Total Complaints
21 filings
SAAB 900 · model year
1990 SAAB 900
21 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990SAAB900 carries 21 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 2 fires, 2 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 1990 900 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 7 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (2) and vehicle speed control (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 1990 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.
21
Complaints
4
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
4 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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 2 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030206CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT
ATT: NHTSA I HAVE A 90 TURBO CONV AND WHILE DRIVING MY LOWER A-ARM BROKE WHERE THE WELD IS. I HAVE HEARD THIS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH 900'S THAT HAVE OVER 100,000 MILES ON THEM BUT HAVE FOUND NO RECALLS. I WAS DOING 65 MPH AT THE TIME IT BROKE BUT IF THIS HAD BEEN SOMEONE ELSE OR IF I HAD BEEN GOING FASTER YOU COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITH MINOR DAMAGE. THIS FAILURE DID NOT HAPPEN IN REVERSE AS MOST PEOPLE CLAIM.........IT HAPPENED WHILE MOVING FORWARD AT 65 MPH.........THIS IS MY CONCERN. IF THE ARM FATIGUES AT THE WELD STRESS POINT AND BREAKS WHILE BACKING UP JUST IMAGINE HOW BAD THE CRACK MUST BE BEFORE THIS HAPPENS. SINCE THE LOAD CAN'T BE AS GREAT ON THE ARM AS IT IS WHEN AT SPEED AND TURNING THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM THAT I WILL INVESTIGATE FURTHER. I WILL POST PIC'S AS SOON AS I GET IT BACK FROM THE SHOP. I SENT THIS E-MAIL TO SAAB CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND I'M WAITING FOR A RESPONSE WHICH I WILL FORWARD. I ALSO POSTED THIS ON SEVERAL
Mileage: 175,756
20000127SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION , VEHICLE WILL STEER TO THE RIGHT, AND LOSE TOTAL CONTROL. *AK
19980716SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCE SINTERMITTENT ABS BRAKE FAILURE.
19980602CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH AN SUV, BOTH TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE SAAB HAS BEEN TOTALLED. *AK
19980602CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN A HEAD-ON 35MPH CRASH. BOTH VEHICLES, TRAVELING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS WERE BOTH TRAVELING AT 35MPH. DRIVER FRACTURED STERNUM AND THE FRONT END WAS FORCED BACK INTO THE ENGINE.
19971227SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VEHICLE PULLS SEVERLY TO THE LEFT WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS IS DUE TO ABS STICKING AND ALL BRAKING POWER IS DIRECTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF SYSTEM.
19971226VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
VEHICLE'S ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY AND UNPREDICTABLY ACCELERATE AS THE RPMS DROPPED. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE THE PROBLEM DID NOT REOCCUR.
19971224SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. MECHANIC CLAIMS VALVE IN THE ABS STICKING RESULTED IN ALL BRAKING POWER TO BE DIRECTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF SYSTEM ONLY.
19971210ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FRON ENGINE MOUNT FAILED, RESULTING IN VEHICLE PULLING TO ONE SIDE/LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
19971003SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED, LOST PART OF BRAKING ABILITY, BRAKES HARD, VEHICLE PULLS TO SIDE, INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH, ACCORDING TO DEALER, ABS SOLENOID FAILED, NEEDS REPLACING. *AK
19970707CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A REAREND COLLISION AND THE DRIVER'S SEATBACK FELL BACK, INJURING THE DRIVER. *AK
19961118SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VEHICLE VEERS TO THE LEFT DURING BRAKE APPLICATION, PROBABLE CAUSE, ABS VALVE BLOCK FAILURE. *AK
19961017VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. *AK
19960912SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VEHICLE'S ABS BRAKING SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLIED IN SUDDEN STOPPING CONDITIONS VEERS OFF TO THE RIGHT.*AK
19960220FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, UNKNOWN SOURCE OF FIRE. TT
19960220FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, UNKNOWN SOURCE OF FIRE. TT
19960119VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TURN ON CAR IN PARK CAR ACCELERATED ON THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY CAR WOULDN'T START WHEN DRIVING AND SLOWING DOWN CAR WOULDN'T CUT OFF . TT
19960119ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TURN ON CAR IN PARK CAR ACCELERATED ON THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY CAR WOULDN'T START WHEN DRIVING AND SLOWING DOWN CAR WOULDN'T CUT OFF . TT
19950809VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
THE HEATER VALVE FAILED THAT CAUSED FLOOR BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO GET WET. TT
19950608POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ORIGINAL/REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FAILED. *SKD
Compare 1990SAAB900 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 SAAB 900 have?▼
The 1990 SAAB 900 has 21 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 SAAB 900?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 SAAB 900 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1990 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.