RoadVitals

1997 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.
6
Latest Oct 1, 2004
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 Jun 23, 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.
0
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Saab 9000, most frequently naming the driver assistance, engine and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 18 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

  • Driver assistance342.9%
  • Engine228.6%
  • Brakes114.3%
  • Seat belts114.3%

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
98V139000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Jun 23, 1998
39,313 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG ALERT LABEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR WAS OMITTED. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
The risk: THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT MAY NOT PROPERLY UNDERSTAND THE OPERATION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND THE NEED TO USE SEAT BELTS.
The remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ALERT LABEL TO BE INSTALLED ON THE VISIBLE SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SUN VISOR. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.
SAAB CARS USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Seat belts
Filed Oct 1, 2004

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04C002000 FOR THE STRAP. PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10094856
Incident
Oct 1, 2004
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 22, 2004

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE REVVED AT A HIGH RATE. CONSUMER SWITCHED TO NEUTRAL/SHUT OFF VEHICLE TO TEMPORALLY STOP THE PROBLEM. ON ONE OCCASION CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC TRIED TO REPAIR VEHICLE 3 TIMES, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10068677
Incident
Mar 9, 2004
Mileage
90,700 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 14, 2004

ENGINE DIED IN A 7 YEAR-OLD CAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10062161
Incident
Feb 16, 2004
Mileage
45,500 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Nov 24, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH ABS ON A 1997 SAAB 9000 CS.*MR THE ABS ECM UNIT WAS REPLACED AT 45900, AT 55393 MOST OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THIS TYPE OF BRAKE WORK SHOULD NOT OCCUR AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE, ALSO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB *NM

NHTSA ID
10048689
Incident
Oct 24, 2001
Mileage
45,900 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 25, 2002

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK GOING 25MPH WHEN THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO STOP. SINCE I WAS IN TRAFFIC, I CONTINUED TO A STOP SIGN WHERE THE CAR STOPPED AFTER A SHORT LUNGE FORWARD. I CHECKED TO BE SURE THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF AND I CHECKED THE DASHBOARD AND THERE WERE NO WARNING MESSAGES FLASHING. WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND WITH MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELELERATOR, THE CAR GAINED SPEED QUICKLY AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO SLOW IT DOWN BY KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC CAR INTO "PARK" WHERE THE CAR STARTED RACING/REVVING AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHEREBY I IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF THE CAR. I HAD THE SAAB TOWED TO MY DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME. THEY TOLD ME TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THEM IF THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN--I TOLD THEM THAT THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO DRIVE TO THEM WOULD PUT MY PASSENGERS AND ME AT RISK. THAT EVENING, I CALLED SAAB USA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER WHERE I FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH SAAB (SAAB'S FILE # FOR MY COMPLAINT IS 1-32268057).AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS TO TEST IT OUT MORE THOROUGHLY GIVEN THE RISK THAT EXISTS IF A FUTURE PROBLEM OCCURS. I ALSO EXPRESSED MY FEAR OF DRIVING THIS CAR AGAIN WITH ME AND MY FAMILY IN IT. THE WOMAN AT SAAB USA SAID SHE WOULD CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND GET BACK TO ME GIVEN MY CONCERN. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING AS OF TODAY, MAY 25, 2002. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR AND SAAB HAS DONE NOTHING TO ALLEVIATE MY FEARS AND THEY ARE OFFERING NO SOLUTION EXCEPT TO SAY THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. I PAID FOR THEIR DIAGNOSIS AND I WOULD PAY ANYTHING REASONABLE TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WHICH COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE ALSO OWNED SAABS SINCE 1983 AND IT IS SAD THAT SAAB'S RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM IS TO SEND ME AWAY.*AK

NHTSA ID
762272
Incident
May 21, 2002
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 1, 1999

TURBO APC SOLENOID VALVE FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
606836
Incident
Jan 14, 1998

Manufacturer communications

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

16NA260

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE TO REPROGRAM THE MEDIA DISC PLAYER WITH THE LATEST CALIBRATIONS TO CORRECT A CONDITION OF THE REAR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM NOT OPERATING AS INTENDED IN COLDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AREAS DUE TO CALIBRATION CONCERNS.

Recalls

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Vehicle Recalls

130089009

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

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

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

6441954

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

REVISIONS TO SERVICE MANUAL GROUP 6 FRONT ASSEMBLY, STEERING ON VEHICLES UP TO AND INCLUDING M97 VIN V1014201 TO VIN V1014202. *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—
1997Viewing610—
1996100139.1
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.