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Vehicle safety record

1996 Saab 9000 Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 1996 Saab 9000 with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (4) and the seats & seat belts (4). Those complaints describe 1 crash and 1 fire. There are no recalls for it. For comparison, the 1995 has 8 and the 1997 has 6.

NHTSA data checked

CAbout as many problems as a typical 9000 year, for its age

#149 most complained-about 1996 vehicle

Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Most common 1996 Saab 9000 problems

Share of all 10 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

No recalls for the 1996 Saab 9000

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1996 Saab 9000. Recalls can be announced at any time - this page updates daily.

What owners say

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10 complaints about the 1996 Saab 9000

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.

Engine & cooling

Dt*: the contact stated while traveling various speeds, the vehicle stalled then the alarm activated. After disconnecting and reconnecting the battery, the vehicle restarted. The vehicle was not seen by a mechanic.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10168259
Body, doors & structure

I have replaced three locking actuators (driver's door, left passenger's door, and the right rear passenger's door) since I have purchased my car in 1997. Of course all this happen after the warranty had expired. Presently, I have one door lock that can be opened with the key knobe and on the console where the lock switch is located. In talking with the saab dealer, I was informed that I probably need these actuators would probably cost me approximately $300 each (a total of $900) to replace. I feel that...

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something must be wrong with the electrical system for all three (so far) not to be working. I have not had them replaced yet because I think this is totally ridiculous. Gale e. Moorer - 7/9/04. *Ak

Filed Incident Latches / locks / linkagesNHTSA 10080702
Engine & coolingElectrical systemCrashFire

1996 Saab 9000 aero rear-ended an izuzu rodeo. Damage to the rodeo was almost unnoticeable. Saab engine however erupted into flames and was a total loss. A factory certified technician less than 30 days prior to fire had serviced saab. Response from saab customer service - the issue did not concern saab and was between my insurance company and me. Was told by saab that insurance company would subrogate the claim if they thought it was worthwhile. Insurance company (metlife) commented that loss was not large...

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enough to pursue subrogation. Observed no concern that a problem could exist and ran into complete denial of any responsibility. Concern is how and why it could have happened and under similar circumstances will others be in danger of a like hazard. Incident is well document via digital photographs along with extensive detail from conversations with saab.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 10062660
BrakesEngine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemSeats & seat belts

The dealer replaced the transmission four times in the past two years. *Ak the vehicle had to be driven manually and stayed in 4th gear. The mechanic found an internal transmission problem. The rear brake pads were worn, the transmission oil pump was worn out, the hazards did not work when the weather was hot, but worked with the a/c it did not work. *Scc the muffler was replaced, the drive belt and pulleys were replaced, the rear brake rotors were out of specification and the brake pads were worn, the seat heater light switch was replaced, the oil pump was worn out *jb

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Power train · Electrical system · SeatsNHTSA 10029651
Transmission & drivetrain

Faulty vehicle transmission in 1996 saab 9000.*Mr the replaced transmission failed resulting in the consumer having to drive the vehicle manually. The dealer found that the problem was internal with the transmission shifts, it stayed in 4th gear. They had to replace it with a rebuilt transmission. *Ph

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 10033723
BrakesEngine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainLightsVisibility & wipersSeats & seat belts

The automatic transmission was replaced three times. *Ph the first transmission was replaced due to a worn out oil pump(the fluid was burned), and there was a whining noise. The second incident happened while the consumer was driving and the transmission did not shift properly (had to drive back manually/the mechanic found an internal problem), the vehicle stayed in fourth gear, and had to be replaced with a rebuilt transmission. The rear brake pads had worn out. *Scc. The seat heater light was...

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inoperative, the dealer replaced the seat heater switch, the exhaust system was replaced, the drive belt and pulleys were replaced. The mechanic stated something within the vehicle was built incorrectly to cause the transmission to fail. The motor for the rear windshield wipers had to be replaced, which caused the front windshield wipers not to work, and the hazard lights worked intermittently. *Jb

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Power train · Exterior lighting · Visibility · SeatsNHTSA 10033594
Seats & seat belts

The rear center seat belt buckle came apart. It is held on to the belt by a lead pin. That pin came loose. The belt is no longer useable. It has to be replaced. A child was strapped in at the time and the car was in motion. The seat belt and latch will require replacement. I am concerned this safety feature is not safe.*Ak

Filed Incident Seat beltsNHTSA 761794
Seats & seat belts

I reported this to you three weeks ago...Still don't see it in the complaints summary. However, since my report, saab usa tells me that this problem, front seat backs that have over 2 cm of free-play front to rear in them is common throughout their saab 9000 fleet. I believe these seats are dangerous in that they add to the forces inflicted on a driver in the event of an accident. Would you please let me know you received this report by sending me a return email ([email protected])? Thanks.

Filed Incident Seat beltsNHTSA 700168
Lights

BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 605279
Fuel system

GAS GAUGE INOPERATIVE.

Filed Incident Fuel system, otherNHTSA 602289

Saab 9000: every year compared

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
19981100SuspensionA
19976100Acceleration & cruise controlB
199610011Engine & coolingC
19958000Transmission & drivetrainB
199415400AirbagsF
199330511Transmission & drivetrainF
199219401Fuel systemF
All 9000 years

1996 Saab 9000 vs rivals

VehicleComplaintsRecallsCrashesGrade
1996 Saab 90001001C
1996 Saab 9004830FCompare

More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.

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Questions about the 1996 Saab 9000

Does the 1996 Saab 9000 have any recalls?

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1996 Saab 9000 right now. Recalls can be announced at any time, and this page checks NHTSA every day. You can also check your exact vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Saab 9000?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (4), seats & seat belts (4), transmission & drivetrain (3).

How many complaints has the 1996 Saab 9000 had?

10 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on November 20, 1996 and the latest on September 14, 2006. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.

Is the 1996 Saab 9000 a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 47 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Saab 9000 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 9000 years have the most complaints?
What should I do if my 1996 Saab 9000 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

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