MOT failures by make

Saab MOT faults: which failures are more common than on similar cars

Across 106,670 MOT tests of Saab cars in 2023–2024, 4 of the make's most common failure items stand out against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel, led by “Coil spring: fractured or broken” at 1.61× the comparable rate. Overall Saabs passed 63.0% of tests and failed 0.86× as often as comparable cars.

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Data to 2024-12-30 · Page updated 2026-09-28 · Publisher: 73 Auto

Saab MOT tests: 106,670; 58,404 cars, 2023–2024
Initial pass rate: 63.0%; DVSA results, retests excluded
Faults that stand out: 4; passed the make × item gate

Failures more common on Saabs than on similar cars

Each links to the model-by-model and age breakdown for Saab.

Coil spring: fractured or broken · 1.61× · 5.51% of tests

Failures less common on Saabs

Common failure items where Saabs do clearly better than comparable cars, beyond the make's overall level.

Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt · 0.54× · 1.58% of tests
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect · 0.56× · 1.81% of tests
Position lamp: not working · 0.65× · 3.67% of tests

Saab’s most common MOT failure items

Ranked by how many Saab tests failed on each item. The last column compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel (1.00 = the same rate).

Saab: most common MOT failure items with observed ÷ expected
Defect item	Rank	Tests failing	Share	vs similar cars
Coil spring: fractured or broken	#1	5,881	5.51%	1.62×
Position lamp: not working	#2	3,917	3.67%	0.65×
Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements	#3	2,712	2.54%	0.93×
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick	#4	2,436	2.28%	1.14×
Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	#5	2,351	2.20%	0.71×
Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases	#6	2,326	2.18%	1.12×
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively	#7	2,273	2.13%	0.80×
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction	#8	1,974	1.85%	0.87×
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect	#9	1,930	1.81%	0.56×
Washers: not working	#10	1,747	1.64%	1.21×
Service brake performance: excessively binding	#11	1,718	1.61%	1.07×
Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn	#12	1,710	1.60%	1.04×
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt	#13	1,685	1.58%	0.54×
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam	#14	1,600	1.50%	0.67×
Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side	#15	1,590	1.49%	1.20×

Only the 150 most common national MOT failure items are compared; a rank counts every failure item recorded on the make.

How to use this

The list shows what a Saab is more likely than other cars to fail on, which is where to look on a pre-MOT check or a used-car inspection. The model pages break the same data down further — see Saab MOT pass rates by model.

Limitations

Official data: DVSA anonymised MOT results (2023–2024). 73 Auto analysis: expected failures apply the national rate of each item for the test's age, mileage band and fuel. MOT results reflect maintenance and use as well as design; they do not rank makes by reliability.

Check a Saab’s MOT history before you buy

Enter a registration to see which of these faults that particular car has failed or been advised on, and what it costs to run. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.

UK number plate or 17-character VIN

Where these figures come from

Anonymised MOT tests and results (2023 and 2024) — Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Open Government Licence v3.0.

Figures labelled as 73 Auto estimates are our own analysis of these sources, set out in the methodology and data sources. To report a factual error, see corrections.