The 1998 Saab 900 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 143,854 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS01V2220002001-07-0212,036 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. STATIC ELECTRICITY CAN BUILD UP WITHIN THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE AND CREATE ENOUGH OF A CHARGE TO CAUSE AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. MOST OF THESE INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENTS HAVE OCCURRED IN COOLER, DRY WEATHER, AND HAVE GENERALLY INCLUDED DUSTING OR WIPING OF…
Consequence
UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE GROUNDING STRAP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 24, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
EQUIPMENT98V1390001998-06-2339,313 affected
Defect
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
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.
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.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
7
4injuries
AIR BAGS
5
2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT
2
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
1
1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY
1
SEAT BELTS
1
Total complaints26
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Car started and driven approx 50 yards and then came to traffic light and stopped. Driver noticed that the srs light on the display panel was illuminated at stop light. Passenger airbag deployed before car proceeded. Car driven to opposite side of street to park and assess situation. While car…”
“Warm engine was restarted and car driven to intersection roughly 50 yards away. At stop light, srs light became illuminated and then passenger side airbag deployed while car still stopped. Car then turned to go to other side of street to park. While car being driven crossing street, approx 5 mph…”
“I own a auto repair shop and was driving a customer vehicle. I was driving straight down the street at 20-25 mph when the passenger airbag exploded. It was a very scary experience, I pulled over to the side of the road. After a minute I decided I should pull the car a little more off the road , as…”
“I had just pulled out of a parking lot onto a street, going straight, at about 20 mph, when the passenger side airbag deployed. About a minute later, the driver side airbag deployed, hitting me. I pulled over. The car had not hit anything prior to deployment. The result is that the windshield is…”
“I was sitting in my car in a parking lot with the engine running. The car was in park when the passenger side air bag deployed. Gm will not fix the car and has offered a very low repurchase offer ($1100.00 less than kbb trade in value). *tr”
“Both airbags deployed for no apparent reason. The srs light illuminated followed by deployment of the passenger bag. The driver side bag deployed approximately 30 seconds after the passenger bag deployed. *tr”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1998 saab 900 se turbo. While driving 30 mph, the vehicle began stalling, spitting, and stuttering as if it needed gas. The vehicle then shut off and restart. The vehicle was diagnosed with direct ignition cassette failure and has remained parked ever since. The current and…”
“My 1998 saab 900 se turbo convertible has 62,000 miles on it, and yet I've just had to replace the direct ignition cassette which completely failed -- thankfully I was still in the driveway when it conked out, this is ridiculously early in the life of the car according to my saab specialist…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP00008 Opened 2000-09-25 · closed 2001-11-19
DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP PULLEY
a
InvestigationPE01018 Opened 2001-05-24 · closed 2001-08-09
INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
ALLEGED THAT THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY WITHOUT A FRONTAL CRASH.
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.
InvestigationSQ98023 Opened 1998-10-29 · closed 1998-11-24
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 Saab 900 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.