Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Saab 9000, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Power train3
- Seat belts2
- Electrical system2
- Exterior lighting2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Seats2
- Visibility1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
- 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
Engines
The most common engines in 1996 Saab 9000 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (110 kW, 148 hp) and 2.3 petrol (125 kW, 168 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 32 |
| 2.3 petrol | 125 kW 168 hp | 24 |
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
103 first registered in 1996 are on Dutch roads; 23% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €39,023.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde36
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan23
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen20
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af17
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)15
- Dim-, grootlicht werkt niet (goed)11
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect10
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld10
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
95 cars built in 1996 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 308 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
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 146 of these cars first registered in 1996 took their annual MOT test. 64% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1996 the figure was 65%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1996 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 21.2% | 16.1% |
| Brakes | 20.5% | 11.5% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 12.3% | 9.7% |
| Suspension | 9.6% | 11.5% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.8% | 6.8% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 6.8% | 3.0% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
101 of these cars first registered in 1996 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 309,000 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
3 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register; 33% arrived as used imports, 33% 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 8 variants: combined 11.2–13.2 L/100 km (about 18–21 mpg US), CO₂ 258–304 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9000 Aero Turbo · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 13.2 | 8.8 | 11.2 |
| 9000 CS Turbo · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 13.6 | 9.0 | 11.6 |
| 9000 CSE Turbo · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 13.6 | 9.0 | 11.6 |
| 9000 CDE · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 15.4 | 9.9 | 13.0 |
| 9000 CSE · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 15.4 | 9.9 | 13.0 |
| 9000 Aero Turbo · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 15.6 | 10.3 | 13.2 |
| 9000 CS Turbo · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 15.6 | 10.3 | 13.2 |
| 9000 CSE Turbo · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 15.6 | 10.3 | 13.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1996 Saab 9000.
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 1996 Saab 9000: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 610143 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE FUSE 16 (CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTING AND BACK-UP LIGHTS) CAN BLOW. THIS SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBES A PROCEDURE TO REMOVE THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM FROM FUSE 16 AND INSTALL IN AN OPEN POSITION AT FUSE 15. *TT |
| 604160 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BROADCAST ON SETTING DTC P0300 ON SOME MODELS. *TT |
| 604140 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BROADCAST ON DIAGNOSING CODES P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304. *TT |
| 604046 | BACKGROUD INFORMATION IN DIAGNOSING A DRIVEABILITY COMPLAINT OR THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP COMING ON. *YC |
| 602949 | PROCEDURES FOR REPAIR AND UPDATING OF ISAT. *YC |
| 601515 | INFORMATION ON IMPROVED MANUAL GEARBOX. *YC |
| 601511 | VEHICLES SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING. *YC |
| 601504 | CONDITIONS WITH FRONT ROOF CONSOLE RATTLING ON CARS WITH SUNROOF. *YC |
| 600580 | INFORMATION ON REPLACEMENT OF POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE. *YC |
| 52448 | ADJUSTMENT OF BEARING TENSION. *TW |
| 52289 | NEW METHOD OF PRELOAD ADJUSTMENT. *JD |
| 52049 | TEMPERATURE SENDING UNITS FOR REPLACEMENT CYLINDER HEADS FOR VEHICLES WITH 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. *JD |
| 52047 | REPLACEMENT OF THE DOME LIGHT COVER AND HOUSING. *JD |
| 52044 | NEW ESSENTIAL SPECIAL TOOL: TERMINAL REPAIR KIT. *JD |
| 52041 | CYLINDER HEAD BOLT TIGHTENING TORQUE. *JD |
| 46713 | SAFETY BELT WITH LOCKABLE BELT TONGUE. *SD |
| 10246631 | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
AUDIO SYSTEM FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation