- The problem
- The electrical cable between the starter and the alternator can rub against the brake fluid pipe attached to the left inner wheelhouse in the engine compartment. Consequence of defect: rubbing will eventually damage the cable insulation and result in a short circuit which may cause a fire.
- The fix
- The cable connection at the alternator will be adjusted and the cable repositioned to eliminate rubbing.
Vehicle safety record
1984 Saab 900 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 3 complaints about the 1984 Saab 900 with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (3) and the fuel system (1). Those complaints describe 2 fires. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in April 1985 for the front underhood. For comparison, the 1983 has 2 and the 1985 has 5.
NHTSA data checked
BFewer problems than a typical 900 year, for its age
#51 most complained-about 1984 vehicle
- Complaints
- 3
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1984 Saab 900 problems
Share of all 3 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1984 Saab 900 recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
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3 complaints about the 1984 Saab 900
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
This saab was purchased with extensive electrical problems. After correcting most grounding points it burned out the warm up regulator. With that out of the circut, the fuelpump began to vapor lock. Releasing the banjo fitting at the distributor produced a sucking sound., Back at the fuel pump in the fuel tank the pump was running but not pumping. So disconnected the hot wire, I put a wrench on the fuel fitting and loosened the fitting, some fuel sprayed out and the wrench hit the bodywork causing a big spark. The...
Read the full complaint
good news is there was so much fuel around the spark had no oxy to ignite the answer was the saab people in their wisdom put a red id sleeve on the ground wire and everyone who worked on it has wired the fuel pump up backward and the only reason the car was drivable was so many grounds were bad in the rest of the circut the pump would back feed and run correctly. As the saab has a main ground circut, near the battery for the rest of the electrical circuts, it would be prone to this type of failure if worked on by some one with out an angle on his shoulder. *Ak
Engine compartment fire, caused by electrical system. Tt
Wiring harness under hood caught fire prior to recall notification (85v-036). *Skd
Saab 900: every year compared
All 900 yearsQuestions about the 1984 Saab 900
Does the 1984 Saab 900 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 1984 Saab 900: front underhood (April 1985). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1984 Saab 900?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (3), fuel system (1), transmission & drivetrain (1).
How many complaints has the 1984 Saab 900 had?
3 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on November 21, 1994 and the latest on December 12, 1999. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 2 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1984 Saab 900 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 72 out of 100 (grade B: fewer problems than a typical Saab 900 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Saab 900 years have the most complaints?
1995 (100), 1996 (48), 1994 (44). See every Saab 900 year compared.
What should I do if my 1984 Saab 900 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data