On certain passenger vehicles, the air bag electronic control unit (ecu) is designed to sense and discriminate frontal impact events, command air bag and seat belt pretensioner deployments in a timely manner, and perform continuous diagnostics of the air bag...
1979-2000 · 22 model years
Saab 900 Problems by year
Owners have filed 362 complaints about the Saab 900 across 22 model years, and it has 30 recalls. The 1995 has the most complaints once its age is allowed for (100), while 1982, 1999, 2000 have far fewer than a typical year. The most reported problem area is the electrical system, followed by the transmission & drivetrain.
- Complaints
- 362
- Recalls
- 30
- Crashes
- 23
- Fires
- 23
- Injuries
- 22
- Deaths
- 0
900 complaints by model year
Highlighted: the year with the most complaints for its age. Older vehicles have had more time to collect complaints - the Safety Index grade allows for that.
Most common 900 problems
Saab 900 recalls 30
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Static electricity can build up within the passenger-side air bag module and create enough of a charge to cause an inadvertent air bag deployment. Most of these inadvertent deployments have occurred in cooler, dry...
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."
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The instructions for properly aiming the headlighting system were omitted. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Corrosion around the zinc-coated throttle control lever bushing can cause the throttle lever to bind.
During static testing of belt anchorage points, the outboard attachment plate being used in the testing deformed and detached from the seat anchorage. This does not comply with fmvss no. 209, "Seat belt assemblies" and no. 210, "Seat belt assembly anchorages."
The steering column shaft was incorrectly installed in the vehicle causing the column to be out of alignment.
It is possible to move the shift lever into the reverse gear position, remove the ignition key, and still have the transmission in neutral, or, to accidently disengage reverse by striking the gear lever.
Upon startup, a voltage drop to the engine control module can cause a malfunction where engine speed fluctuates from 600 to 3,000 rpm for up to 30 seconds before normal engine idle of 900 rpm.
One or more of the arc welds can be missing on the seat back frame recliner.
The two weld points in the rearward attachment bracket for the side impact protection beam in the rear door may be out of position. If the welds are out of position, the vehicles will not meet the requirements of fmvss 214, s5, "side door strength."
Two trigger springs mounted to the fore/aft adjustment lever do not develop sufficient force to properly lock the seat rails. After the seat is adjusted, this does not allow the seat rail lock to properly engage, which can cause the seat to move in a sudden...
Latest 900 complaints
Passenger airbag deployed for no reason while driving car, no warning lights on dashboard, no impact, no precipitating event occured
Warm engine was restarted and car driven to intersection roughly 50 yards away. At stop light, srs light became illuminated and then passenger side airbag deployed while car still stopped. Car then turned to go to other side of street to park. While car being driven crossing street, approx 5 mph max, driver side airbag deployed. Road conditions were dry and clean, with no debris on road. Weather was good, with no rain, thunder or lightning present. Driver sustained superficial burns on lateral side of r forearm and hand. No apparent damage to face or eyes.
Car started and driven approx 50 yards and then came to traffic light and stopped. Driver noticed that the srs light on the display panel was illuminated at stop light. Passenger airbag deployed before car proceeded. Car driven to opposite side of street to park and assess situation. While car being driven across street, driver side airbag also deployed. No collision with and no tapping of another car occurred. Road conditions were dry and w/o debris. No rain was falling and no lighting or thunder was present. What appear to be first degrees burns were sustained on the lateral aspect of the right forearm and hand. No visible damage to eye or face.
I own a auto repair shop and was driving a customer vehicle. I was driving straight down the street at 20-25 mph when the passenger airbag exploded. It was a very scary experience, I pulled over to the side of the road. After a minute I decided I should pull the car a little more off the road , as I was doing that the drivers side airbag went off.
I had just pulled out of a parking lot onto a street, going straight, at about 20 mph, when the passenger side airbag deployed. About a minute later, the driver side airbag deployed, hitting me. I pulled over. The car had not hit anything prior to deployment. The result is that the windshield is cracked, the interior overhead light dislodged and I was disoriented.
I went to put my seat belt on and it caught on something and wouldn't let me extract the belt from the retractor. This vehicle registration is not-operative. *Tr
Questions about the Saab 900
Which Saab 900 years have the most problems?
Which Saab 900 years have the fewest complaints?
What are the most common Saab 900 problems?
Across every model year, owners report problems with the electrical system (56), transmission & drivetrain (55), engine & cooling (54) most often.
How many recalls does the Saab 900 have?
NHTSA lists 30 recalls across all Saab 900 model years. Each year's page lists the recalls for that year; check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether the repair has been done.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data