Does the Saab 900 fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Saab 900 records 19.46 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 15.61 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+3.85, 95% interval +3.20 to +4.50). It ranks 115 of 663 models on body, chassis and structure (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on body, chassis and structure · check a Saab 900 by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Saab 900 is “Exhaust system leaking or insecure”, recorded 840 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 840 | 4.74 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 781 | 4.40 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 546 | 3.08 |
| Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 422 | 2.38 |
| Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point | 239 | 1.35 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 17,740 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Saab 900 gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
19.3% of Saab 900 MOTs with a body, chassis and structure advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 1,224 miles later (1,723 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,723 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Saab 900 in the Netherlands · Saab 900 by postcode area · Saab 900 brakes failures · Saab 900 vehicle identification failures · Saab 900 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Saab 900 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Saab 900 seat belts and airbags failures · Saab 900 steering failures · Saab 900 suspension failures · Saab 900 tyres failures · Saab 900 visibility failures