Known Recalls

Model year record

1994 SAAB 900

8 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 88 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V038000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Component
Exterior lighting: headlights
Manufacturer
SAAB CARS USA, INC.
Vehicles affected
92,505
Reported to NHTSA
1998-02-24
Owners notified
1998-06-15

Defect description

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."

Safety risk

IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY AIM THE HEADLIGHTS.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V046000

Vehicle speed control

Component
Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer
SAAB CARS USA, INC.
Vehicles affected
52,500
Reported to NHTSA
1997-03-21
Owners notified
1997-05-05

Defect description

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

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ZINC-COATED THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHING WITH A NICKEL-COATED BUSHING AND BOLT.

Recall campaignNHTSA 95V068000

Power train: manual transmission

Component
Power train: manual transmission
Manufacturer
SAAB CARS USA, INC.
Vehicles affected
8,993
Reported to NHTSA
1995-03-29
Owners notified
1995-07-07

Defect description

IT IS POSSIBLE TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER INTO THE REVERSE GEAR POSITION, REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, AND STILL HAVE THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, OR, TO ACCIDENTLY DISENGAGE REVERSE BY STRIKING THE GEAR LEVER.

Safety risk

IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED, THE CAR CAN ROLL FROM ITS ORIGINAL PARKED POSITION INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE TRANSMISSION LINKAGE COMPONENTS AND COMPLETE A SPECIALLY DEVELOPED SERVICE ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE THAT WILL ENSURE THAT WHEN THE SHIFT IS MOVED TO THE REVERSE POSITION, THE REVERSE GEAR IS ACTUALLY ENGAGED.

Recall campaignNHTSA 94V226000

Seats: front assembly: recliner

Component
Seats: front assembly: recliner
Manufacturer
SAAB CARS USA, INC.
Vehicles affected
10,584
Reported to NHTSA
1994-11-18
Owners notified
1995-01-12

Defect description

ONE OR MORE OF THE ARC WELDS CAN BE MISSING ON THE SEAT BACK FRAME RECLINER.

Safety risk

THIS CAN RESULT IN A SEAT BACK FALLING BACKWARDS UNDER A LOAD.

Manufacturer remedy

BOTH FRONT SEAT BACKS WILL BE INSPECTED WITH THE USE OF A HOOK TO PULL BACK THE SEAT BACK UPHOLSTERY. FOR ANY SEAT WITH MISSING WELDS, THE SEAT BACK FRAME/RECLINER WILL BE REPLACED.

Recall campaignNHTSA 94V174000

Structure: body: door

Component
Structure: body: door
Manufacturer
SAAB CARS USA, INC.
Vehicles affected
9,814
Reported to NHTSA
1994-09-14
Owners notified
1994-12-15

Defect description

THE TWO WELD POINTS IN THE REARWARD ATTACHMENT BRACKET FOR THE SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION BEAM IN THE REAR DOOR MAY BE OUT OF POSITION. IF THE WELDS ARE OUT OF POSITION, THE VEHICLES WILL NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 214, S5, "SIDE DOOR STRENGTH."

Safety risk

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: PASSENGERS SITTING IN THE REAR SEATS WILL BE SUBJECT TO AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A SIDE COLLISION.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUPPORT BRACKETS AT THE SUPPORT WELD LOCATIONS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 94V127000

Seats

Component
Seats
Manufacturer
SAAB CARS USA, INC.
Vehicles affected
1,015
Reported to NHTSA
1994-07-08
Owners notified
1994-10-20

Defect description

TWO TRIGGER SPRINGS MOUNTED TO THE FORE/AFT ADJUSTMENT LEVER DO NOT DEVELOP SUFFICIENT FORCE TO PROPERLY LOCK THE SEAT RAILS. AFTER THE SEAT IS ADJUSTED, THIS DOES NOT ALLOW THE SEAT RAIL LOCK TO PROPERLY ENGAGE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE SEAT TO MOVE IN A SUDDEN STOP OR COLLISION.

Safety risk

THIS CAN INCREASE THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY TO A SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REMOVE BOTH FRONT SEATS AND THE TWO SPRINGS ON EACH SEAT WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW SPRINGS WITH PROPER TENSION TO ENSURE PROPER ENGAGEMENT.

Recall campaignNHTSA 94V110000

Seats

Component
Seats
Manufacturer
SAAB CARS USA, INC.
Vehicles affected
3,252
Reported to NHTSA
1994-06-13
Owners notified
1994-09-09

Defect description

A WELD IN THE SEAT RAILS WAS NOT MADE, INCREASING THE RISK OF FATIGUE CRACKS FORMING AROUND THE ATTACHMENT BUSHINGS ON THE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM, CAUSING THE POSSIBILITY OF THE HEIGHT ADJUSTER BREAKING IN A REAR END COLLISION AND ALLOWING THE SEAT TO FOLD BACKWARDS.

Safety risk

THIS CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO SEAT OCCUPANTS.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FRONT SEAT FRAME RAILS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 94V074000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc
Manufacturer
SAAB CARS USA, INC.
Vehicles affected
7,443
Reported to NHTSA
1994-04-16
Owners notified
1994-06-15

Defect description

THE ORIGINAL FRONT BRAKE DISCS AND/OR PADS SHIELDS DO NOT PROTECT THE ASSEMBLIES FROM BEING COATED WITH A LAYER OF SLUSH, ROAD SALT OR WATER WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW OR HEAVY RAIN. THIS CAN RESULT IN A DELAY IN BRAKING ACTION THAT INCREASES NORMAL STOPPING DISTANCE.

Safety risk

INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL FRONT BRAKE SHIELDS WITH A NEW DESIGN. AN ADDITIONAL HOLE WILL BE DRILLED IN THE STEERING KING PIN HOUSING TO ATTACH A LARGER COVER PLATE. A SMALLER PROTECTION PLATE WILL ALSO BE ATTACHED TO THE EXISTING TWO BOLTS IN THE HUB.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Vehicle speed control9—
Power train: manual transmission6—
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system4—
Engine and engine cooling: engine490,837 mi
Unknown or other4—
Electrical system: ignition3—
Electrical system: wiring3—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline3—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys372,000 mi
Suspension: front3—
Air bags: frontal2—
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash2—
Power train: automatic transmission2—
Seats222,601 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip2—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components2—
Air bags1—
Electrical system1—
Electrical system: ignition: module1—
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood1—
Engine and engine cooling1—
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly1—
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner1—
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.1—
Exterior lighting1—
Exterior lighting: fog lights1—
Exterior lighting: turn signal1—
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1—
Fuel system, other1—
Fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly: pressure relief devices1—
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch1—
Parking brake: conventional1—
Power train1—
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch1—
Power train: clutch assembly: pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)1—
Seat belts: front: anchorage1—
Service brakes, air: antilock: wheel speed sensor1—
Service brakes, hydraulic1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc1—
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1—
Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections1—
Structure1—
Structure: body: door1—
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm1—
Tires178,000 mi
Visibility1—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system1—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core1—
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices1—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer1—

The 1993 model has 11 times as many complaints as this one. The 1995 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.