RoadVitals

1984 Saab 900

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Dec 12, 1999
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Apr 2, 1985
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1984 Saab 900, most frequently naming the electrical, fuel system and powertrain (other) categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 2 NHTSA investigations name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical250.0%
  • Fuel system125.0%
  • Powertrain (other)125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
85V036000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

Apr 2, 1985
11,659 units potentially affected
The defect: THE ELECTRICAL CABLE BETWEEN THE STARTER AND THE ALTERNATOR CAN RUB AGAINST THE BRAKE FLUID PIPE ATTACHED TO THE LEFT INNER WHEELHOUSE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: RUBBING WILL EVENTUALLY DAMAGE THE CABLE INSULATION AND RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE.
The remedy: THE CABLE CONNECTION AT THE ALTERNATOR WILL BE ADJUSTED AND THE CABLE REPOSITIONED TO ELIMINATE RUBBING.
SAAB CARS USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA87024ClosedEngineering Analysis

FIRES

Opened Sep 28, 1987
Closed Jan 7, 1988

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VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
DP87018ClosedDefect Petition

SAAB 900 FIRES

Opened May 29, 1987
Closed Oct 7, 1987

SAAB 900 FIRES

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

ElectricalFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 12, 1999

THIS SAAB WAS PURCHASED WITH EXTENSIVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. AFTER CORRECTING MOST GROUNDING POINTS IT BURNED OUT THE WARM UP REGULATOR. WITH THAT OUT OF THE CIRCUT, THE FUELPUMP BEGAN TO VAPOR LOCK. RELEASING THE BANJO FITTING AT THE DISTRIBUTOR PRODUCED A SUCKING SOUND., BACK AT THE FUEL PUMP IN THE FUEL TANK THE PUMP WAS RUNNING BUT NOT PUMPING. SO DISCONNECTED THE HOT WIRE, I PUT A WRENCH ON THE FUEL FITTING AND LOOSENED THE FITTING, SOME FUEL SPRAYED OUT AND THE WRENCH HIT THE BODYWORK CAUSING A BIG SPARK. THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE WAS SO MUCH FUEL AROUND THE SPARK HAD NO OXY TO IGNITE THE ANSWER WAS THE SAAB PEOPLE IN THEIR WISDOM PUT A RED ID SLEEVE ON THE GROUND WIRE AND EVERYONE WHO WORKED ON IT HAS WIRED THE FUEL PUMP UP BACKWARD AND THE ONLY REASON THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE WAS SO MANY GROUNDS WERE BAD IN THE REST OF THE CIRCUT THE PUMP WOULD BACK FEED AND RUN CORRECTLY. AS THE SAAB HAS A MAIN GROUND CIRCUT, NEAR THE BATTERY FOR THE REST OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUTS, IT WOULD BE PRONE TO THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IF WORKED ON BY SOME ONE WITH OUT AN ANGLE ON HIS SHOULDER. *AK

NHTSA ID
715965
Incident
May 11, 1998
Electrical
Filed Feb 27, 1995
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. TT

NHTSA ID
960684
Incident
Apr 1, 1985

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Saab 900 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2000100—
1999203—
1998243465.3
1997213254.6
1996483252.9
19951007258.8
1994448360.2
1993601—
1992210039.9
1991130131.3
1990190249.7
1989222052.4
1988132257.3
1987420—
1986820—
1985510—
1984Viewing212—
1983210—
1982110—
1981120—
1980020—
1979240—
1978001—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.