Total Complaints
12 filings
SAAB 900 · model year
1987 SAAB 900
12 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987SAAB900 carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 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 1987 900 is tires:sidewall with 3 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:catalytic convertor (3) and visibility:rearview mirrors/devices:interior (3). 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 1987 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.
12
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| TIRES:SIDEWALL | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030902FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
MY 1987 SAAB 900 CAUGHTON FIRE WITH ME IN IT. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST SAAB BUT I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT IT. I NEED HELP. THANK YOU.*AK
Mileage: 200,000
20030902FireEQUIPMENT
MY 1987 SAAB 900 CAUGHTON FIRE WITH ME IN IT. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST SAAB BUT I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT IT. I NEED HELP. THANK YOU.*AK
Mileage: 200,000
20010117SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON FAILURE ON SAAB 900 CARS, WELL KNOWN TO DEALERS AND THE FACTORY AS WELL AS THE TSN BULLETIN BOARD WHICH HAS BEEN UP SINCE 1988. [WWW.SAABNET.COM] THE MANUFACTURER HAS MADE AVAILABLE A REINFORCED LOWER SUSPENSION ARM BUT HAS REFUSED TO PAY FOR EITHER THE PART OR INSTALLATION THEREOF. *AK
19960307TIRES:SIDEWALL
REPLACED FOUR CONTINENTAL TIRES BECAUSE OF CRACKING ON THE SIDEWALL.
19960307ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
HEAT SHIELD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION.
19960307VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR
INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR FAILED DUE TO A BRITTLE FRACTURE WITHIN THE SURFACE. *AK
19960307TIRES:SIDEWALL
REPLACED FOUR CONTINENTAL TIRES BECAUSE OF CRACKING ON THE SIDEWALL.
19960307ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
HEAT SHIELD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION.
19960307VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR
INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR FAILED DUE TO A BRITTLE FRACTURE WITHIN THE SURFACE. *AK
19951019TIRES:SIDEWALL
FOUR CONTINENTAL TIRES CRACKED ON SIDE WALL.
19951019ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
HEAT SHIELD UNDER CATALYTIC CONVERTER RUSTS, CAUSING SHIELD TO OVERHEAT.
19951019VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR
DRIVER'S INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR CAME OFF IN DRIVER'S HAND DUE TO FATIGUED BALL SOCKET HOUSING. *SKD
Compare 1987SAAB900 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 SAAB 900 have?▼
The 1987 SAAB 900 has 12 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 SAAB 900?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 SAAB 900 is TIRES:SIDEWALL with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR and VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR.
Is the 1987 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.