028

Total Tests (All Years)

125,813 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for 900

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1988 Saab 900 as it ages.

21 yrs48.0%

→ ↑5.0%

22 yrs53.0%

→ ↓0.4%

23 yrs52.6%

→ ↑1.2%

24 yrs53.8%

→ ↑3.5%

25 yrs57.3%

→ ↓5.6%

26 yrs51.7%

→ ↑5.9%

27 yrs57.6%

→ ↑1.5%

28 yrs59.1%

→ ↓6.8%

29 yrs52.3%

→ ↑9.5%

30 yrs61.8%

→ ↓0.1%

31 yrs61.7%

→ ↑1.2%

32 yrs62.9%

→ ↑9.8%

33 yrs72.7%

→ ↓5.6%

34 yrs67.1%

→ ↑1.0%

35 yrs68.1%

→ ↑13.9%

36 yrs82.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
21 yrs	48.0%	458
22 yrs	53.0%	347
23 yrs	52.6%	287
24 yrs	53.8%	240
25 yrs	57.3%	206
26 yrs	51.7%	201
27 yrs	57.6%	177
28 yrs	59.1%	164
29 yrs	52.3%	176
30 yrs	61.8%	110
31 yrs	61.7%	107
32 yrs	62.9%	97
33 yrs	72.7%	110
34 yrs	67.1%	82
35 yrs	68.1%	94
36 yrs	82.0%	172

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1988 Saab 900 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (36 yrs)	82%	172
2023 (35 yrs)	68.1%	94
2022 (34 yrs)	67.1%	82
2021 (33 yrs)	72.7%	110
2020 (32 yrs)	62.9%	97
2019 (31 yrs)	61.7%	107
2018 (30 yrs)	61.8%	110
2017 (29 yrs)	52.3%	176
2016 (28 yrs)	59.1%	164
2015 (27 yrs)	57.6%	177
2014 (26 yrs)	51.7%	201
2013 (25 yrs)	57.3%	206
2012 (24 yrs)	53.8%	240
2011 (23 yrs)	52.6%	287
2010 (22 yrs)	53%	347
2009 (21 yrs)	48%	458

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

48.0%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 458Avg Mileage 134,467Top Failure Suspension — 30.6%

2010High Fail Rate

53.0%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 347Avg Mileage 136,962Top Failure Suspension — 26.2%

2011High Fail Rate

52.6%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 287Avg Mileage 133,153Top Failure Brakes — 26.8%

2012High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 240Avg Mileage 134,988Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.7%

2013High Fail Rate

57.3%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 206Avg Mileage 135,094Top Failure Suspension — 56.3%

2014High Fail Rate

51.7%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 201Avg Mileage 139,530Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 60.7%

2015High Fail Rate

57.6%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 177Avg Mileage 136,213Top Failure Suspension — 48.0%

2016High Fail Rate

59.1%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 164Avg Mileage 134,229Top Failure Brakes — 45.1%

2017High Fail Rate

52.3%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 176Avg Mileage 131,197Top Failure Suspension — 59.1%

2018High Fail Rate

61.8%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 110Avg Mileage 134,811Top Failure Suspension — 49.1%

2019High Fail Rate

61.7%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 107Avg Mileage 135,000Top Failure Brakes — 60.7%

2020High Fail Rate

62.9%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 97Avg Mileage 140,262Top Failure Suspension — 60.8%

2021

72.7%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 110Avg Mileage 129,664Top Failure Brakes — 31.8%

2022

67.1%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 82Avg Mileage 134,682Top Failure Suspension — 40.2%

2023

68.1%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 94Avg Mileage 132,207Top Failure Brakes — 55.3%

2024

82.0%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 172Avg Mileage 125,813Top Failure Brakes — 17.4%

MOT results for 1988 Saab 900 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	21	48.0%	458	134,467	Suspension — 30.6%
2010	22	53.0%	347	136,962	Suspension — 26.2%
2011	23	52.6%	287	133,153	Brakes — 26.8%
2012	24	53.8%	240	134,988	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.7%
2013	25	57.3%	206	135,094	Suspension — 56.3%
2014	26	51.7%	201	139,530	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 60.7%
2015	27	57.6%	177	136,213	Suspension — 48.0%
2016	28	59.1%	164	134,229	Brakes — 45.1%
2017	29	52.3%	176	131,197	Suspension — 59.1%
2018	30	61.8%	110	134,811	Suspension — 49.1%
2019	31	61.7%	107	135,000	Brakes — 60.7%
2020	32	62.9%	97	140,262	Suspension — 60.8%
2021	33	72.7%	110	129,664	Brakes — 31.8%
2022	34	67.1%	82	134,682	Suspension — 40.2%
2023	35	68.1%	94	132,207	Brakes — 55.3%
2024	36	82.0%	172	125,813	Brakes — 17.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1988 Saab 900, with age trends.

Suspension

39.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

38.3%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

38.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

27.6%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

27.0%

↓ 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	30.6% (21 yrs)	15.1% (36 yrs)	-15.5%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	25.3% (21 yrs)	17.4% (36 yrs)	-7.9%	🟢 ↓

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 1988 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 3,028 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.