RoadVitals

1991 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.
8
Latest Aug 2, 2006
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 Oct 2, 1991
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 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Saab 9000, most frequently naming the fuel system, transmission and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has 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

  • Fuel system220.0%
  • Transmission220.0%
  • Brakes110.0%
  • Heating & air conditioning110.0%
  • Airbags110.0%
  • Seat belts110.0%
  • Electrical110.0%
  • Body & structure110.0%

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
91V002000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Oct 2, 1991
250 units potentially affected
The defect: IMPROPER ASSEMBLY COULD CAUSE THE BALL OF THE GEAR SELECTOR ARM NOT TO BE PROPERLY FIXED TO THE SOCKET ON THE END OF THE GEAR SELECTOR CABLE; GEAR SELECTOR ARM COULD SEPARATE FROM THE GEAR SELECTOR CABLE AT THE BALL SOCKET JOINT.
The risk: THE GEAR POSITION COULD NOT BE SELECTED OR DETERMINEDUSING THE SELECTOR LEVER; CAR COULD BE STARTED IN GEAR OTHER THAN PARK ORNEUTRAL, RESULTING IN SUDDEN UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT.
The remedy: PROPERLY SEAT GEAR SELECTOR ARM BALL IN THE SELECTOR CABLE SOCKET AND SECURE BY A LOCK RING INSIDE THE SOCKET.
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

Electrical
Filed Aug 2, 2006

MY 1991 SAAB 9000CD TURBO "EATS" IGNITION MODULES. THIS HAPPENS ROUGHLY EVERY 10,000 MILES. AT A COST IN EXCESS OF $450 EACH IT'S EXPENSIVE. WHEN THE MODULE FAILS, THE ENGINE STOPS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAN BE HAZARDOUS IN TRAFFIC. *NM

NHTSA ID
10164264
Incident
Jul 30, 2006
Mileage
112,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningFuel systemTransmission
Filed Dec 25, 2000

THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE FROM THE PURCHASE DATE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
738232
Incident
Dec 28, 1994
Airbags
Filed Feb 2, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 55 TO 60MPH ON A CLEAR DAY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CAUSE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK

NHTSA ID
834393
Transmission
Filed Dec 16, 1998

THE CLUTCH PEDAL STICKS TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CLUTCH INITIALLY DOES NOT ENGAGE BECAUSE THE PEDAL IS ON THE FLOOR. HOWEVER, THE PRESSURE EVENTUALLY BLEEDS OFF AND THE CLUTCH ENGAGES WITHOUT WARNING DESPITE THE FACT THE PEDAL IS ENGAGED. YOU STILL HAVE TO PHYSICALLY PULL THE CLUTCH PEDAL UP. THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IN DC AREA TRAFFIC. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT. OBVIOUSLY, THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS OF NO BETTER DESIGN/QUALITY. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED IT TOLD ME IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
701404
Incident
Dec 16, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Jun 11, 1998

PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH.

NHTSA ID
536581
Incident
May 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed May 28, 1997

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ID
517474
Incident
Apr 21, 1997
Body & structure
Filed Feb 14, 1995

SPORADIC OPERATION OF ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS. APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. TT

NHTSA ID
960007
Incident
Feb 14, 1993
Fuel system
Filed Feb 6, 1995
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ID
959643
Incident
Aug 3, 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

01/970731

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

ADJUSTMENT OF BEARING TENSION. *TW

01/950537

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

ACC ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. *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
1991Viewing812—
1990712—
1989143266.6
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.