IllustrationWHILE 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
1996 Saab 900
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 900 years →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: 6 of 48 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports3 fire reports0 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
9 reportsTHE TIMING BELT FAILED. *JB (SAAB 900 SE)
TIMING CHAIN HAS TO BE REPLACED AFTER 75,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOUD WARNING NOISE. SAAB DEALER FOUND PROBLEM AFTER DOING A ROUTINE SERVICE CHECK. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FOUND, DEALER HAS NEVER DONE REPAIRS. *AK
AFTER A 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA BEFORE A FIRE STARTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ON SITE TO PUT OUT FIRE. SAAB HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK VEHICLE TRAVELING, CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND STAYED ON THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SENSOR. …
Read full complaint
AFTER A 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA BEFORE A FIRE STARTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ON SITE TO PUT OUT FIRE. SAAB HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK VEHICLE TRAVELING, CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND STAYED ON THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SENSOR. THE VEHICLE SLIPS WHILE IN GEAR AND BEFORE GOING INTO GEAR DUE TO LOSS OF FLUID BY LTHE LEAKING TRANSMISSION. *YH
REMOTE ALARM SYSTEM FAILED. NLM
VEHICLE DOES NOT START FIRST THING IN MORNING. WOULD JERK AFTER STARTING, FOR 1/2 HOUR. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AFTER THE JERKING MOTION. STAYED ON UNTIL VEHICLE PUT IN THE GARAGE, THEN WENT OFF. CAME BACK ON 2 DAYS LATER. *AK
EXHAUST CHECK VALVE LIFTERS MALFUNCTIONED.
THERMOSTAT FAILED.
WHILE SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND SPINNED AROUND IN A 360 DEGREE CIRCLE.
Official recalls
398V038000 · 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.
96V077000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
May 3, 1996
DURING STATIC TESTING OF BELT ANCHORAGE POINTS, THE OUTBOARD ATTACHMENT PLATE BEING USED IN THE TESTING DEFORMED AND DETACHED FROM THE SEAT ANCHORAGE. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES" AND NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE BELT MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT SHOULD A VEHICLE CRASH OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES FOR THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE. ANY ASSEMBLY WITH DATE YEAR 96 WEEK 10 DAY 2 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
2DP00008 · Defective Water Pump Pulley
Opened Sep 25, 2000 · Closed Nov 19, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
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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.