Total Complaints
34 filings
SAAB 900 · model year
1989 SAAB 900
34 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989SAAB900 carries 34 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 4 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 1989 900 is seat belts with 5 filings, followed by suspension:front:control arm:lower arm (3) and fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump (2). 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 1989 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.
34
Complaints
2
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS | 5 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 2 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 2 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20060305ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR, CARBURETOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, DRAINING OF POWER ; NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM, THE AUTO HAS SAT NOW FOR TWO YEARS BECAUSE I WAS TIRED OF POURING MONEY INTO IT ONLY TO HAVE IT UNABLE TO REPAIRED PROPERLY. *JB
Mileage: 85,000
20020207SEAT BELTS
RIGHT SIDE PASSIVE SEATBELT SYSTEM FAILED MOTOR CAUSED SHOULDER BELT KEY TO GO BACK AND FORTH . DRIVER SIDE DID THE SAME. REPAIR TECH SAID THAT IT WAS A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM AND THAT IT WAS COMMOM WITH SAABS WITH THIS TYPE OF SAFETY BELTS. COST OF REPAIR WOULD BE $650 DID NOT REPAIR HAD TECH LOCK KEY IN A FIXED POSITION.*AK
20010816STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
FAILED AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE. *AK
20001023SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE WHILE PARKING VEHICLE. REPLACED BOTH DRIVER- & PASSENGER-SIDE CONTROL ARMS AS PRECAUTION. MECHANIC HAS PART & SPECULATES DESIGN DEFECT; HAS ONE FROM ANOTHER SAAB HANGING ON WALL AS SOUVENIR! CONTACT PETER'S ZAAB SERVICE, 415.456.0540.*AK
20000519ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE HEAD GASKET WENT, AND COST ABOUT 1600 CANADIAN. MANUFACTURER DECLINED ANY ASSISTANCE.*AK
20000324SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
THE DEALER IN LITTLE ROCK, AR. INDICATED THAT THIS TYPE OF A PROBLEM IS COMMON BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. ANY PROBLEM THAT CAUSES THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLE IS NOT COMMON. HAD I BEEN TRAVELLING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND MY FAMILY WOULD BE WONDERING WHAT HAPPEND. MAJOR SUSPENSION PARTS, SUCH AS THE FRONT LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM, SHOULD NOT BREAK. *AK
19990503ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING CHAIN FAILED DURING NORMAL OPERATION AT 35 MPH CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL AND $2400 IN ENGINE VALVE DAMAGE. TIMING CHAIN IS NOT SPECIFICED AS A NORMAL REPLACEMENT ITEM.
19990421SEAT BELTS
COMPUTER BOX THAT CONTROLS MOTORBELTS FAILED. (MS)
19990110EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. ALSO, STARTER JAMMED INTO PLACE, BURNED STARTER UP.
19990110ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. ALSO, STARTER JAMMED INTO PLACE, BURNED STARTER UP.
19980205FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CASING AROUND TRANSMISSION CRACKED, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK OUT ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN AN ENGINE FIRE.
19980204SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S MOTORIZED SHOULDER SEATBELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT, RESULTING IN BOTH SHOULDER BELTS BECOMING INOPERATIVE. WILL NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *AK
19970501SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE , GOT IN CAR STARTED TO BACK UP AND THE BODY FELL ON THE WHEEL WELL. LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD FRACTURED FROM THE FRAME. THE WELD WAS THE ACTUAL FRACTURE POINT. *AK
19970325CrashSEATS
WHILE IDLING DRIVER'S SEAT POSITION ADJUSTMENT LATCH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSED SEAT TO GO BACKWARDS, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
19961114SEAT BELTS
MOTORIZED SEAT BELT WILL NOT STOP, CONTINUES TO SLIDE UP/DOWN TRACK.
19961105SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
WHILE DRIVING, LOWER ARM BROKE, CAUSED VEHICLE TO LURCH TO ONE SIDE, VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE; SPEED 5 MPH; FEW MINUTES BEFORE, WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, NO ACCIDENT. *AK
19961002FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP FAILED, ALSO REPLACED ALTERNATOR, A/C COMPRESSOR/BACK UP LIGHTS/SUBROOF CABLES.*AK
19961002ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
FUEL PUMP FAILED, ALSO REPLACED ALTERNATOR, A/C COMPRESSOR/BACK UP LIGHTS/SUBROOF CABLES.*AK
19961002EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
FUEL PUMP FAILED, ALSO REPLACED ALTERNATOR, A/C COMPRESSOR/BACK UP LIGHTS/SUBROOF CABLES.*AK
19961002VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
FUEL PUMP FAILED, ALSO REPLACED ALTERNATOR, A/C COMPRESSOR/BACK UP LIGHTS/SUBROOF CABLES.*AK
Compare 1989SAAB900 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 SAAB 900 have?▼
The 1989 SAAB 900 has 34 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 4 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 SAAB 900?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 SAAB 900 is SEAT BELTS with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP.
Is the 1989 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.