NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Saab 900 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 1998 Saab 900 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 24 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 1998 Saab 900, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1998 Saab 900 owner complaints

Owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Saab 900, describing incidents dated November 1, 1997 to July 29, 2017.

Most-cited components

  • Air Bags 12 complaints
  • Electrical System 3 complaints
  • Engine 2 complaints
  • Exterior Lighting 2 complaints
  • Steering 2 complaints
  • Power Train 1 complaint

Together, the 24 complaints on file report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11011539 · Filed

    WARM ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND CAR DRIVEN TO INTERSECTION ROUGHLY 50 YARDS AWAY. AT STOP LIGHT, SRS LIGHT BECAME ILLUMINATED AND THEN PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE CAR STILL STOPPED. CAR THEN TURNED TO GO TO OTHER SIDE OF STREET TO PARK. WHILE CAR BEING DRIVEN CROSSING STREET, APPROX 5 MPH…

  • ODI #11011506 · Filed

    CAR STARTED AND DRIVEN APPROX 50 YARDS AND THEN CAME TO TRAFFIC LIGHT AND STOPPED. DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE SRS LIGHT ON THE DISPLAY PANEL WAS ILLUMINATED AT STOP LIGHT. PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED BEFORE CAR PROCEEDED. CAR DRIVEN TO OPPOSITE SIDE OF STREET TO PARK AND ASSESS SITUATION. WHILE CAR BEING…

  • ODI #10969652 · Filed

    I OWN A AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS DRIVING A CUSTOMER VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE STREET AT 20-25 MPH WHEN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG EXPLODED. IT WAS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE, I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER A MINUTE I DECIDED I SHOULD PULL THE CAR A LITTLE MORE OFF THE ROAD , AS I…

Read all 24 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1998 Saab 900 in 4 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\AIR BAG MODULE

NHTSA #01V222000 · Air Bags — Frontal · NHTSA notice

Reported July 2, 2001 · SAAB CARS USA, INC.

Potentially affected: 12,036 vehicles

Owners notified September 24, 2001 · Vehicles built July 17, 1997 – December 21, 1997 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. STATIC ELECTRICITY CAN BUILD UP WITHIN THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE AND CREATE ENOUGH OF A CHARGE TO CAUSE AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. MOST OF THESE INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENTS HAVE OCCURRED IN COOLER, DRY WEATHER, AND HAVE GENERALLY INCLUDED DUSTING OR WIPING OF THE DASHBOARD, STARTING THE CAR, OR CLOSING THE DOOR.

Safety consequence

UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE GROUNDING STRAP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 24, 2001. 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.

Notes

ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

SAAB/FMVSS 208

NHTSA #98V139000 · Equipment — Other — Labels · NHTSA notice

Reported June 23, 1998 · SAAB CARS USA, INC.

Potentially affected: 39,313 vehicles

Owners notified September 1, 1998 · Vehicles built February 25, 1997 – December 21, 1997 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG ALERT LABEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR WAS OMITTED. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Safety consequence

THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT MAY NOT PROPERLY UNDERSTAND THE OPERATION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND THE NEED TO USE SEAT BELTS.

Manufacturer remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ALERT LABEL TO BE INSTALLED ON THE VISIBLE SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SUN VISOR. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATIONBEGAN SEPTEMBER 1,1998.OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE ALERT LABEL WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONBLE 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/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).

Other Saab 900 model years

Check your 1998 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.

Check a Saab VIN