1996 SAAB 900 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
78
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
15
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1996 SAAB 900
The 1996 SAAB 900 has received a total of 78 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE. 15 technical service bulletins have been issued by SAAB CARS USA, INC. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Power Trainmanual Transmission (5 complaints), Air Bags (4 complaints), and Electrical System12v24v48v Battery (4 complaints).
Recalls for the 1996 SAAB 900
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 1996 SAAB 900, potentially affecting up to 146,063 vehicles.
Recall 98V038000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
| 92,505 vehicles affected
Defect: 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."
Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY AIM THE HEADLIGHTS.
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.
View full details →Recall 97V046000 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
| 52,500 vehicles affected
Defect: CORROSION AROUND THE ZINC-COATED THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHING CAN CAUSE THE THROTTLE LEVER TO BIND.
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ZINC-COATED THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHING WITH A NICKEL-COATED BUSHING AND BOLT.
View full details →Recall 96V077000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
| 1,058 vehicles affected
Defect: 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."
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE BELT MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT SHOULD A VEHICLE CRASH OCCUR.
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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1996 SAAB 900
78 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 SAAB 900. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
Passenger airbag deployed for no reason while driving car, no warning lights on dashboard, no impact, no precipitating event occured
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 IGNITION CASSETTE WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY IN JAN. 2000 BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. *JB
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
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
PRIOR TO DI FAILURE, STARTING IMPAIRMENT AND MISFIRES DETECTED WITH CEL. UPON FAILURE, CAR WOULD NOT RUN AND STEERING WAS LOST. TO CORRECT FAILURE, NEW DI WAS FITTED AFTER IT WAS BROKEN. SYMPTOMS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REASON ENOUGH TO CHANGE IT EARLY. *NM
Safety Rating for the 1996 SAAB 900
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1996 SAAB 900 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1996 SAAB 900
SAAB CARS USA, INC. has issued 15 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1996 SAAB 900. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
731 — SUSPENSION
CONCERNS WITH CLUNKING / SNAPPING NOISE HEARD WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL. *TT
1011903ED2 — EQUIPMENT
PROCEDURES FOR REPAIR AND UPDATING OF ISAT. *YC
3719008ED2 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
INFORMATION ON DELETING DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AT CUSTOMER' REQUEST. *TT
980728870 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
ADDRESSING CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS OF NOISY A/C. *YC
870 — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
DIAGNOSING CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS THAT MAY BE CAUSED BY THE ANTI-FROST SWITCH ON VEHICLES WITH VIN T2037750 AND T7010027. *YC
200 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SOME CUSTOMERS MAY EXPERIENCE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON DURING NORMAL DRIVING. *TT
3911902 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING BATTERY, DISCHARGING THROUGH LIGHT SWITCH IN LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT. *YC
8111924 — STRUCTURE
VEHICLES WITH VIN W7007622 MAY EXPERIENCE NOISE WHEN OPERATING THE SOFT-TOP, ALTERNATIVELY CRACKS IN THE REAR WINDOW. *YC
3811932 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
INFORMATION ON ADDRESSING CUSTOMER COMPLAINT OF LOW OIL LEVEL. *TT
870 — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
TECHNICAL SERVICE BROADCAST ON CORRECT INSTALLATION OF FAN SPEED CONTROLLER. *TT
Showing 10 of 15 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1996 SAAB 900
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the SAAB 900
- 1991 SAAB 900 — 15 complaints
- 1992 SAAB 900 — 25 complaints
- 1993 SAAB 900 — 8 complaints
- 1994 SAAB 900 — 88 complaints
- 1995 SAAB 900 — 159 complaints
- 1996 SAAB 900 (current)
- 1997 SAAB 900 — 27 complaints
- 1998 SAAB 900 — 26 complaints
- 1999 SAAB 900 — 4 complaints
- 2000 SAAB 900 — 1 complaint