Model year record

1996 SAAB 900 recalls & problems

The 1996 SAAB 900 has 3 safety recalls and 48 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (14 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints48filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 3reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingFeb 24, 1998

Headlights

Recall 98V03800092,505 vehicles

Problem: 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."
Risk: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY AIM THE HEADLIGHTS.
Fix: 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.

Vehicle speed controlMar 21, 1997

Vehicle speed control

Recall 97V04600052,500 vehicles

Problem: CORROSION AROUND THE ZINC-COATED THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHING CAN CAUSE THE THROTTLE LEVER TO BIND.
Risk: 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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ZINC-COATED THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHING WITH A NICKEL-COATED BUSHING AND BOLT.

Seat beltsMay 3, 1996

Front › Anchorage

Recall 96V0770001,058 vehicles

Problem: 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."
Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE BELT MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT SHOULD A VEHICLE CRASH OCCUR.
Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1996 Saab 900 4-DR

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

900 Convertible

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

900

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

900 Convertible

20mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

900

20mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

900 Convertible

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

900 Convertible

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

900

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

900

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

900 Convertible

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel

900

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Fires	Typical mileage*
Electrical system12v/24v/48v battery; Wiring › Front underhood	14	3	99,000 mi
Power trainManual transmission; Automatic transmission	13	1	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Cooling system › Radiator assembly	10	1	—
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly; Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	6	0	—
EquipmentElectrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.; Appliance › Air conditioner	6	0	—
Air bagsSide/window	5	0	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights	3	0	—
Vehicle speed controlLinkages	3	0	—
SteeringColumn locking › Anti-theft device; Hydraulic power assist system	3	0	—
StructureBody › Door; Body	3	0	—
VisibilityRearview mirrors/devices › Exterior; Windshield	2	0	—
SuspensionFront; Front › Springs › Coil springs	2	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Air bags
Passenger airbag deployed for no reason while driving car, no warning lights on dashboard, no impact, no precipitating event occured
Feb 2, 2024
Electrical system › Ignition › Module
DRIVING SMOOTHLY AT 50 MPH IN 1996 SAAB 900 SE TURBO, 99K MILES. ENGINE RPM SUDDENLY BUT SMOOTHLY DROPS TO ZERO AND STOPPED IN A VERY UNSAFE PLACE ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR WOULD NOT RE-START. ABSOLUTELY NO FAULTS OF ANY KIND OCCURRED DURING THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THIS INCIDENT. THIS CAR'S DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY IN JAN. 2000 BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. *JB
Nov 2, 2005 · 99,000 miles
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
IN JUNE 2003, A CRACK WAS DISCOVERED IN THE FUEL TANK OF MY 1996 SAAB 900S. THE TANK WAS REPLACED. ON 28 JULY 2004, THE REPLACEMENT TANK WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE A LEAK AND WAS REPLACED. ON 1 SEPTEMBER 2005, THE SECOND REPLACEMENT TANK WAS DIAGNOSED AS LEAKING.*JB
Jun 30, 2003 · 58,857 miles
Electrical system › Ignition › Module
PRIOR TO DI FAILURE, STARTING IMPAIRMENT AND MISFIRES DETECTED WITH CEL. UPON FAILURE, CAR WOULD NOT RUN AND STEERING WAS LOST. TO CORRECT FAILURE, NEW DI WAS FITTED AFTER IT WAS BROKEN. SYMPTOMS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REASON ENOUGH TO CHANGE IT EARLY. *NM
Oct 13, 2003 · 100,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling
WHILE 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
Nov 6, 2004 · 100,000 miles
Air bags › Side/window
WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WAS OPENED FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND SMOKE ENTERED THE PASSENGER'S CABIN. *AK
Oct 4, 2003 · 100,000 miles
Electrical systemFire
ON APRIL 27, 2003, MY SAAB 900 SE HAD AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING WITHIN A MINUTE HAD COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE CAR. THE "CHECK BATTERY" LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE HAZARD LIGHT. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND JUST ESCAPED THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE POLICE HAD TO CALL ME TO GET THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER AND VIN, AS THEY HAD MELTED. THE CAR HAD 72,000 MILES AND HAD BEEN CHECKED TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR. JUST MONTHS BEFORE IT HAD BEEN COMPLETELY INSPECTED. THE CAR WAS IN SHOW ROOM CONDITION. *JB
Apr 27, 2003 · 72,000 miles
Unknown or other
ODOMETER FRAUD. THE ADVERTISED MILEAGE WAS 55,000 BUT THE CARFAX REPORTED THE MILEAGE AT 150,000 MILES OVER A YEAR AGO. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER, TOOK BACK MY DEPOSIT AND GAVE BACK THE CAR. THEY INFORMED ME THEY ALREADY HAD ANOTHER BUYER FOR THE CAR AND ARE STILL ADVERTISING IT WITH 55,000 MILES. *JB
Mar 26, 2003

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP PULLEYClosed
a
DP00008 · opened Sep 25, 2000 · closed Nov 19, 2001
NEW WHEEL BOLTSClosed
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.
SQ98018 · opened Oct 9, 1998 · closed Oct 27, 1998