1989 Saab 900 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age

37 years

Current Age

68.4%

Latest Pass Rate

4,575

Total Tests (All Years)

132,012 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 1989 Saab 900 as it ages.

20 yrs45.5%

→ ↑4.6%

21 yrs50.1%

→ ↓1.7%

22 yrs48.4%

→ ↑2.3%

23 yrs50.7%

→ ↑0.4%

24 yrs51.1%

→ ↓2.7%

25 yrs48.4%

→ ↑5.4%

26 yrs53.8%

→ ↑5.4%

27 yrs59.2%

→ ↑1.4%

28 yrs60.6%

→ ↓1.5%

29 yrs59.1%

→ ↑3.9%

30 yrs63.0%

→ ↓1.8%

31 yrs61.2%

→ ↑4.8%

32 yrs66.0%

→ ↑1.1%

33 yrs67.1%

→ ↑0.1%

34 yrs67.2%

→ ↑1.2%

35 yrs68.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
20 yrs	45.5%	642
21 yrs	50.1%	567
22 yrs	48.4%	444
23 yrs	50.7%	367
24 yrs	51.1%	315
25 yrs	48.4%	289
26 yrs	53.8%	273
27 yrs	59.2%	260
28 yrs	60.6%	246
29 yrs	59.1%	154
30 yrs	63.0%	154
31 yrs	61.2%	134
32 yrs	66.0%	159
33 yrs	67.1%	140
34 yrs	67.2%	137
35 yrs	68.4%	294

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1989 Saab 900 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (35 yrs)	68.4%	294
2023 (34 yrs)	67.2%	137
2022 (33 yrs)	67.1%	140
2021 (32 yrs)	66%	159
2020 (31 yrs)	61.2%	134
2019 (30 yrs)	63%	154
2018 (29 yrs)	59.1%	154
2017 (28 yrs)	60.6%	246
2016 (27 yrs)	59.2%	260
2015 (26 yrs)	53.8%	273
2014 (25 yrs)	48.4%	289
2013 (24 yrs)	51.1%	315
2012 (23 yrs)	50.7%	367
2011 (22 yrs)	48.4%	444
2010 (21 yrs)	50.1%	567
2009 (20 yrs)	45.5%	642

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

45.5%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 642Avg Mileage 128,392Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.4%

2010High Fail Rate

50.1%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 567Avg Mileage 130,763Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.3%

2011High Fail Rate

48.4%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 444Avg Mileage 128,753Top Failure Suspension — 29.1%

2012High Fail Rate

50.7%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 367Avg Mileage 130,206Top Failure Brakes — 25.6%

2013High Fail Rate

51.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 315Avg Mileage 129,068Top Failure Brakes — 58.7%

2014High Fail Rate

48.4%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 289Avg Mileage 130,208Top Failure Suspension — 69.2%

2015High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 273Avg Mileage 136,817Top Failure Suspension — 67.8%

2016High Fail Rate

59.2%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 260Avg Mileage 132,290Top Failure Suspension — 51.9%

2017High Fail Rate

60.6%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 246Avg Mileage 134,520Top Failure Suspension — 60.2%

2018High Fail Rate

59.1%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 154Avg Mileage 130,231Top Failure Suspension — 57.1%

2019High Fail Rate

63.0%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 154Avg Mileage 138,211Top Failure Suspension — 40.9%

2020High Fail Rate

61.2%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 134Avg Mileage 133,355Top Failure Brakes — 38.8%

2021

66.0%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 159Avg Mileage 139,853Top Failure Suspension — 33.3%

2022

67.1%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 140Avg Mileage 128,735Top Failure Brakes — 45.7%

2023

67.2%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 137Avg Mileage 133,098Top Failure Suspension — 49.6%

2024

68.4%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 294Avg Mileage 132,012Top Failure Brakes — 33.0%

MOT results for 1989 Saab 900 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	20	45.5%	642	128,392	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.4%
2010	21	50.1%	567	130,763	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.3%
2011	22	48.4%	444	128,753	Suspension — 29.1%
2012	23	50.7%	367	130,206	Brakes — 25.6%
2013	24	51.1%	315	129,068	Brakes — 58.7%
2014	25	48.4%	289	130,208	Suspension — 69.2%
2015	26	53.8%	273	136,817	Suspension — 67.8%
2016	27	59.2%	260	132,290	Suspension — 51.9%
2017	28	60.6%	246	134,520	Suspension — 60.2%
2018	29	59.1%	154	130,231	Suspension — 57.1%
2019	30	63.0%	154	138,211	Suspension — 40.9%
2020	31	61.2%	134	133,355	Brakes — 38.8%
2021	32	66.0%	159	139,853	Suspension — 33.3%
2022	33	67.1%	140	128,735	Brakes — 45.7%
2023	34	67.2%	137	133,098	Suspension — 49.6%
2024	35	68.4%	294	132,012	Brakes — 33.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1989 Saab 900, with age trends.

Suspension

43.6%

— Consistent

Brakes

39.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

37.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

32.7%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

23.3%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	28.3% (20 yrs)	33.0% (35 yrs)	+4.7%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	26.5% (20 yrs)	27.2% (35 yrs)	+0.7%	⚪ —

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 1989 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 4,575 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.