Used buying checklist

Saab 900 reliability, common problems and used buying checks

A used Saab 900 looks worse than average for reliability in UK MOT data: 25.1% of 3,109 tests failed, compared with 18.7% across all indexed models. A good example should have a clean MOT history for corrosion and structure, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and lights and electrical.

Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). MOT data does not capture every reliability issue, especially intermittent engine, gearbox or infotainment faults that do not appear during the test.

• 25.1% MOT failure rate
• Median tested mileage 126,385 miles
• 781 failed MOT tests analysed

Most useful finding

Corrosion and structure is the clearest area to check

Corrosion and structure is the clearest named problem area in this model's MOT history (65.8 MOT notes per 100 tests). Example MOT phrases from this area include ferrule excessively corroded, prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength, and corroded and seriously weakened.

Example MOT phrases to search in the car's history:

• ferrule excessively corroded
• prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength
• corroded and seriously weakened
• attachment bracket/mounting corroded and seriously weakened
• leaking excessively from engine
• has a major leak of exhaust gases
• emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
• Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits
• inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
• slightly twisted

Before you view one

Focus on corrosion and structure, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and lights and electrical

The model's recorded failure rate is 25.1%, +6.4 percentage points compared with the average across all models. Use the seller questions below to check whether repeat MOT notes have actually been repaired.

• MOT tests analysed3,109 tests
• Median tested mileage126,385 miles
• Failed MOT tests781

Used buyer verdict

Should you buy a used Saab 900?

74.9% of the MOT tests we analysed for this model passed. The model's recorded failure rate is 25.1%, +6.4 percentage points compared with the average across all models. This is a buying brief for the exact car in front of you: clean repeat history matters more than badge reputation.

Worse than average in our MOT data

Green light if The car has a tidy MOT pattern, recent repairs for corrosion and structure, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and lights and electrical, matching tyres, and paperwork for service or recall work.

Renegotiate if The latest MOT mentions corrosion and structure, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and lights and electrical, consumables are due together, or the seller cannot show what was fixed after advisories.

Walk away if Dangerous defects, corrosion near structural areas, warning lights, or the same component family keep returning without clear repair evidence.

• Repeat unresolved MOT notes for corrosion and structure, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and lights and electrical
• corrosion and structure appearing across more than one MOT
• Any dangerous MOT failure on the exact car, especially if the same area appears again later
• No paperwork showing applicable recall work has been completed
• A seller who cannot explain MOT wording such as "ferrule excessively corroded"

What should I check first?

Start with corrosion and structure, emissions, engine, and exhaust, lights and electrical, and windscreen, wipers, and mirrors. The checklist on this page explains why each area is being recommended, what to inspect, and what to ask the seller. Each item shows whether it comes from MOT results, recall notices, or a standard used-car check.

• Corrosion and structure Seen in MOT results

  Corrosion and structure is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (65.8 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Inspect sills, subframes, mounting points, arches, and underside corrosion advisories.

  • Ask the seller: Has any sill, subframe, mounting-point, chassis, or structural corrosion advisory been repaired properly?
  • Example MOT wording: ferrule excessively corroded; prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength; corroded and seriously weakened
  • Where it shows up: seen across most mileage ranges
• Emissions, engine, and exhaust Seen in MOT results

  Emissions, engine, and exhaust is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (38.5 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check warning lights, smoke, exhaust leaks, recent emissions failures, and service history.

  • Ask the seller: Has the car had repeat emissions, smoke, exhaust, lambda, or engine-warning MOT failures?
  • Example MOT wording: leaking excessively from engine; has a major leak of exhaust gases; emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
  • Where it shows up: seen across most mileage ranges
• Lights and electrical Seen in MOT results

  Lights and electrical is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (15.0 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check every lamp, warning light, horn, battery condition, and dashboard messages.

  • Ask the seller: Have any lighting, warning-light, horn, battery, or electrical MOT notes come back more than once?
  • Example MOT wording: inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources; slightly twisted; lens defective which has no effect on emitted light
  • Where it shows up: seen across most mileage ranges
• Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors Seen in MOT results

  Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (10.4 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check windscreen damage, wiper operation, washers, mirrors, and demisting.

  • Ask the seller: Have windscreen, wiper, washer, mirror, or demisting faults appeared in recent MOT history?
  • Example MOT wording: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view; provides insufficient washer liquid; does not clear the windscreen effectively
  • Where it shows up: most visible around 0-50k, 50-100k, and 100-150k miles
• Suspension and steering Seen in MOT results

  Suspension and steering is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (10.0 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Listen for knocks, check uneven tyre wear, and inspect steering play.

  • Ask the seller: Has any suspension, steering, ball-joint, spring, or wheel-bearing advisory been repaired?
  • Example MOT wording: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; ball joint has excessive play; ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt
  • Where it shows up: most visible around 150-200k and 200k+ miles
• Tyres and wheels Seen in MOT results

  Tyres and wheels is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (1.2 MOT notes per 100 tests).

  What to check: Check tyre age, tread depth, sidewall damage, wheel condition, and alignment wear.

  • Ask the seller: Have uneven tyre wear, damaged tyres, wheel damage, or alignment issues been corrected?
  • Example MOT wording: Nail in tyre; rim loose; effort inadequate at a wheel

What changes with mileage?

Past 100k miles on the Saab 900, MOT records most often point to corrosion and structure, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and lights and electrical.

Common MOT problem areas

3,109 MOT tests analysed for this model

2,320 Distinct vehicles represented

25.1% Recorded MOT test failure rate — +6.4 percentage points vs all models

Common faults: what usually fails on this model?

Corrosion and structure is the clearest named problem area in the MOT history (65.8 MOT notes per 100 tests). These counts are issue notes, not failure rates, because a single MOT can list several faults.

Corrosion and structure

• ferrule excessively corroded
• prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength

65.8 MOT notes per 100 tests

Emissions, engine, and exhaust

• leaking excessively from engine
• has a major leak of exhaust gases

38.5 MOT notes per 100 tests

Lights and electrical

• inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
• slightly twisted

15.0 MOT notes per 100 tests

Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors

• damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view
• provides insufficient washer liquid

10.4 MOT notes per 100 tests

Suspension and steering

• ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
• ball joint has excessive play

10.0 MOT notes per 100 tests

Tyres and wheels

• Nail in tyre
• rim loose

1.2 MOT notes per 100 tests

Brakes

• remains on when the brakes are released

0.3 MOT notes per 100 tests

Recall-related areas to verify

Official recall areas

Manufacturer recall notices for the Saab 900 mainly involve 6 areas: mixed recall notices, suspension and steering, seatbelts and safety systems, and corrosion and structure. Treat each as something to verify on the specific car you are viewing; the recall table below shows the official notice text.

Mixed recall notices

• Towball came adrift from towbar
• Missing welds on seat frame

3 recalls · 6,100 vehicles

Suspension and steering

• Misalignment of steering column
• Front seat security.

2 recalls · 2,207 vehicles

Seatbelts and safety systems

• Possible inadvertant deployment of front airbag(s).
• Specification of seat belt tongue

2 recalls · 4,658 vehicles

Corrosion and structure

• Unintentional deployment of passenger air bag
• Possibility of the throttle binding

2 recalls · 26,301 vehicles

Lights and electrical

• Possible short circuit

1 recall · 103 vehicles

Brakes

• Delayed braking action.

1 recall · 2,361 vehicles

Mileage and age checks

Mileage changes: what starts showing up after high mileage?

Past 100k miles on the Saab 900, MOT records most often point to corrosion and structure, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and lights and electrical. On lower-mileage cars, the most common named areas are corrosion and structure, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and windscreen, wipers, and mirrors.

Mileage range	Tests	Vehicles	Failure rate (vs all models)	Median mileage
0-50k	110	91	19.1%+8.3 percentage points vs all models	40,383 miles
50-100k	752	595	21.7%+1.0 percentage points vs all models	83,182 miles
100-150k	1,234	924	26.5%+0.3 percentage points vs all models	124,649 miles
150-200k	679	509	27.3%-0.0 percentage points vs all models	168,462 miles
200k+	295	218	28.1%+1.6 percentage points vs all models	220,028 miles

Problem areas by mileage

Past 100k miles on the Saab 900, MOT records most often point to corrosion and structure, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and lights and electrical.

Mileage range	Car areas most often recorded	Specific MOT defect examples
0-50k	Corrosion and structure (41.8 MOT notes per 100 tests) Emissions, engine, and exhaust (22.7 MOT notes per 100 tests) Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors (9.1 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
50-100k	Corrosion and structure (48.5 MOT notes per 100 tests) Emissions, engine, and exhaust (34.3 MOT notes per 100 tests) Lights and electrical (13.7 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
100-150k	Corrosion and structure (73.5 MOT notes per 100 tests) Emissions, engine, and exhaust (39.3 MOT notes per 100 tests) Lights and electrical (15.5 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
150-200k	Corrosion and structure (73.5 MOT notes per 100 tests) Emissions, engine, and exhaust (44.6 MOT notes per 100 tests) Lights and electrical (16.8 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.
200k+	Corrosion and structure (73.2 MOT notes per 100 tests) Emissions, engine, and exhaust (40.0 MOT notes per 100 tests) Lights and electrical (12.9 MOT notes per 100 tests)	No exact MOT wording is available for this mileage range.

Fair comparisons: is this problem normal for its age?

The MOT failure rate rises from 25.1% at 15+ years to 25.1% at 15+ years. Compare the car with the nearest age range before treating a fault as normal wear or a warning sign. The average MOT failure rate across all models in the same dataset is 18.7%. The highest failure rate by age is 25.1% for 15+ years cars, based on 3,109 tests.

Age range	Tests	Vehicles	Failure rate (vs all models)	Median age
15+ years pre-2011 reg.	3,109	2,320	25.1%-0.8 percentage points vs all models	30.7 years

Recall records and data freshness

Recall context: are there safety notices to know about?

6 relevant recall notices appear for this model. Treat them as safety checks to verify for the exact car, not as normal MOT wear.

2003-04-07	POSSIBLE INADVERTANT DEPLOYMENT OF FRONT AIRBAG(S). A capacitor in the front air bag control unit may short circuit This could lead to an inadvertent deployment of the air bag(s). Check the air bag control module and renew where found necessary.
2002-07-11	TOWBALL CAME ADRIFT FROM TOWBAR A combination of internal and external forces caused the towball to prematurely detach itself from the towball housing resulting in separation of the trailer from the drawing unit. All towballs and housing will initially be modified and then replaced with calibrated units at a later date.
2001-10-04	UNINTENTIONAL DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER AIR BAG A build up of static electricity may cause unintentional deployment of the front passenger air bag. Recall affected vehicles and fit a grounding wire between the air bag module and the vehicle body.
1997-04-30	POSSIBILITY OF THE THROTTLE BINDING Binding of the throttle lever may occur due to the possibility of white corrosion. The affected vehicles are being recalled for replacement of the zinc coated bushing in the throttle lever with a nickel coated version.
1996-05-23	SPECIFICATION OF SEAT BELT TONGUE The tongue at the end of the seat belt has not been hardened to the correct specification. Recall the affected vehicles for replacement of the seat belt assembly.
1996-02-29	MISALIGNMENT OF STEERING COLUMN The steering column may have been misaligned during assembly. This could cause fatigue in the column and result in loss of steering control. Recall the affected vehicles for inspection of the steering column. Where misalignment is found the steering column assembly will be replaced.

Related searches

Common ways people look up the Saab 900. Each link runs the search and lands on the relevant section of this report.

• Saab 900 common problems
• Saab 900 reliability
• Saab 900 after 100k miles
• Saab 900 after 200k miles
• Saab 900 high mileage common problems
• Saab 900 age related problems
• Saab 900 MOT failures
• Saab 900 recalls

Related reliability guides

Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). These are patterns from many MOT tests and recall notices. They help you decide what to inspect and what to ask; they do not certify the condition of one specific car.