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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.

Most complaints for its age1995100 complaints · 7 recallsSee the 1995
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.

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
20001000Wheels & tiresA
19992000Electrical systemA
199824300AirbagsF
199721300Seats & seat beltsD
199648303Transmission & drivetrainF
1995100773Transmission & drivetrainF
199444832Engine & coolingF
19936021AirbagsC
199221021AirbagsD
199114000BrakesB
199019041BrakesD
198922213Seats & seat beltsD
198813211BrakesC
19874201Wheels & tiresB
19869213Electrical systemC
19855101Electrical systemB
19843102Electrical systemB
19832110Acceleration & cruise controlA
19821100AirbagsA
19811201Engine & coolingA
19800200-A
19792410Seats & seat beltsC

Most common 900 problems

Saab 900 recalls 30

Air bags

02V30800020,476 vehicles affected

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...

Air bags: frontal

01V22200012,036 vehicles affected

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...

Seat belts: anchorage

96V0770001,058 vehicles affected

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."

Structure: door

94V1740009,814 vehicles affected

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."

Seats

94V1270001,015 vehicles affected

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

1996 Saab 900Airbags

Passenger airbag deployed for no reason while driving car, no warning lights on dashboard, no impact, no precipitating event occured

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11569616
1998 Saab 900Airbags1 injury

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.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11011539
1998 Saab 900Airbags1 injury

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.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11011506
1998 Saab 900Airbags

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.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10969652
1998 Saab 900Airbags

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.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10811282
1997 Saab 900Seats & seat belts

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

Filed Incident Seat beltsNHTSA 10618672

Questions about the Saab 900

Which Saab 900 years have the most problems?

By the number of complaints owners filed with NHTSA: 1995 (100), 1996 (48), 1994 (44). Allowing for how long each has been on the road, the 1995 stands out most. Complaint counts also rise with sales, so compare years of the same model rather than different models.

Which Saab 900 years have the fewest complaints?

Among model years that have been on the road for at least three years, 2000, 1999, 1982 have the best Safety Index - the fewest complaints, crashes and recalls for their age compared with other 900 years. Always check the exact vehicle's recalls by VIN before you buy.

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

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