AI DamageSaab 900: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Saab 900 across 22 model years: 363 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 19% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 17% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 17% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 11% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 7% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 7% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 68 complaints (19% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 63 complaints (17% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 60 complaints (17% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 41 complaints (11% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 36 complaints (10% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1984–1998named in 1 complaints
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 1984–1998named in 1 complaints
- 2.1 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1991–1993
- 2.3 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1994–1998
- 2.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1994–1997
- automatic, 3-speed 1984–1993
- automatic, 4-speed 1994–1998
- manual, 5-speed 1984–1998named in 9 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 363 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 68 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 63 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 60 | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 41 | 6 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 36 | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 26 | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension | 24 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 21 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 21 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 18 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 13 | 3 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated that the vehicle would roll backwards and forwards numerous times unless the parking brake was applied. While in a parking lot, the vehicle rolled backwards into an intersection and struck a stop sign.
As I had to slow down, I had absolutely no brakes! I never had any issue with the brakes prior. Depressing the brake pedal did not disengage the cruise control and I was heading toward the rear end of a car at 70 mph.
Bought car with undisclosed problems. Trying to resolve this with seller without success.
Att: nhtsa I have a 90 turbo conv and while driving my lower a-arm broke where the weld is. I have heard this to be a problem with 900's that have over 100,000 miles on them but have found no recalls.
This is important: the rt pass seat belt did not hold my wife in a head on crash, and somebody removed the car from salvage yard quickly, inc co and yard owner did not know who took it before investigation could be made on belt failure..suspect saab had it picked up in 7 days after accident...wonder if this is a…
While the car is in the gear position on level ground the car will start to roll. ,as a result, the car rolled into another vehicle. The emergency brake was engaged as well.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.