Model year record

1990 SAAB 9000 recalls & problems

The 1990 SAAB 9000 has 1 safety recall and 7 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (3 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints7filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Electrical systemNov 2, 1990

Ignition › Switch

Recall 90V00100024,379 vehicles

Problem: ABRASION ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT CARD IN THE COMBINATION NEUTRAL SAFETY/BACKUP LAMP SWITCH OPERATED BY THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTOR MAY CAUSE RESIDUE TO COLLECT IN ELECTRICAL AREA ON THE CIRCUIT CARD.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING OF THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITHSMOKE AND POSSIBLY A FIRE IN THE CENTER CONSOLE AREA.
Fix: ADD AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, INCLUDING A RELAY, TO THE BACKUP LAMP CIRCUIT TO REDUCE THE CURRENT THAT CAN FLOW THROUGH THE COMBINATION SWITCH.

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.

Fuel economy

9000

21mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

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

9000

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

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

9000

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

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

9000

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

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

9000

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

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

9000

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.3 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*
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	3	0	—
Electrical systemWiring › Front underhood	2	2	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission	2	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Anchorage	1	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Power train
VEHICLE WILL OCCASIONALLY BE HARD TO START, WHEN DOES START IT MISSES UNTIL REVVED TO CLEAR UP. TUNE UPS ARE PERFORMED AT RECOMMENDED MILEAGE. MY CAR IS A 1990, FIRST YEAR FOR SAAB DIRECT IGNITION. REPLACED IGNITION CASSETTE LESS THAN 30,000 MILES AGO, STARTING TO GO OUT AGAIN. DURING MY OWNERSHIP I HAVE REPLACED THE DIRECT IGNITION TWICE, I HAVE OWNED THE CAR APPROX 8 YEARS. I FEEL ALL OWNERS OF VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THIS PART SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. I USED TO BE SAAB TECH AND THESE MODULES GO OUT WAY TOO OFTEN AND ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE . *TR
Oct 1, 2010 · 230,000 miles
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
NO SUMMARY
Oct 10, 1999
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Nov 20, 1997
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES HARD AND THE LIGHT COMES ON, BUT IT HAS NOT AFFECTED THE BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE JUST YET. *AK
Jun 19, 1997
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL GETS REALLY HARD WHEN IT DOES AND THE BRAKES DO OPERATE. *AK
Jun 17, 1997
Power train › Automatic transmission
THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES PURCHASE CAR NEW ONLY CAN DRIVE IN REVERSE . TT
Aug 14, 1995
Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhoodFire
CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE GARAGE FROM UNDER THE HOOD FROM THE WIRING HARNESS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Dec 12, 1992

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

PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIREClosed
There is no summary currently available
EA95020 · opened Jun 30, 1995 · closed Jul 31, 1996
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRESClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE95009 · opened Feb 10, 1995 · closed Jun 30, 1995