The 1979 Saab 900 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 80,247 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
POWER TRAIN83V0680001983-07-1412,096 affected
Defect
A PROBLEM RELATING TO THE FRONT EXHAUST PIPE BRACKET ATTACHMENT COULD CAUSE LEAKING OF TRANSMISSION OIL. TRANSMISSION COULD LOCK UP DUE TO LACK OF PROPER OIL LUBRICATION.
Remedy
DEALER WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING EXHAUST PIPE BRACKET WITH ONE THAT ATTACHES TO THE SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER GASKET WILL ALSO BE REPLACED, USING SCREWS INSTEAD OF STUDS.
THE INSULATION OF THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MAY POSSIBLY MELT OR BECOME BRITTLE DUE TO THE HIGH TEMPERATURES WHICH MAY BE GENERATED IN THE VICINITY OF THE CABLE.
Remedy
DEALER WILL REPLACE THE "B+" CABLE (POSITIVE CABLE FROM STARTER), ADD PROTECTIVE SLEEVES OVER THE STARTER WIRING HARNESS, AND INSTALL A NEW HEAT GUARD FOR THE BATTERY, WITHOUT CHARGE.
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS SUCH AS AMBIENT HUMIDITY AND VEHICLE PRE-CONDITIONING BY REPEATED COLD START, AND SHORT TRIP DRIVING CYCLES IN COMBINATION WITH SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES, THERE EXISTS THE POSSIBILITY FOR ICE TO FORM IN THE THROTTLE HOUSING AND TEMPORARILY IMPEDE FULL CLOSURE OF THE THROTTLE PLATE WHEN THE…
Remedy
THE DEALER WILL MODIFY THE ENGINE INTAKE SYSTEM TO FURTHER IMPROVE PREHEATING OF INCOMING AIR IN COLD WEATHER. THIS WILL BE DONE FREE OF CHARGE.
THE HEADLAMP RELAY MAY FAIL IN SUCH A WAY AS TO CAUSE THE HEADLAMPS TO FAIL TO SWITCH FROM LOW TO HIGH BEAM (OR VICE VERSA) WHEN THE CONTROL SWITCH IS OPERATED. ALSO, THE HEADLAMPS MAY SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY OR COMPLETELY.
Remedy
DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HEADLAMP RELAY, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
Complaints by component
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
1
1crashes3injuries
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
1
Total complaints2
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Consumer found fractures in rear arm of the lower control arm, indicating fatigue with age.”
“This is important: the rt pass seat belt did not hold my wife in a head on crash, and somebody removed the car from salvage yard quickly, inc co and yard owner did not know who took it before investigation could be made on belt failure..suspect saab had it picked up in 7 days after…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1979 Saab 900 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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