Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1986 Saab 900, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system5
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Tires2
- Equipment1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Suspension1
- Seats1
- Fuel system, other1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1986 Saab 900 failed the safety check 1.61% of the time — 111% more often than the average 1986 passenger car (0.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 138,914 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1986 Saab 900 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (73 kW, 98 hp), 2.0 petrol (114 kW, 153 hp) and 2.0 petrol (129 kW, 173 hp), out of 4 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 73 kW 98 hp | 32 |
| 2.0 petrol | 114 kW 153 hp | 28 |
| 2.0 petrol | 129 kW 173 hp | 26 |
| 2.0 petrol | 87 kW 117 hp | 23 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
150 first registered in 1986 are on Dutch roads; 53% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen29
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde24
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld10
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af10
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht9
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse9
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)8
- CO meer dan wettelijk toegestaan8
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
21 cars built in 1986 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 107 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
50 of these cars first registered in 1986 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 252,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
5 1986 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1986 Saab 900.
| 1987024 17 Feb 1987 | Fuel System On certain Saab 900S and 900 turbo, the fuel hose between the pressure regulator and the injector fuel rail may rupture due to stress resulting in a fuel leak a… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
THE FUEL HOSE BETWEEN THE PRESSURE REGULATOR AND THE INJECTOR FUEL RAIL MAY RUPTURE DUE TO STRESS.
THE BOLT IN THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN U-JOINT CLAMP MAY HAVE BEEN OVER TORQUED AND MAY BREAK. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A BROKEN U-JOINT CLAMP MAY ALLOW THE STEERING SHAFT TO PULL OUT OF THE JOINT AND RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND POSSIBLY AN ACCIDENT.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words