The 1996 Saab 900 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 146,063 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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.
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.
SEAT BELTS96V0770001996-05-031,058 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.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
5
AIR BAGS
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
3
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
2
Total complaints78
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“While driving ball bearrings exploded in the lower engine. Consumer heard a loud boom. The vehicle was full of clean oil. Consumer contacted the maufacturer and the dealer. Vehicle is currently at dealer. *ak”
“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”
“When the rear passenger door was opened front passenger side air bag deployed, and smoke entered the passenger's cabin. *ak”
“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”
“On april 27, 2003, my saab 900 se had an electrical failure while driving within a minute had completely destroyed the car. The "check battery" light came on along with the hazard light. My wife was driving the car in heavy traffic and just escaped the vehicle when it was engulfed in flames. The…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP00008 Opened 2000-09-25 · closed 2001-11-19
DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP PULLEY
a
InvestigationSQ98018 Opened 1998-10-09 · closed 1998-10-27
NEW WHEEL BOLTS
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.
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Saab 900 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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