RoadVitals

1989 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.
14
Latest May 31, 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.
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.
5
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 14 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Saab 9000, 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 3 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

  • Electrical627.3%
  • Engine418.2%
  • Transmission313.6%
  • Driver assistance29.1%
  • Brakes29.1%
  • Exterior lighting29.1%
  • Body & structure14.5%
  • Fuel system14.5%

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
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
88V185000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Nov 28, 1988
1,586 units potentially affected
The defect: FUEL FILTER MAY NOT MEET THE SPECIFICATION CONCERNING LEAKAGE CRITERIA DUE TO LOW TEMPERATURE DURING THE GLUING PROCESS.
The risk: FUEL FILTER MAY LEAK CREATING A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.
The remedy: REPLACE FUEL FILTER.
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

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 14
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed May 31, 2000

SAAB CUSTOMER ASSIST CTR DECLINED ALL FORM OF ASSISTANCE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
723392
Incident
May 1, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 29, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS PUT IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF. THE VEHICLE HIT OTHER CARS. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
843749
Incident
Jul 27, 1999
Engine
Filed Sep 10, 1998

COOLING FAN RELAY BURNED OUT MELTING THE RELAY FUSE BOX LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD.

NHTSA ID
540730
Incident
Aug 20, 1998
Airbags
Filed Feb 9, 1998

ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURERS STANDARD EQUIPMENT, DRIVER SIDE AIG BAG SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, HOWEVER IT'S NOT.

NHTSA ID
530471
Incident
Dec 10, 1997
Electrical
Filed Aug 5, 1997
Crash reported

VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING AND CAN SOMETIME BE RESTARTED WITH A BATTERY BOOST.

NHTSA ID
522521
Electrical
Filed Jun 17, 1996

VEHICLE ENGINE OVERHEATS AND THE STARTER WILL NOT START. *AK

NHTSA ID
985672
Incident
Jun 5, 1989
Engine
Filed Dec 6, 1995
Fire reported

SAW SMOKE, POPPED HOOD ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ID
976211
Fuel system
Filed Jul 25, 1995
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE BURNED AND WAS TOTALLED. TT

NHTSA ID
969404
Incident
Jun 28, 1995

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

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—
1989Viewing143266.6
1988123361.3
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.