1996 SAAB 9000 recalls & problems
The 1996 SAAB 9000 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 10 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (6 complaints).
Recalls0safety recalls
Complaints10filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 1reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1996 SAAB 9000.
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 | 18 / 26 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
9000
20mpg combined
| City / highway | 18 / 25 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 / 24 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
9000
18mpg combined
| City / highway | 15 / 24 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 | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe; Engine | 6 | 55,000 mi |
| Power train Automatic transmission | 3 | 55,000 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components › Disc › Pads | 3 | 55,000 mi |
| Exterior lighting Brake lights; Hazard flashing warning lights › Unit | 2 | — |
| Seat belts Front › Anchorage; Front › Buckle assembly | 2 | — |
| Seats Front assembly › Seat heater/cooler | 2 | — |
| Electrical system Wiring › Front underhood | 2 | — |
| Fuel system, other | 1 | — |
| Visibility Rear window wiper/washer › Motor | 1 | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages Doors › Latch | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Sep 14, 2006 · 118,000 milesEngine and engine cooling
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED THEN THE ALARM ACTIVATED. AFTER DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE BATTERY, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A MECHANIC. - Feb 3, 2004Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
I HAVE REPLACED THREE LOCKING ACTUATORS (DRIVER'S DOOR, LEFT PASSENGER'S DOOR, AND THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER'S DOOR) SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED MY CAR IN 1997. OF COURSE ALL THIS HAPPEN AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. PRESENTLY, I HAVE ONE DOOR LOCK THAT CAN BE OPENED WITH THE KEY KNOBE AND ON THE CONSOLE WHERE THE LOCK SWITCH IS LOCATED. IN TALKING WITH THE SAAB DEALER, I WAS INFORMED THAT I PROBABLY NEED THESE ACTUATORS WOULD PROBABLY COST ME APPROXIMATELY $300 EACH (A TOTAL OF $900) TO REPLACE. I FEEL THAT SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR ALL THREE (SO FAR) NOT TO BE WORKING. I HAVE NOT HAD THEM REPLACED YET BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS TOTALLY RIDICULOUS. GALE E. MOORER -… - Jan 5, 2004 · 110,000 miles · crash · fireElectrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
1996 SAAB 9000 AERO REAR-ENDED AN IZUZU RODEO. DAMAGE TO THE RODEO WAS ALMOST UNNOTICEABLE. SAAB ENGINE HOWEVER ERUPTED INTO FLAMES AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS. A FACTORY CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN LESS THAN 30 DAYS PRIOR TO FIRE HAD SERVICED SAAB. RESPONSE FROM SAAB CUSTOMER SERVICE - THE ISSUE DID NOT CONCERN SAAB AND WAS BETWEEN MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND ME. WAS TOLD BY SAAB THAT INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD SUBROGATE THE CLAIM IF THEY THOUGHT IT WAS WORTHWHILE. INSURANCE COMPANY (METLIFE) COMMENTED THAT LOSS WAS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO PURSUE SUBROGATION. OBSERVED NO CONCERN THAT A PROBLEM COULD EXIST AND RAN INTO COMPLETE DENIAL OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY. CONCERN IS HOW AND WHY IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED AND UNDER… - Jul 18, 2003 · 55,000 milesPower train › Automatic transmission
THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE DRIVEN MANUALLY AND STAYED IN 4TH GEAR. THE MECHANIC FOUND AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE WORN, THE TRANSMISSION OIL PUMP WAS WORN OUT, THE HAZARDS DID NOT WORK WHEN THE WEATHER WAS HOT, BUT WORKED WITH THE A/C IT DID NOT WORK. *SCC THE MUFFLER WAS REPLACED, THE DRIVE BELT AND PULLEYS WERE REPLACED, THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS WERE OUT OF SPECIFICATION AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE WORN, THE SEAT HEATER LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED, THE OIL PUMP WAS WORN OUT *JB - Aug 1, 2001 · 55,000 milesPower train › Automatic transmission
FAULTY VEHICLE TRANSMISSION IN 1996 SAAB 9000.*MR THE REPLACED TRANSMISSION FAILED RESULTING IN THE CONSUMER HAVING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE MANUALLY. THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS INTERNAL WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, IT STAYED IN 4TH GEAR. THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. *PH - Aug 1, 2001 · 55,000 milesService brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Pads
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. *PH THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED DUE TO A WORN OUT OIL PUMP(THE FLUID WAS BURNED), AND THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY (HAD TO DRIVE BACK MANUALLY/THE MECHANIC FOUND AN INTERNAL PROBLEM), THE VEHICLE STAYED IN FOURTH GEAR, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THE REAR BRAKE PADS HAD WORN OUT. *SCC. THE SEAT HEATER LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT HEATER SWITCH, THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, THE DRIVE BELT AND PULLEYS WERE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC STATED SOMETHING WITHIN THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT… - May 1, 2002Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAME APART. IT IS HELD ON TO THE BELT BY A LEAD PIN. THAT PIN CAME LOOSE. THE BELT IS NO LONGER USEABLE. IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. A CHILD WAS STRAPPED IN AT THE TIME AND THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THE SEAT BELT AND LATCH WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. I AM CONCERNED THIS SAFETY FEATURE IS NOT SAFE.*AK - Nov 1, 1997Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
I REPORTED THIS TO YOU THREE WEEKS AGO...STILL DON'T SEE IT IN THE COMPLAINTS SUMMARY. HOWEVER, SINCE MY REPORT, SAAB USA TELLS ME THAT THIS PROBLEM, FRONT SEAT BACKS THAT HAVE OVER 2 CM OF FREE-PLAY FRONT TO REAR IN THEM IS COMMON THROUGHOUT THEIR SAAB 9000 FLEET. I BELIEVE THESE SEATS ARE DANGEROUS IN THAT THEY ADD TO THE FORCES INFLICTED ON A DRIVER IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. WOULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOU RECEIVED THIS REPORT BY SENDING ME A RETURN EMAIL (KEN@WWISP.COM)? THANKS.
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
- SQ98006 · opened Apr 22, 1998 · closed May 8, 1998AUDIO SYSTEM FIRES
SEE RESUME FOR DETAILS.