RoadVitals

1996 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.
10
Latest Sep 14, 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.
0
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.
1
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 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Saab 9000, most frequently naming the engine, transmission and brakes categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 17 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

  • Engine420.0%
  • Transmission315.0%
  • Brakes315.0%
  • Seat belts210.0%
  • Heating & air conditioning210.0%
  • Electrical210.0%
  • Visibility15.0%
  • Fuel system15.0%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

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

SQ98006ClosedInvestigation

AUDIO SYSTEM FIRES

Opened Apr 22, 1998
Closed May 8, 1998

SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 10
Engine
Filed Sep 14, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED THEN THE ALARM ACTIVATED. AFTER DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE BATTERY, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A MECHANIC.

NHTSA ID
10168259
Incident
Sep 14, 2006
Mileage
118,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 9, 2004

I HAVE REPLACED THREE LOCKING ACTUATORS (DRIVER'S DOOR, LEFT PASSENGER'S DOOR, AND THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER'S DOOR) SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED MY CAR IN 1997. OF COURSE ALL THIS HAPPEN AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. PRESENTLY, I HAVE ONE DOOR LOCK THAT CAN BE OPENED WITH THE KEY KNOBE AND ON THE CONSOLE WHERE THE LOCK SWITCH IS LOCATED. IN TALKING WITH THE SAAB DEALER, I WAS INFORMED THAT I PROBABLY NEED THESE ACTUATORS WOULD PROBABLY COST ME APPROXIMATELY $300 EACH (A TOTAL OF $900) TO REPLACE. I FEEL THAT SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR ALL THREE (SO FAR) NOT TO BE WORKING. I HAVE NOT HAD THEM REPLACED YET BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS TOTALLY RIDICULOUS. GALE E. MOORER - 7/9/04. *AK

NHTSA ID
10080702
Incident
Feb 3, 2004
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 19, 2004
Crash reportedFire reported

1996 SAAB 9000 AERO REAR-ENDED AN IZUZU RODEO. DAMAGE TO THE RODEO WAS ALMOST UNNOTICEABLE. SAAB ENGINE HOWEVER ERUPTED INTO FLAMES AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS. A FACTORY CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN LESS THAN 30 DAYS PRIOR TO FIRE HAD SERVICED SAAB. RESPONSE FROM SAAB CUSTOMER SERVICE - THE ISSUE DID NOT CONCERN SAAB AND WAS BETWEEN MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND ME. WAS TOLD BY SAAB THAT INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD SUBROGATE THE CLAIM IF THEY THOUGHT IT WAS WORTHWHILE. INSURANCE COMPANY (METLIFE) COMMENTED THAT LOSS WAS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO PURSUE SUBROGATION. OBSERVED NO CONCERN THAT A PROBLEM COULD EXIST AND RAN INTO COMPLETE DENIAL OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY. CONCERN IS HOW AND WHY IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED AND UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES WILL OTHERS BE IN DANGER OF A LIKE HAZARD. INCIDENT IS WELL DOCUMENT VIA DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHS ALONG WITH EXTENSIVE DETAIL FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH SAAB.*AK

NHTSA ID
10062660
Incident
Jan 5, 2004
Mileage
110,000 mi
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+2 more
Filed Sep 2, 2003

THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE DRIVEN MANUALLY AND STAYED IN 4TH GEAR. THE MECHANIC FOUND AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE WORN, THE TRANSMISSION OIL PUMP WAS WORN OUT, THE HAZARDS DID NOT WORK WHEN THE WEATHER WAS HOT, BUT WORKED WITH THE A/C IT DID NOT WORK. *SCC THE MUFFLER WAS REPLACED, THE DRIVE BELT AND PULLEYS WERE REPLACED, THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS WERE OUT OF SPECIFICATION AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE WORN, THE SEAT HEATER LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED, THE OIL PUMP WAS WORN OUT *JB

NHTSA ID
10029651
Incident
Jul 18, 2003
Mileage
55,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 12, 2003

FAULTY VEHICLE TRANSMISSION IN 1996 SAAB 9000.*MR THE REPLACED TRANSMISSION FAILED RESULTING IN THE CONSUMER HAVING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE MANUALLY. THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS INTERNAL WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, IT STAYED IN 4TH GEAR. THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. *PH

NHTSA ID
10033723
Incident
Aug 1, 2001
Mileage
55,000 mi
BrakesHeating & air conditioningEngine+3 more
Filed Aug 7, 2003

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *PH THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED DUE TO A WORN OUT OIL PUMP(THE FLUID WAS BURNED), AND THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY (HAD TO DRIVE BACK MANUALLY/THE MECHANIC FOUND AN INTERNAL PROBLEM), THE VEHICLE STAYED IN FOURTH GEAR, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THE REAR BRAKE PADS HAD WORN OUT. *SCC. THE SEAT HEATER LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT HEATER SWITCH, THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, THE DRIVE BELT AND PULLEYS WERE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC STATED SOMETHING WITHIN THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT INCORRECTLY TO CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE MOTOR FOR THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT TO WORK, AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10033594
Incident
Aug 1, 2001
Mileage
55,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed May 12, 2002

THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAME APART. IT IS HELD ON TO THE BELT BY A LEAD PIN. THAT PIN CAME LOOSE. THE BELT IS NO LONGER USEABLE. IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. A CHILD WAS STRAPPED IN AT THE TIME AND THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THE SEAT BELT AND LATCH WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. I AM CONCERNED THIS SAFETY FEATURE IS NOT SAFE.*AK

NHTSA ID
761794
Incident
May 1, 2002
Seat belts
Filed Oct 28, 1998

I REPORTED THIS TO YOU THREE WEEKS AGO...STILL DON'T SEE IT IN THE COMPLAINTS SUMMARY. HOWEVER, SINCE MY REPORT, SAAB USA TELLS ME THAT THIS PROBLEM, FRONT SEAT BACKS THAT HAVE OVER 2 CM OF FREE-PLAY FRONT TO REAR IN THEM IS COMMON THROUGHOUT THEIR SAAB 9000 FLEET. I BELIEVE THESE SEATS ARE DANGEROUS IN THAT THEY ADD TO THE FORCES INFLICTED ON A DRIVER IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. WOULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOU RECEIVED THIS REPORT BY SENDING ME A RETURN EMAIL ([email protected])? THANKS.

NHTSA ID
700168
Incident
Nov 1, 1997

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

8312075

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE FUSE 16 (CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTING AND BACK-UP LIGHTS) CAN BLOW. THIS SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBES A PROCEDURE TO REMOVE THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM FROM FUSE 16 AND INSTALL IN AN OPEN POSITION AT FUSE 15. *TT

1011903ED2

EQUIPMENT

PROCEDURES FOR REPAIR AND UPDATING OF ISAT. *YC

2482035

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

97112498100

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

INFORMATION ON REPLACEMENT OF POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE. *YC

8121983

STRUCTURE:BODY

CONDITIONS WITH FRONT ROOF CONSOLE RATTLING ON CARS WITH SUNROOF. *YC

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—
1996Viewing100139.1
1995801—
1994144155.4
1993295152.1
1992194045.3
1991812—
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.