Engine & cooling

Saab 900 Engine problems by year

54 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Saab 900's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Engine complaints by model year

'79 '80 '81 '82 '83 '84 '85 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 15'95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00

Year	Engine complaints	Crashes
1998	2	0
1997	1	0
1996	8	0
1995	15	1
1994	13	0
1992	3	0
1991	1	0
1990	2	0
1989	3	0
1988	2	0
1986	3	0
1981	1	0

Latest 900 engine complaints

1998 Saab 900 Engine & cooling

Chronic, abrupt stalling problems for 3+ years. Dealership has tried to repair on at least, 15+ occasions. Dealership had it at their facility for over 3 months one period, conducting diagnostic tests. Parts changed: sensors; multiple times, wiring harness, "main computer chip" and various other parts. The car abruptly stalls. It will stall at anytime - whether driving, coasting, at a stop, or on the expressway. It will stall without warning and is very difficult to control the vehicle safely to the roadside...

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multiple times over and over without causing a collision. I just got the vehicle back from the dealership again last week after they "possibly fixed it again" . I drove a distance of 15 miles before the car started stammering, jerking and stalling again. It took me over an hour to drive the return few back home, which was a harrowing experience. The vehicle is kept garaged by me, in mint body condition inside and out and only has 65,000 miles on it. Saab has offered to apply 4,000 credit toward a purchase of another vehicle from them. It is clear saab knows that this vehicle is defective or would not have made offer. Unfortunately, the vehicle is worth much more than what they had offered; aside from being mechanically defective/unrepairable, they can't trace the problem in their vehicle that they made. I can't afford to get in another car pymt and am in real fear that will be involved in a crash in this clearly defective vehicle. I had previously filed a complaint for exact this same mechanical problem (that still has not been resolved nor even investigated by the odi or nhtsa). I see posts all over the internet with same or similar problems with saab vehicles. Someone needs to investigate this problem as it is very serious and dangerous to have these vehicles on the road. Unfortunately, I'm sure that I am not the only one that has no other option than to drive a vehicle like this. *Jb

1995 Saab 900 Engine & cooling

Consumer was driving and timing chain snapped causing the immediate loss of power and control of vehicle. Contacted saab usa at 1-800-955-9007 and spoke with supervisor lemont. Consumer was informed that saab does not cover costs involved in replacement of timing chain but only for the belt at very specific mileage points as to the history of widespread breakage and safety problems and subsequent costly damage to engines. *Nm

1995 Saab 900 Brakes Engine & cooling Electrical system Lights Body, doors & structure Wheels & tires Equipment & accessories

Timing belt on 1995 saab broke destroying the engine. *Ts there was a coolant leak, the sun visor fell off, the battery went dead, the molding was peeling, the srs lights flashed, there was an air valve problem, center muffler rotted and leaked, the water pump leaked, the driver's side turn signal was inoperative, the parking lamp had gone out, there was no heat, no air and no freon in the system, the remote was inoperative, there was a slow leak in the system, the rear muffler bracket had broken, the cd player...

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was inoperative, the exhaust hanger had broken, the water tray gasket leaked, there was a battery remote problem, there was a parasitic current draw, the glove box would not open and the engine completely destroyed. The exhaust system, engine belts, main drive belt, muffler, water pump, flex pipe, compressor, tires, front pads and rotors, valve, air valve, head light, spark plugs, engine filters, de ice switch, evaporator core, brake light, battery, and spark plugs were all replaced. *Sc

1995 Saab 900 Engine & cooling Equipment & accessories

Timing belt came off the pulley when I attempted to start the car. Major damage to engine. Engines needs major overhaul. No support from saab na on this issue although the timing belt was installed by a saab reseller.

1996 Saab 900 Engine & cooling

While driving ball bearrings exploded in the lower engine. Consumer heard a loud boom. The vehicle was full of clean oil. Consumer contacted the maufacturer and the dealer. Vehicle is currently at dealer. *Ak

1994 Saab 900 Steering Brakes Engine & cooling Fuel system Electrical system Lights Visibility & wipers Body, doors & structure Seats & seat belts Equipment & accessories

The experience leaking head gasket repeated problem. The engine overheating and brake problems. *Bf the brakes squealed when stopping, the windshield wipers, the passenger door was hard to close, the battery light had run bad, the heat operation was inoperative, there was an oil leak, seat cover left lower cracked, fluid leaked under the vehicle/overnight coolant leak, over heating while the vehicle was in motion, the turn signal assembly, leaking distributor seal, broken turn signal, at a certain position the...

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seat would not operate forward, the antenna would not properly retract, left fog light inoperable, driver side window front and rear for proper rubber alignment, leaking crank pulley seal, oil leak from the transmission, found a lack of fuel pressure, smoke was coming out of the tailpipe, the convertible top was wearing on the left and right side, there was a loose hose clamp in the power steering hose, the battery failed, one tail light was inoperative, the alternator belt was wrapped around the chassis, there was a squealing noise after start up, oil leaked through the valve cover, and the tank clutch leaked fluid. *Sc

1995 Saab 900 Engine & cooling Visibility & wipers Body, doors & structureCrash

Bought car with undisclosed problems. Trying to resolve this with seller without success.

1994 Saab 900 Engine & cooling

In july of 2003, saab of santa monica, ca replaced the timing belt on my used 1994 saab 900 (65,000 mile service). The labor was complimentary and covered under a change in scheduled maintenance outlined by saab usa in a letter sent out to saab 900 owners in july 1995. The letter amended information in the warranties and service record booklet and owner's manual and stated that rather than every 95,000 miles, saab was now recommending that the belt for the camshaft drive mechanism be replaced beginning with the...

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35,000 mile major service and at intervals of 30,000 miles thereafter. At the time of service, in addition to replacing the timing belt, non-routine labor was done on the tensioners. The work receipt notes that old-style tensioners were noted and replace. Less than 1000 miles after saab of santa monica performed their "complimentary work" my car catastrophically failed. On oct. 17, 2003, I left work at and drove about 1/3 of a mile (35 mph) before I heard a loud clunk and the engine started to putter and clank as the car lost power. The next business day it was towed to a well-respected independent saab mechanic, hung tao (a.R.T. Saab 18440 hart st. Reseda, ca (818) 881-7940 ). Hung tao looked at the car and stated that the timing belt had slipped. The car was towed to the nearest saab dealer (sherman oaks, ca). Saab of sherman oaks first said that the timing belt had slipped, but then changed they're story and said the camshaft had allegedly snapped, causing $5000 worth of damage to the engine. They argued that there was no correlation between the work they'd done on the camshaft drive belt and the failure of the camshaft. They say because the car isn't under warranty they can't help me. *La

1994 Saab 900 Engine & cooling

Vehicle stalled in traffic due to engine failure.*Mr the gasket surrounding the timing belt cover became tangled with the timing belt which caused the vehicle not to start.*Ts *jb

1995 Saab 900 Engine & cooling

While driving, the fan belt broke, which caused the engine to seize. This was the third failure under 50,000 miles. *Ak ph *jb

1995 Saab 900 Engine & cooling

ENGINE SPROCKET AND BALANCE CHAIN FAILURE. *MR *PH

1996 Saab 900 Engine & cooling

THE TIMING BELT FAILED. *JB (SAAB 900 SE)

1994 Saab 900 Engine & cooling

Consumer called complaining about having problems with the timming belt tension on her vehicle. Consumer also stated that she has replaced it once and it was warrantied for 3500 miles and it has happend again this also causes engine failure on the vehicle. Dealer was contacted but refuses to do anything on the vehicle because is no longer under warranty. Ts

1995 Saab 900 Engine & cooling

The engine cut off while the vehicle was stopping, which was caused by timing belt failing. Please provide more details. Ts

1995 Saab 900 Engine & cooling

NO SUMMARY. DT

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