Saab 900 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
230 owner complaints analyzed
30 distinct recall campaigns
96,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1979 to 2000 model years. Data snapshot: . 61 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Manual Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 230 complaints (7.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 30 | 13.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 24 | 10.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 22 | 9.6% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 6.1% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 4.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 18 |
| Air Bags | 16 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 11 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 10 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 10 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 9 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 9 |
Power Train:Manual Transmission: 18; Air Bags: 16; Electrical System: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 11; Air Bags:Frontal: 10; Electrical System:Ignition: 10; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 9; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 11
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 169 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 57 |
| 1996 | 22 |
| 2000 | 23 |
| 2001 | 21 |
| 2002 | 26 |
| 2003 | 22 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
1995: 57; 1996: 22; 2000: 23; 2001: 21; 2002: 26; 2003: 22; 2004: 11; 2005: 18; 2006: 7; 2007: 4; 2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2017: 3; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Manual Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 24 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 22 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 978474 · 1996-01-31 (January 31, 1996)
IN THE WINTER TIME THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE FREEZES UP . TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 978474 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 802305 · 1996-09-12 (September 12, 1996)
VEHICLE'S ABS BRAKING SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLIED IN SUDDEN STOPPING CONDITIONS VEERS OFF TO THE RIGHT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 802305 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 486198 · 1995-05-10 (May 10, 1995)
ORIGINAL/REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 969351 · 1995-07-25 (July 25, 1995)
THE TRANSMISSION IS STANDARD AND IS SOMETIMES HARD TO GET IT INTO REVERSE AND SOMETIMES INTO 1ST GEAR. IT IS IS A 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 969351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960684 · 1995-02-27 (February 27, 1995)
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960015 · 1995-02-14 (February 14, 1995)
HEARD A POP INTERIOR FULL OF SMOKE. RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL FIRE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960015 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037006 · 2003-09-01 (September 1, 2003)
MY 1986 , 8 VALVE, 2.0 LITER SAAB 900 STALLS OUT IN HOT WEATHER AND WILL NOT RESTART UNLESS AT LEAST 15 MINUTES HAVE PASSED. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER,DISTRIBUTOR CAP, IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 203,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037006 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481590 · 1995-02-20 (February 20, 1995)
INTERMITTENT STALLING, ALSO VEHICLE WON'T START. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481590 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 0 · 2001-01-28 (January 28, 2001)
THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER ABRUPTLY CAUSING THE TACHOMETER TO DROP AND THE STEERING TO BECOME HEAVY YET THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN SMOOTHLY, AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTS TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER THE POWER RETURNS BEFORE THE CAR STOPS, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 0 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 738820 · 2001-01-05 (January 5, 2001)
FRONT LEFT CONTROL ARM BROKE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, WHEEL TO FALL OFF AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO SHOCK, WHEEL BEARING AND C.V. JOINT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 738820 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028674 · 2003-07-20 (July 20, 2003)
91 SAAB 900S REPLACED FUEL TANK TWICE.ALL THREE TANKS LEAKED GASOLINE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10028674 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 760621 · 2002-04-12 (April 12, 2002)
I AM TOLD THAT THESE FAILURES OCCURRED IN THIS YEAR MODEL SAAB--CRACKED FUEL TANK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 760621 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1984 | 1 |
| 1985 | 1 |
| 1986 | 2 |
| 1987 | 2 |
| 1988 | 2 |
| 1989 | 2 |
| 1990 | 0 |
| 1991 | 0 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 8 |
| 1995 | 7 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 1997 | 3 |
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
1984: 1; 1985: 1; 1986: 2; 1987: 2; 1988: 2; 1989: 2; 1990: 0; 1991: 0; 1992: 0; 1993: 0; 1994: 8; 1995: 7; 1996: 3; 1997: 3; 1998: 3; 1999: 0; 2000: 0