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1997 Saab 900

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 11 of 21 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

0 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Structure complaints

2 reports
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120,000 miles · Oct 1, 2008
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

MY DRIVER SIDE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE, MASSACHUSETTS WILL NOT PASS IT DUE TO IT BEING A SAFETY HAZARD. WE TOOK THE DOOR APART FIXED THE DOOR AND THEN TESTED THE LOCKS TO MAKE SURE THEY STILL WORK. IT WAS THEN THAT THE DEADLOCK WAS ENGAGED. WE REALIZED THAT LAST NIGHT IF A CHILD WAS IN THE CAR THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO LET TH…

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MY DRIVER SIDE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE, MASSACHUSETTS WILL NOT PASS IT DUE TO IT BEING A SAFETY HAZARD. WE TOOK THE DOOR APART FIXED THE DOOR AND THEN TESTED THE LOCKS TO MAKE SURE THEY STILL WORK. IT WAS THEN THAT THE DEADLOCK WAS ENGAGED. WE REALIZED THAT LAST NIGHT IF A CHILD WAS IN THE CAR THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO LET THEMSELVES OUT OF THE CAR NOR CAN YOU GET IN. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THIS FEATURE FAILING AND NOT RELEASING FROM A KEY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244078

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2001
Structure

BOTH SUNVISORS BROKE WIHTIN THREE MONTHS. PLASTIC ATTACHMENT FAILED. SAFETY HAZARD FOR DRIVER WITH SUN AT LOW ANGLE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. MANUFACTURER HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #756093

Official recalls

3

98V139000 · Equipment:other:labels

Jun 23, 1998

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."

Consequence & remedy

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

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.

98V038000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Feb 24, 1998

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 & remedy

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.

97V046000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Mar 21, 1997

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

Consequence & remedy

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.

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

2

DP00008 · Defective Water Pump Pulley

Opened Sep 25, 2000 · Closed Nov 19, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

a

SQ98018 · New Wheel Bolts

Opened Oct 9, 1998 · Closed Oct 27, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels

saab issued a tsb informing dealers about a new wheel mounting bolt.If the issue is loosening of the lug nut, this could lead to bolt fatigue and the potential for a wheel separation.