← New search

1986 Saab 900

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all 900 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 9 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
203,000 miles · Sep 1, 2003
Electrical SystemFuel System, Other

MY 1986 , 8 VALVE, 2.0 LITER SAAB 900 STALLS OUT IN HOT WEATHER AND WILL NOT RESTART UNLESS AT LEAST 15 MINUTES HAVE PASSED. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER,DISTRIBUTOR CAP, IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10037006

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2001
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER ABRUPTLY CAUSING THE TACHOMETER TO DROP AND THE STEERING TO BECOME HEAVY YET THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN SMOOTHLY, AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTS TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER THE POWER RETURNS BEFORE THE CAR STOPS, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. NLM

NHTSA ODI #0

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

WHEN DRIVING AT 65 MPH THERE WAS NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. ALSO, BATTERY KEPT GOING DEAD/ AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT/THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STOPPED WORKING/BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AND REPLACED FOUR TIMES/ SPARE TIRE KEPT GETTIN…

Read full complaint

WHEN DRIVING AT 65 MPH THERE WAS NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. ALSO, BATTERY KEPT GOING DEAD/ AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT/THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STOPPED WORKING/BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AND REPLACED FOUR TIMES/ SPARE TIRE KEPT GETTING A FLAT/CONTROL UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED FOUR TIMES/ REPLACED A CRACK IN EXHAUST SYSTEM, AS WELL AS OTHER PARTS IN THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #832060

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 1995
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATED WIRING AND SENT SMOKE INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. TT

NHTSA ODI #971653

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 1995
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING WINDOWS FAILED, INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON THEN STOPPED. HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT AND OTHER FAILURES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ODI #962850

Official recalls

2

86V057000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar

Apr 28, 1986

THE BOLT IN THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN U-JOINT CLAMP MAY HAVE BEEN OVER TORQUED AND MAY BREAK. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A BROKEN U-JOINT CLAMP MAY ALLOW THE STEERING SHAFT TO PULL OUT OF THE JOINT AND RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND POSSIBLY AN ACCIDENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: REPLACE AND PROPERLY TORQUE BOLT.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.