Total Complaints
2 filings
SAAB 900 · model year
1979 SAAB 900
2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1979SAAB900 carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1979 900 is suspension:front:control arm:lower arm with 1 filings, followed by seat belts:front:retractor (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 1979 900. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
2
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20010307CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THIS IS IMPORTANT: THE RT PASS SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD MY WIFE IN A HEAD ON CRASH, AND SOMEBODY REMOVED THE CAR FROM SALVAGE YARD QUICKLY, INC CO AND YARD OWNER DID NOT KNOW WHO TOOK IT BEFORE INVESTIGATION COULD BE MADE ON BELT FAILURE..SUSPECT SAAB HAD IT PICKED UP IN 7 DAYS AFTER ACCIDENT...WONDER IF THIS IS A PATTERN WHERE THAY TRIED TO HIDE WRECK FROM INVESTIGATION?
19971203SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
CONSUMER FOUND FRACTURES IN REAR ARM OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, INDICATING FATIGUE WITH AGE.
Compare 1979SAAB900 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1979 SAAB 900 have?▼
The 1979 SAAB 900 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1979 SAAB 900?▼
The most-complained component for the 1979 SAAB 900 is SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR.
Is the 1979 SAAB 900 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.