RoadVitals

1996 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.
48
Latest Feb 2, 2024
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.
3
Latest Feb 24, 1998
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.
3

Overview

Our database contains 48 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Saab 900, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and transmission categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 46 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Electrical1218.2%
  • Engine913.6%
  • Transmission913.6%
  • Fuel system69.1%
  • Airbags57.6%
  • Interior & seats34.5%
  • Driver assistance34.5%
  • Exterior lighting34.5%

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

3 campaigns 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
98V038000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Feb 24, 1998
92,505 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROPERLY AIMING THE HEADLIGHTING SYSTEM WERE OMITTED. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
The risk: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY AIM THE HEADLIGHTS.
The remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT AIMING INSTRUCTIONS, AND DIRECTIONS FOR AFFIXING THESE INSERTS TO THE OWNER GUIDES. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, A DEALER CAN AFFIX THE INSERTS IN THEIR OWNER GUIDE FOR THEM.
SAAB CARS USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
97V046000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Mar 21, 1997
52,500 units potentially affected
The defect: CORROSION AROUND THE ZINC-COATED THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHING CAN CAUSE THE THROTTLE LEVER TO BIND.
The risk: THIS BINDING CAN RESULT IN THE THROTTLE PLATE NOT RETURNING TO THE CLOSED POSITION WHEN THE THROTTLE PEDAL IS RELEASED AND A SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ZINC-COATED THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHING WITH A NICKEL-COATED BUSHING AND BOLT.
SAAB CARS USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
96V077000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

May 3, 1996
1,058 units potentially affected
The defect: DURING STATIC TESTING OF BELT ANCHORAGE POINTS, THE OUTBOARD ATTACHMENT PLATE BEING USED IN THE TESTING DEFORMED AND DETACHED FROM THE SEAT ANCHORAGE. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES" AND NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."
The risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE BELT MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT SHOULD A VEHICLE CRASH OCCUR.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES FOR THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE. ANY ASSEMBLY WITH DATE YEAR 96 WEEK 10 DAY 2 WILL BE REPLACED.
SAAB CARS USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

DP00008ClosedDefect Petition

DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP PULLEY

Opened Sep 25, 2000
Closed Nov 19, 2001

a

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SQ98018ClosedInvestigation

NEW WHEEL BOLTS

Opened Oct 9, 1998
Closed Oct 27, 1998

saab issued a tsb informing dealers about a new wheel mounting bolt.If the issue is loosening of the lug nut, this could lead to bolt fatigue and the potential for a wheel separation.

WHEELS

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 48
Airbags
Filed Feb 2, 2024

Passenger airbag deployed for no reason while driving car, no warning lights on dashboard, no impact, no precipitating event occured

NHTSA ID
11569616
Incident
Feb 2, 2024
Electrical
Filed Nov 4, 2005

DRIVING SMOOTHLY AT 50 MPH IN 1996 SAAB 900 SE TURBO, 99K MILES. ENGINE RPM SUDDENLY BUT SMOOTHLY DROPS TO ZERO AND STOPPED IN A VERY UNSAFE PLACE ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR WOULD NOT RE-START. ABSOLUTELY NO FAULTS OF ANY KIND OCCURRED DURING THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THIS INCIDENT. THIS CAR'S DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY IN JAN. 2000 BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10141798
Incident
Nov 2, 2005
Mileage
99,000 mi
Fuel systemOther / unspecified
Filed Sep 4, 2005

IN JUNE 2003, A CRACK WAS DISCOVERED IN THE FUEL TANK OF MY 1996 SAAB 900S. THE TANK WAS REPLACED. ON 28 JULY 2004, THE REPLACEMENT TANK WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE A LEAK AND WAS REPLACED. ON 1 SEPTEMBER 2005, THE SECOND REPLACEMENT TANK WAS DIAGNOSED AS LEAKING.*JB

NHTSA ID
10135288
Incident
Jun 30, 2003
Mileage
58,857 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 29, 2005

PRIOR TO DI FAILURE, STARTING IMPAIRMENT AND MISFIRES DETECTED WITH CEL. UPON FAILURE, CAR WOULD NOT RUN AND STEERING WAS LOST. TO CORRECT FAILURE, NEW DI WAS FITTED AFTER IT WAS BROKEN. SYMPTOMS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REASON ENOUGH TO CHANGE IT EARLY. *NM

NHTSA ID
10130620
Incident
Oct 13, 2003
Mileage
100,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 6, 2004

WHILE DRIVING BALL BEARRINGS EXPLODED IN THE LOWER ENGINE. CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BOOM. THE VEHICLE WAS FULL OF CLEAN OIL. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MAUFACTURER AND THE DEALER. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10103134
Incident
Nov 6, 2004
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 10, 2003

WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WAS OPENED FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND SMOKE ENTERED THE PASSENGER'S CABIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10042730
Incident
Oct 4, 2003
Mileage
100,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 29, 2003
Fire reported

ON APRIL 27, 2003, MY SAAB 900 SE HAD AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING WITHIN A MINUTE HAD COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE CAR. THE "CHECK BATTERY" LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE HAZARD LIGHT. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND JUST ESCAPED THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE POLICE HAD TO CALL ME TO GET THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER AND VIN, AS THEY HAD MELTED. THE CAR HAD 72,000 MILES AND HAD BEEN CHECKED TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR. JUST MONTHS BEFORE IT HAD BEEN COMPLETELY INSPECTED. THE CAR WAS IN SHOW ROOM CONDITION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10016693
Incident
Apr 27, 2003
Mileage
72,000 mi
Filed Mar 26, 2003

ODOMETER FRAUD. THE ADVERTISED MILEAGE WAS 55,000 BUT THE CARFAX REPORTED THE MILEAGE AT 150,000 MILES OVER A YEAR AGO. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER, TOOK BACK MY DEPOSIT AND GAVE BACK THE CAR. THEY INFORMED ME THEY ALREADY HAD ANOTHER BUYER FOR THE CAR AND ARE STILL ADVERTISING IT WITH 55,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10011091
Incident
Mar 26, 2003

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

850

AIR BAGS

SUBJECT REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF SRS WIRING HARNESS. *TT

731

SUSPENSION

CONCERNS WITH CLUNKING / SNAPPING NOISE HEARD WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL. *TT

8111984

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW

INFORMATION ON REPLACING CONNECTING TAB ON ELECTRICALLY HEATED REAR WINDOW. *TT

8112099

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

CONCERNS WITH CRACKS IN SOFT TOP COVER FOIL STRIP. *TT

8112156

STRUCTURE

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT IRRITATING ROAD AND WIND NOISE PENETRATING INTO THE CABIN THROUGH THE COVER AT THE TOP OF THE B-PILLAR. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

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
1996Viewing483252.9
19951007258.8
1994448360.2
1993601—
1992210039.9
1991130131.3
1990190249.7
1989222052.4
1988132257.3
1987420—
1986820—
1985510—
1984212—
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.