Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1995 Saab 900, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train21
- Electrical system19
- Engine and engine cooling17
- Service brakes, hydraulic15
- Structure10
- Vehicle speed control8
- Seat belts8
- Air bags7
- Visibility7
- Exterior lighting6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 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 1995 Saab 900 failed the safety check 1.80% of the time — 40% more often than the average 1995 passenger car (1.29%). Median odometer at inspection: 118,542 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1995 Saab 900 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.3 petrol (110 kW, 148 hp), 2.0 petrol (96 kW, 129 hp) and 2.0 petrol (136 kW, 182 hp), out of 4 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.3 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 83 |
| 2.0 petrol | 96 kW 129 hp | 77 |
| 2.0 petrol | 136 kW 182 hp | 53 |
| 2.5 petrol | 125 kW 168 hp | 37 |
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
274 first registered in 1995 are on Dutch roads; 53% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen90
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde74
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse37
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)37
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt35
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld29
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect27
- Remverschil op 1 as te groot23
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
51 cars built in 1995 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 242 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
62 of these cars first registered in 1995 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 261,000 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
16 1995 cars are on the New Zealand register; 75% arrived as used imports, 6% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 16 variants: combined 11.2–12.6 L/100 km (about 19–21 mpg US), CO₂ 258–290 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 900 S · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 8.9 | 11.2 |
| 900 S Convertible · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 8.9 | 11.2 |
| 900 S · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.5 | 9.4 | 11.6 |
| 900 S Convertible · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 13.5 | 9.4 | 11.6 |
| 900 S Turbo · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.4 | 9.5 | 11.6 |
| 900 SE Convertible Turbo · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 13.4 | 9.5 | 11.6 |
| 900 SE Turbo · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.4 | 9.5 | 11.6 |
| 900 S · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.6 | 9.5 | 11.8 |
| 900 SE · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.6 | 9.5 | 11.8 |
| 900 SE Convertible · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 13.6 | 9.5 | 11.8 |
| 900 S · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.5 | 10.1 | 12.5 |
| 900 SE · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.5 | 10.1 | 12.5 |
| 900 SE Convertible · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 14.5 | 10.1 | 12.5 |
| 900 S Turbo · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.9 | 9.8 | 12.6 |
| 900 SE Convertible Turbo · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 14.9 | 9.8 | 12.6 |
| 900 SE Turbo · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.9 | 9.8 | 12.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
7 Transport Canada recalls for the 1995 Saab 900.
| 2002212 15 Nov 2002 | Airbag On certain vehicles, an electrical short within the airbag electronic control unit may cause inadvertent deployment of the front airbags and seat belt pretensio… |
| 1998163 20 Aug 1998 | Lights And Instruments THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 108 - LIGHTING SYSTEM AND RETROREFLECTIVE DEVICES. THE SECTION TITLED "HEADLAMP AIMING" WAS OMITTED FROM THE OWNER… |
| 1997099 9 May 1997 | Engine NOTE: VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES. THE ZINC-COATED THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHINGS IN THE THROTTLE HOUSING MAY CORRODE, CAUSING THE THROTTLE LEVER TO BIND… |
| 1996046 18 Mar 1996 | Steering On certain Saab 900 convertible, the steering column shaft may have been misaligned at the time of installation. This misalignment could cause a fatigue failure… |
| 1995159 5 Sept 1995 | Engine NOTE: VEHICLES WITH 2.3L ENGINES AND BOSCH MOTRONIC 2.10.3 ENGINE CONTROL MODULES. DEFECT: IT IS POSSIBLE THAT AN INTERNAL VOLTAGE DROP CAN RESULT IN AN INTE… |
| 1995136 21 Jul 1995 | Powertrain NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION INCLUDES 1995 SAAB 900 CONVERTIBLES. DEFECT: IT IS POSSIBLE UNDER CERTAIN PARKING CONDITIONS TO MOVE THE SHI… |
| 1995028 16 Feb 1995 | Seats And Restraints NOTE: 1994-95 3 AND 5 DOOR MODELS AND 1995 CONVERTIBLES. THE SEAT ASSEMBLIES MAY BE MISSING ONE OR MORE OF THE ARC WELDS THAT JOIN THE SEAT BACK RECLINER MECHA… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) IS DESIGNED TO SENSE AND DISCRIMINATE FRONTAL IMPACT EVENTS, COMMAND AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER DEPLOYMENTS IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND PERFORM CONTINUOUS DIAGNOSTICS OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE POSSIBLE INSUFFICIENT SEALING OF THE BOTTOM OF AN ELECTROLYTE CAPACITOR, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR IT TO LEAK ELECTROLYTE WITHIN THE AIR BAG ECU. ALSO, IN HIGH HUMIDITY ENVIRONMENTS, THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONER CAN CAUSE RAPID COOLING OF THE ECU, WHICH IN TURN MAY CAUSE THE FORMATION OF CONDENSATION WITH THE UNIT.
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."
CORROSION AROUND THE ZINC-COATED THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHING CAN CAUSE THE THROTTLE LEVER TO BIND.
THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT WAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE COLUMN TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT.
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.
UPON STARTUP, A VOLTAGE DROP TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE CAN CAUSE A MALFUNCTION WHERE ENGINE SPEED FLUCTUATES FROM 600 TO 3,000 RPM FOR UP TO 30 SECONDS BEFORE NORMAL ENGINE IDLE OF 900 RPM.
ONE OR MORE OF THE ARC WELDS CAN BE MISSING ON THE SEAT BACK FRAME RECLINER.
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 1995 Saab 900: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 619558 | SUBJECT REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF SRS WIRING HARNESS. *TT |
| 610141 | INFORMATION ON REPLACING CONNECTING TAB ON ELECTRICALLY HEATED REAR WINDOW. *TT |
| 608359 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT IRRITATING ROAD AND WIND NOISE PENETRATING INTO THE CABIN THROUGH THE COVER AT THE TOP OF THE B-PILLAR. *TT |
| 608358 | CONCERNS WITH CRACKS IN SOFT TOP COVER FOIL STRIP. *TT |
| 608082 | NOTIFICATION TO STOP PERFORMING PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN SI-831-1823 TO ADDRESS A COMPLAINT OF REAR DOORS DUFFICULT TO OPEN FROM OUTSIDE ON MODELS UP TO W2019950. *TT |
| 608075 | ADDRESSING CONCERNS WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF NOISES HEARD FROM THE A/C SYSTEM. *TT |
| 607550 | CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF BATTERY, DISCHARGING THROUGH LIGHT SWITCH IN LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT. *TT |
| 607546 | INFORMATION ON DELETING DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AT CUSTOMER' REQUEST. *TT |
| 607545 | INFORMATION ON ADDRESSING CUSTOMER COMPLAINT OF LOW OIL LEVEL. *TT |
| 607544 | SERVICE INFORMATION ON AGING COOLANT HOSE. *TT |
| 607534 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN THAT THE SEAL AROUND THE FRONT DIRECTION INDICATORS / LIGHT CLUSTER CAN COME LOOSE. *TT |
| 604283 | ON SOME VEHICLES, THE SOFT TOP (TONNEAU) COVER LATCHES MAY NOT OPEN FULLY OR FAST ENOUGH WHEN THE SOFT TOP COVER IS BEING OPENED. *TT |
| 604164 | SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING POOR ADHESION BETWEEN REAR WINDOW AND TOP FABRIC. *TT |
| 604156 | TECHNICAL SERVICE / WARRANTY BROADCAST FOR PREPARING ALARM ECM FOR WARRANTY RETURN. *TT |
| 604130 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BROADCAST ON CORRECT INSTALLATION OF FAN SPEED CONTROLLER. *TT |
| 604049 | SERVICE INFORMATION DESCRIBING FAULT DIAGNOSIS OF REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTION FOR ANIT-THEFT ALARM. *YC |
| 603361 | CONCERNS WITH LOOSE SEAL AROUND FRONT DIRECTION INDICTORS. *YC |
| 603360 | CONCERNS WITH NUTS ON REAR WINDOW AND WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS COME LOOSE. *YC |
| 603060 | SRS (AIRBAG) DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES MISSING FROM WORKSHOP INFORMATION. *YC |
| 602974 | INFORMATION ON DELETING DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AT CUSTOMER' REQUEST. *YC |
| 602948 | IMPROVED BUSH AND GEAR LINKAGE. *YC |
| 602797 | REMANUFACTURED AISIN AW TRANSMISSION, NO REVERSE AND / OR ERRATIC SHIFTS. *YC |
| 602371 | ADDRESSING ENGINE NOISE COMPLAINTS. *YC |
| 602370 | ADDRESSING CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS OF NOISY A/C. *YC |
| 602369 | COMPLAINTS REGARDING NOISY OR HARD TO OPERATE TELESCOPIC STEERING ACTION. *YC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP PULLEY
NEW WHEEL BOLTS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation