Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1988 Saab 900, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train3
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Seat belts2
- Electrical system2
- Parking brake2
- Seats1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Visibility1
- Suspension1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 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 1988 Saab 900 failed the safety check 1.04% of the time — 3% more often than the average 1988 passenger car (1.01%). Median odometer at inspection: 126,109 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
190 first registered in 1988 are on Dutch roads; 72% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen47
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde43
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld16
- Band beschadigd15
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse13
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af12
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling11
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)11
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
55 cars built in 1988 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 229 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
116 of these cars first registered in 1988 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 234,000 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
8 1988 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 1988 Saab 900.
| 1989008 17 Jan 1989 | Electrical THE WIRING HARNESS MAY CHAFE AGAINST SHARP EDGES UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND ALSO, IN THE 1988 VEHICLES, AGAINST A CARPET SUPPORT. IF A SHORT CIRCUIT DEVELOPS THERE… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
WIRING HARNESS MAY CHAFE AGAINST SHARP EDGES UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND AGAINST A SUPPORT UNDER THE REAR SEAT (1988 MODELS ONLY).
BOLTS USED IN THE ATTACHMENTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM CONTROL ARMS MAY BE DEFECTIVE.
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
Service bulletins
What Saab told its dealers about the 1988 Saab 900: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 604154 | INFORMATION ON INSTALLING LARGER FUEL SYSTEM NON-RETURN VALVES. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SEAT BACK RECLINER FAILURE
BATTERY CABLE GROUNDING
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation