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NHTSA vehicle safety data

1996 Saab 900 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 1996 Saab 900 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 48 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Saab dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1996 Saab 900, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1996 Saab 900 owner complaints

Owners have filed 48 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Saab 900, describing incidents dated November 5, 1995 to February 2, 2024.

Most-cited components

  • Electrical System 10 complaints
  • Engine 8 complaints
  • Power Train 8 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 6 complaints
  • Air Bags 5 complaints
  • Equipment 3 complaints

Of the 48 complaints on file, 3 report a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11569616 · Filed

    Passenger airbag deployed for no reason while driving car, no warning lights on dashboard, no impact, no precipitating event occured

  • ODI #10141798 · Filed

    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…

  • ODI #10135288 · Filed

    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

Read all 48 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1996 Saab 900 in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

SAAB/FMVSS 108

NHTSA #98V038000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice

Reported February 24, 1998 · SAAB CARS USA, INC.

Potentially affected: 92,505 vehicles

Owners notified June 15, 1998 · Vehicles built September 6, 1993 – December 21, 1997 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY AIM THE HEADLIGHTS.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 15, 1998.OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE INSTRUCTIONS AND LABELS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

SAAB/THROTTLE CONTROL

NHTSA #97V046000 · Vehicle Speed Control · NHTSA notice

Reported March 21, 1997 · SAAB CARS USA, INC.

Potentially affected: 52,500 vehicles

Owners notified May 5, 1997

Defect description

CORROSION AROUND THE ZINC-COATED THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHING CAN CAUSE THE THROTTLE LEVER TO BIND.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ZINC-COATED THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHING WITH A NICKEL-COATED BUSHING AND BOLT.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION:OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN MAY 1, 1997. NOTE:OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

Seat Belts — Front — Anchorage

NHTSA #96V077000 · NHTSA notice

Reported May 3, 1996 · SAAB CARS USA, INC.

Potentially affected: 1,058 vehicles

Owners notified May 15, 1996 · Vehicles built March 1, 1996 – April 1, 1996 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

SYSTEM: INTERIOR; SEAT AND SHOULDER BELTS AND BELT ANCHOR; FMVSS NO. 209 AND 210. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.NOTE: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN MAY 15, 1996. NOTE: OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

Other Saab 900 model years

Check your 1996 Saab 900 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Saab 900 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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