AI Damage1995 Saab 900: common problems
Owners of the 1995 Saab 900 filed 100 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 100
- involving a crash
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 21% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 19% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 17% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 15% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 10% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 8% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 8% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 21 complaints (21% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 19 complaints (19% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 17 complaints (17% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 15 complaints (15% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 10 complaints (10% of all), 1 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 · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2.3 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speednamed in 7 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 100 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 21 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 15 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Parking brake | 2 | 0 | 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.
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.
While driving, experienced power brake failure, when pedal becomes spongy then goes too far down and continues to roll forward, brake action seems ineffective.
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 saab 900s convertible. The contact stated that while sitting at a traffic stop when she noticed fumes coming from the under the hood. Minutes later, the air bags suddenly deployed inadvertently and without warning.
The contact heard an abnormal noise from the seat belt and immediately, the seat belt failed to restrain the contact. The dealer advised that the seat belt retractor assembly had failed and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted.
The broken off section stayed in the ring around the strut and made a loud thin metal rattle. It sounded like something important was about to fall off.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,569 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 900 has 17 complaints (22 years in the data). This year has 100, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- 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.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1995 Saab 900?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, electrical system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 100. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (6%), brake failure (5%), headlights and tail lights (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1995 Saab 900?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1995 Saab 900 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1995 models
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.