RoadVitals

1988 Saab 9000

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.
12
Latest Mar 22, 2000
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 Nov 2, 1990
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.
3
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.
2

Overview

Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Saab 9000, most frequently naming the interior & seats, fuel system and electrical categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 4 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

  • Interior & seats529.4%
  • Fuel system317.6%
  • Electrical317.6%
  • Brakes317.6%
  • Engine15.9%
  • Driver assistance15.9%
  • Visibility15.9%

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
90V001000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Nov 2, 1990
24,379 units potentially affected
The defect: ABRASION ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT CARD IN THE COMBINATION NEUTRAL SAFETY/BACKUP LAMP SWITCH OPERATED BY THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTOR MAY CAUSE RESIDUE TO COLLECT IN ELECTRICAL AREA ON THE CIRCUIT CARD.
The risk: THIS COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING OF THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITHSMOKE AND POSSIBLY A FIRE IN THE CENTER CONSOLE AREA.
The remedy: ADD AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, INCLUDING A RELAY, TO THE BACKUP LAMP CIRCUIT TO REDUCE THE CURRENT THAT CAN FLOW THROUGH THE COMBINATION SWITCH.
SAAB CARS USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
89V191000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Nov 6, 1989
14,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE ROUTING OF THE THROTTLE KICKDOWN CABLE COULD ALLOW CHAFING TO OCCUR BETWEEN THE CABLE AND ANY ONE OF THREE STEEL BRAKE FLUID LINES NEAR THE VALVE BLOCK OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE UNIT.
The risk: THIS COULD CAUSE BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE; THUS, THE BRAKECIRCUIT SUPPLIED BY THAT LINE WOULD BECOME INOPERATIVE AND RESULT IN DECREASEDBRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: CHANGE CABLE ROUTING AND INSTALL NEW ATTACHMENT BRACKET TO PREVENT CHAFING.
SAAB CARS USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
88V057000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Apr 5, 1988
7,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE BALL CHAIN BETWEEN THE CRUISE CONTROL VACUUM REGULATOR AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM MAY CATCH ON THE VACUUM REGULATOR ATTACHMENT CLIP.
The risk: IF THE CHAIN GETS CAUGHT THE THROTTLE COULD BE PREVENTEDFROM RETURNING TO FULLY CLOSED POSITION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED.
The remedy: A PLASTIC CAP WILL BE INSTALLED OVER THE VACUUM REGULATOR CLIP TO COVER THE OPENINGS.
SAAB CARS USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

EA95020ClosedEngineering Analysis

PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRE

Opened Jun 30, 1995
Closed Jul 31, 1996

There is no summary currently available

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PE95009ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Feb 10, 1995
Closed Jun 30, 1995

There is no summary currently available

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PE88081ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

WIRE HARNESS CHAFING

Opened Jul 6, 1988
Closed Aug 25, 1988

SUMMARY:===

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 12
Brakes
Filed Mar 22, 2000

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE FAILURE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
858984
Incident
Feb 1, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Jan 17, 1996
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE QUICKLY ENGULF IN FLAMES, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED EA95-0920A. TT

NHTSA ID
977667
Incident
Aug 12, 1994
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Sep 11, 1995
Fire reported

DRIVERS SEAT STARTED TO BURN. RESULTING IN OCCUPANTS CLOTHES CATCHING ON FIRE. ALSO ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. EXPLAIN IN MORE DETAIL. TT

NHTSA ID
971833
Incident
Mar 11, 1993
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 7, 1995

DRIVERS SEAT BACK IS ADJUSTABLE. ON TWO OCCASIONS BACK COLLAPSED WITH NO WARNING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ID
971686
Brakes
Filed Jun 27, 1995

THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED, AND PRIOR TO THAT THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND THE BRAKES MAKE NOISE WHEN APPLIED, DEALER CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. TT

NHTSA ID
967784
Incident
Jun 19, 1995
Fuel system
Filed May 11, 1995

FUEL LINE LEAK UNDER VENT OF FUEL TANK AND NEAR CENTER OF UNDER CARRIAGE. *SKD

NHTSA ID
486246
Incident
May 1, 1995
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 14, 1995

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE DASH BOARD. TT

NHTSA ID
962030
Incident
Dec 11, 1994
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 9, 1995

TIMING BELT CHAIN FAILED.

NHTSA ID
489492
Incident
Oct 21, 1994

Manufacturer communications

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

2482035

BACKGROUD INFORMATION IN DIAGNOSING A DRIVEABILITY COMPLAINT OR THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP COMING ON. *YC

234

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

INFORMATION ON INSTALLING LARGER FUEL SYSTEM NON-RETURN VALVES. *TT

364

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS:SWITCH

RECALL 278 - OVERHEATING OF BACK-UP LIGHT SWITCH- SAAB CARS USA, INC HAS NOTIFIED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY MAY EXIST IN CERTAIN 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 AND EARLY 1990 9000 MODELS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION- APPROXIMATELY 24,000 VEHICLES WERE ORIGINALLY AFFECTED- THE DEFECT CONSISTS OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE COMBINATION NEUTRAL SAFETY/BACK-UP LIGHT SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT FROM THE CURRENT FLOW THROUGH THE BACK-UP LAMP CIRCUIT WHEN THE IGNITION IS SWITCHED ON AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS IN THE REVERSE (R) POSITION FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME- IF OVERHEATING OF THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY DOES OCCUR, SMOKE, OR POSSIBLY, FIRE COULD DEVELOP IN THE CENTER CONSOLE AREA OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT EVEN IF THE ENGINE HAS BEEN SWITCHED OFF- THESE CARS WERE RECALLED TO MODIFY THE BACK-UP LIGHT WIRING CIRCUIT TO REDUCE THE MAXIMUM ELECTRICAL CURRENT FLOW THROUGH THE NEUTRAL SAFETY/BACK-UP LIGHT SWITCH, AND TO REPLACE THE SWITCH- RECALL 278. *JD

01/970731

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

ADJUSTMENT OF BEARING TENSION. *TW

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 9000 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1998110—
1997610—
1996100139.1
1995801—
1994144155.4
1993295152.1
1992194045.3
1991812—
1990712—
1989143266.6
1988Viewing123361.3
1987512—
1986323—
1985000—

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.