Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1986 Saab 9000, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Equipment1
- Seats1
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
In the United Kingdom
1 cars built in 1986 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 8 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 New Zealand
1 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 9000.
| 1986121 27 Oct 1986 | Electrical A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHEREBY THE WIRING HARNESS MAY CHAFE AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR BRACKET. THIS COULD RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT AND A POSSIBLE VEHIC… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ABRASION ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT CARD IN THE COMBINATION NEUTRAL SAFETY/BACKUP LAMP SWITCH OPERATED BY THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTOR MAY CAUSE RESIDUE TO COLLECT IN ELECTRICAL AREA ON THE CIRCUIT CARD.
THE WIRING HARNESS MAY CHAFE AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR BRACKET. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF A SHORT CIRCUIT DEVELOPS, IT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
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 1986 Saab 9000: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 604046 | BACKGROUD INFORMATION IN DIAGNOSING A DRIVEABILITY COMPLAINT OR THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP COMING ON. *YC |
| 52448 | ADJUSTMENT OF BEARING TENSION. *TW |
| 52045 | RECALL 278 - OVERHEATING OF BACK-UP LIGHT SWITCH- SAAB CARS USA, INC HAS NOTIFIED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY MAY EXIST IN CERTAIN 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 AND EARLY 1990 9000 MODELS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION- APPROXIMATELY 24,000 VEHICLES WERE ORIGINALLY AFFECTED- THE DEFECT CONSISTS OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE COMBINATION NEUTRAL SAFETY/BACK-UP LIGHT SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT FROM THE CURRENT FLOW THROUGH THE BACK-UP LAMP CIRCUIT WHEN THE IGNITION IS SWITCHED ON AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS I |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRE
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRES
SEAT TRACK/BELT FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation