Know Your MOT
33.6%fail rate

Saab Aero common MOT failures and failure rate

What a Saab Aero fails its MOT on, from real DVSA test data, and the part that resolves each item.

Based on 110 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 33.6% of MOT tests recorded on the Saab Aero in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.

Its most common failure is suspension, which makes up 37.8% of the Saab Aero's failures, followed by suspension, lamps & electrical, tyres, brakes. Each item below links to the part that resolves it. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying, and have safety-critical work done by a competent mechanic.

What it fails on, and why

Suspension37.8% of failures

Suspension failures usually mean a worn or snapped coil spring, a leaking shock absorber, or play in a lower arm ball joint or bush. The tester checks for corrosion, fractures and excessive movement. A broken front spring is one of the most common failures on higher-mileage cars and is a straightforward replacement.

Lamps & electrical29.7% of failures

Lighting is the single most common MOT failure and the cheapest to put right. A blown headlight, brake-light or number-plate bulb, a cracked lens, or a headlamp beam that points too high or low will all fail. Most are a two-minute bulb swap.

Tyres24.3% of failures

Tyres fail for tread below the 1.6mm legal limit across the central three-quarters, uneven or exposed-cord wear, or sidewall damage. The tester inspects all four; a single illegal tyre is a fail.

Brakes24.3% of failures

Brake failures cover worn pads and discs, an imbalance between wheels, corroded or scored discs, or a binding caliper. Braking efficiency is measured on a rolling road, so a spongy or pulling brake shows up as a low reading.

Visibility/wipers13.5% of failures

Visibility failures include torn or smearing wiper blades, a washer jet that does not reach the screen, and chips or cracks in the driver's swept area. Blades and washer fluid are quick, cheap fixes.

Body & structure5.4% of failures

Structural failures are corrosion in load-bearing areas, sharp edges, or insecure panels. These are inspection-and-welding jobs rather than a simple bolt-on part, so weigh them against the value of the car.

The parts that fix each

If your car has just failed, you have 10 working days to fix the items and get a free partial retest. These are the usual parts; confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the suspension failure: Saab Aero suspension springs and shock absorbersSearch Amazon for Saab Aero suspension springs and shock absorbersaffiliate searchFind Saab Aero suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: Saab Aero headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Saab Aero headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Saab Aero headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: Saab Aero tyresSearch Amazon for Saab Aero tyresaffiliate searchFind Saab Aero tyres on eBayaffiliate
For the brakes failure: Saab Aero brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for Saab Aero brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind Saab Aero brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the visibility/wipers failure: Saab Aero wiper bladesSearch Amazon for Saab Aero wiper bladesaffiliate searchFind Saab Aero wiper blades on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Saab 9-3 MOT failures26.4% failure rateSaab 9-5 MOT failures25.7% failure rateSaab 900 MOT failures32.4% failure rateFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rate

Sources: DVSA MOT History API: MOT test results and defect data ยท DVSA MOT testing data for Great Britain