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1995 Saab 900 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

78 owner complaints analyzed

7 distinct recall campaigns

86,064 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Manual Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 78 complaints (11.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1924.4%
Transmission and shifting1012.8%
Electrical and battery issues56.4%
Engine operation45.1%
Steering behavior45.1%
Fuel system concerns11.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train:Manual Transmission
9
Electrical System
6
Air Bags
5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
5
Electrical System:Ignition
4
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
4
Engine And Engine Cooling
3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train:Manual Transmission9
Electrical System6
Air Bags5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components5
Electrical System:Ignition4
Electrical System:Ignition:Module4
Engine And Engine Cooling3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine3

Power Train:Manual Transmission: 9; Electrical System: 6; Air Bags: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 5; Electrical System:Ignition: 4; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
6
100,000 to 149,999
7
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9996
100,000 to 149,9997
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 2

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 56 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
22
1996
5
2000
4
2001
6
2002
11
2003
9
2004
4
2005
8
2006
2
2007
2
2008
2
2009
1
2010
1
2012
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199522
19965
20004
20016
200211
20039
20044
20058
20062
20072
20082
20091
20101
20121

1995: 22; 1996: 5; 2000: 4; 2001: 6; 2002: 11; 2003: 9; 2004: 4; 2005: 8; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2012: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train:Manual Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10012408 · 2003-03-20 (March 20, 2003)

NAR 03-24-2003 MR WHILE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE STEERING. WHEN THERE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THERE WERE NO ABNORMALITIES FOUND IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED BUT THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID THAT IF PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED IT MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL AND ENDANGER OTHERS. *CB *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012408 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10040906 · 2003-09-29 (September 29, 2003)

I OWN A 1995 SAAB 900 SE WITH A MANNUAL TRANSMISSION. I WOULD GUESS AS A SAFTEY FEATURE, THIS VEHICLE REQUIRES THE SHIFT LEVER TO BE IN THE REVERSE POSITION TO REMOVE THE KEY. THIS INSURES THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE WHEN NOT OCCUPIED IF THE PARKING BRAKE HAS NOT BEEN ENGAGED. ON MY VEHICLE THE SHIFT LEVER CAN BE IN THE REVERSE POSITION AND THE KEY REMOVED, BUT THE REVERSE GEAR IS NEVER ACTUALLY ENGAGED OR CAN BE EASILY MOVED OUT OF REVERSE. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WAS WHEN I FOUND MY VEHICLE HAD ROLLED FORWARD AND WAS REST…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040906 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10054892 · 2004-01-26 (January 26, 2004)

AT ABOUT 1000 A.M. ,MY DAUGHTER JENNIFER AGE 19 WAS DRIVING MY 1995 SAAB 900SE CONVERTIBLE ON THE NYS THRUWAY FROM ALBANY TO OUR HOME IN UTICA , NY WHEN SHE WAS APPROACHING THE HERKIMER T-WAY EXIT. SHE WAS GOING TO EXIT THE T-WAY THERE , SO SHE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. SHE TOLD ME THAT WHEN SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO SLOW DOWN AND BEGAN TO GAIN SPEED. SHE SAYS THAT WHEN SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN FROM 55 MPH TO 85 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS . SHE SAYS SHE BECAME HYSTERICAL AND BEGAN TO …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10054892 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10144254 · 2005-11-15 (November 15, 2005)

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 WAS INOPERATIVE, THE EXHAUST HA…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,732 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144254 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 721453 · 2000-04-14 (April 14, 2000)

STARTED AUTOMOBILE AND WENT 2 CAR LENGTHS AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. SHUT ENGINE DOWN AND OPENED HOOD. CAUSE OF SMOKE WAS A CABLE THAT WAS ON FIRE. NOT HUGH, BUT LIKE BIC LIGHTER FLAMES. ABOUT 3 TO 5. BLEW OUT FIRE. WENT INTO OFFICE GOT SOME BOTTLED WATER. CAME BACK. RESTARTED AUTO. GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT ENGINE. FIRE AGAIN. PUT OUT WITH WATER. NOTHING ON ELECTRONIC INFOR DISPLAY INDICATED FIRE. CALLED DEALER AND MECHANIC ADVISED TO HAVE CAR TOWED IN, WHICH I DID. AT FIRST SAAB REP DID NOT EVEN WISH TO PAY FOR CAUSE OF PROBLEM, THE EL…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 721453 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10025197 · 2003-06-30 (June 30, 2003)

1995 SAAB 900 SE STALLS UPON COLD START AND ALSO CUTS OFF (STALLS) WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE IS TOTALLY TUNED AND ALL THROTTLE, FUEL INJECTORS ARE CLEAN ETC. I CONTACTED DEALER AND SAAB WEB-SITE TO INQUIRE ABOUT RECALL 95V066000 BUT I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT APPLICABLE TO MY VEHICLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025197 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10176735 · 2006-12-21 (December 21, 2006)

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED CAUSING THE IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED SAAB USA AT [phone removed] 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

Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176735 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 760534 · 2002-04-10 (April 10, 2002)

FUEL TANK DEVELOPED LEAK AT VENT FITTING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 760534 at NHTSA ↗