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1995 Saab 900

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 22 of 100 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

17 reports
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76,000 miles · Dec 21, 2006
Engine And 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…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10176735

9,732 miles · Nov 15, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

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 …

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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 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

NHTSA ODI #10144254

60,000 miles · Jul 23, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

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.

NHTSA ODI #10129798

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingStructureUnknown Or OtherCrash

BOUGHT CAR WITH UNDISCLOSED PROBLEMS. TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS WITH SELLER WITHOUT SUCCESS.

NHTSA ODI #10069098

32,759 miles · Jul 11, 2003
Engine And 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

NHTSA ODI #10024107

80,000 miles · Jun 4, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE SPROCKET AND BALANCE CHAIN FAILURE. *MR *PH

NHTSA ODI #10020406

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE CUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPING, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY TIMING BELT FAILING. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ODI #8022508

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO SUMMARY. DT

NHTSA ODI #769343

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE ON VEHICLE FAILED AND IS NOW RENDERED USELESS. CONSUMER WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN FAULT WITH THESE VEHICLES AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED. THE DEALER HOWEVER, DID NOT INFORM CONSUMER OF THE DEFECT WITH THE ENGINE IN THESE VEHICLES. *JG

NHTSA ODI #565334

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

FUEL TANK DEVELOPED LEAK AT VENT FITTING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #760534

Official recalls

7

02V308000 · Air Bags

Nov 14, 2002

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) IS DESIGNED TO SENSE AND DISCRIMINATE FRONTAL IMPACT EVENTS, COMMAND AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER DEPLOYMENTS IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND PERFORM CONTINUOUS DIAGNOSTICS OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE POSSIBLE INSUFFICIENT SEALING OF THE BOTTOM OF AN ELECTROLYTE CAPACITOR, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR IT TO LEAK ELECTROLYTE WITHIN THE AIR BAG ECU. ALSO, IN HIGH HUMIDITY ENVIRONMENTS, THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONER CAN CAUSE RAPID COOLING OF THE ECU, WHICH IN TURN MAY CAUSE THE FORMATION OF CONDENSATION WITH THE UNIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS MOISTURE COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE ELECTROLYTE FROM THE CAPACITOR, IT FORMS A HIGHLY CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL THAT COULD CREATE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT. THIS ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD TRIGGER THE AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW AIR BAG ECU. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 4, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.

98V038000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Feb 24, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROPERLY AIMING THE HEADLIGHTING SYSTEM WERE OMITTED. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY AIM THE HEADLIGHTS.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT AIMING INSTRUCTIONS, AND DIRECTIONS FOR AFFIXING THESE INSERTS TO THE OWNER GUIDES. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, A DEALER CAN AFFIX THE INSERTS IN THEIR OWNER GUIDE FOR THEM.

97V046000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Mar 21, 1997

CORROSION AROUND THE ZINC-COATED THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHING CAN CAUSE THE THROTTLE LEVER TO BIND.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS BINDING CAN RESULT IN THE THROTTLE PLATE NOT RETURNING TO THE CLOSED POSITION WHEN THE THROTTLE PEDAL IS RELEASED AND A SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ZINC-COATED THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHING WITH A NICKEL-COATED BUSHING AND BOLT.

96V008000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar

Jan 23, 1996

THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT WAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE COLUMN TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF MISALIGNED, AN ALUMINUM CONNECTING PIECE CAN FAIL DUE TO FATIGUE, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING COLUMN ALIGNMENT TO ENSURE THAT NO MISALIGNMENT EXISTS. IF A MISALIGNMENT IS FOUND, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY AS A UNIT.

95V066000 · Electrical System:ignition:module

Mar 29, 1995

UPON STARTUP, A VOLTAGE DROP TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE CAN CAUSE A MALFUNCTION WHERE ENGINE SPEED FLUCTUATES FROM 600 TO 3,000 RPM FOR UP TO 30 SECONDS BEFORE NORMAL ENGINE IDLE OF 900 RPM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REVISED ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE.

95V068000 · Power Train:manual Transmission

Mar 29, 1995

IT IS POSSIBLE TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER INTO THE REVERSE GEAR POSITION, REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, AND STILL HAVE THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, OR, TO ACCIDENTLY DISENGAGE REVERSE BY STRIKING THE GEAR LEVER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED, THE CAR CAN ROLL FROM ITS ORIGINAL PARKED POSITION INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE TRANSMISSION LINKAGE COMPONENTS AND COMPLETE A SPECIALLY DEVELOPED SERVICE ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE THAT WILL ENSURE THAT WHEN THE SHIFT IS MOVED TO THE REVERSE POSITION, THE REVERSE GEAR IS ACTUALLY ENGAGED.

94V226000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

Nov 18, 1994

ONE OR MORE OF THE ARC WELDS CAN BE MISSING ON THE SEAT BACK FRAME RECLINER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A SEAT BACK FALLING BACKWARDS UNDER A LOAD.

Remedy: BOTH FRONT SEAT BACKS WILL BE INSPECTED WITH THE USE OF A HOOK TO PULL BACK THE SEAT BACK UPHOLSTERY. FOR ANY SEAT WITH MISSING WELDS, THE SEAT BACK FRAME/RECLINER WILL BE REPLACED.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

DP00008 · Defective Water Pump Pulley

Opened Sep 25, 2000 · Closed Nov 19, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

a

SQ98018 · New Wheel Bolts

Opened Oct 9, 1998 · Closed Oct 27, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels

saab issued a tsb informing dealers about a new wheel mounting bolt.If the issue is loosening of the lug nut, this could lead to bolt fatigue and the potential for a wheel separation.