SAAB 900 · model year

1998 SAAB 900

26 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998SAAB900 carries 26 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 7 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 1998 900 is air bags:frontal with 7 filings, followed by air bags (5) and exterior lighting:turn signal:flasher unit (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 1998 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.

26
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

26 filings

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

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL7
AIR BAGS5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST1
STEERING1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY1
WHEELS:RIM1
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM1
SEAT BELTS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE1

Recent Complaints

20170730AIR BAGS

CAR STARTED AND DRIVEN APPROX 50 YARDS AND THEN CAME TO TRAFFIC LIGHT AND STOPPED. DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE SRS LIGHT ON THE DISPLAY PANEL WAS ILLUMINATED AT STOP LIGHT. PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED BEFORE CAR PROCEEDED. CAR DRIVEN TO OPPOSITE SIDE OF STREET TO PARK AND ASSESS SITUATION. WHILE CAR BEING DRIVEN ACROSS STREET, DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG ALSO DEPLOYED. NO COLLISION WITH AND NO TAPPING OF ANOTHER CAR OCCURRED. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY AND W/O DEBRIS. NO RAIN WAS FALLING AND NO LIGHTING OR THUNDER WAS PRESENT. WHAT APPEAR TO BE FIRST DEGREES BURNS WERE SUSTAINED ON THE LATERAL ASPECT OF THE RIGHT FOREARM AND HAND. NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO EYE OR FACE.

Mileage: 210,000

20170730AIR BAGS

WARM ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND CAR DRIVEN TO INTERSECTION ROUGHLY 50 YARDS AWAY. AT STOP LIGHT, SRS LIGHT BECAME ILLUMINATED AND THEN PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE CAR STILL STOPPED. CAR THEN TURNED TO GO TO OTHER SIDE OF STREET TO PARK. WHILE CAR BEING DRIVEN CROSSING STREET, APPROX 5 MPH MAX, DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY AND CLEAN, WITH NO DEBRIS ON ROAD. WEATHER WAS GOOD, WITH NO RAIN, THUNDER OR LIGHTNING PRESENT. DRIVER SUSTAINED SUPERFICIAL BURNS ON LATERAL SIDE OF R FOREARM AND HAND. NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO FACE OR EYES.

Mileage: 215,000

20170330AIR BAGS

I OWN A AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS DRIVING A CUSTOMER VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE STREET AT 20-25 MPH WHEN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG EXPLODED. IT WAS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE, I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER A MINUTE I DECIDED I SHOULD PULL THE CAR A LITTLE MORE OFF THE ROAD , AS I WAS DOING THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF.

Mileage: 200

20151219AIR BAGS

I HAD JUST PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO A STREET, GOING STRAIGHT, AT ABOUT 20 MPH, WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. ABOUT A MINUTE LATER, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, HITTING ME. I PULLED OVER. THE CAR HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT. THE RESULT IS THAT THE WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED, THE INTERIOR OVERHEAD LIGHT DISLODGED AND I WAS DISORIENTED.

Mileage: 130,000

20100510AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I WAS SITTING IN MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. THE CAR WAS IN PARK WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. GM WILL NOT FIX THE CAR AND HAS OFFERED A VERY LOW REPURCHASE OFFER ($1100.00 LESS THAN KBB TRADE IN VALUE). *TR

Mileage: 76,500

20091003AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER BAG. THE DRIVER SIDE BAG DEPLOYED APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS AFTER THE PASSENGER BAG DEPLOYED. *TR

Mileage: 174,000

20080519ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SAAB 900 SE TURBO. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING, SPITTING, AND STUTTERING AS IF IT NEEDED GAS. THE VEHICLE THEN SHUT OFF AND RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE AND HAS REMAINED PARKED EVER SINCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 96,000.

Mileage: 96,000

20070816ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

MY 1998 SAAB 900 SE TURBO CONVERTIBLE HAS 62,000 MILES ON IT, AND YET I'VE JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE WHICH COMPLETELY FAILED -- THANKFULLY I WAS STILL IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN IT CONKED OUT, THIS IS RIDICULOUSLY EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE CAR ACCORDING TO MY SAAB SPECIALIST MECHANIC. I SAW THAT THE 2000 AND 2002 MODEL DI CASSETTES WERE RECALLED BUT NOT THE EARLIER MODELS. WONDERING IF THERE'S A WAY FOR REDRESS. *JB

Mileage: 62,000

20070306ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

CHRONIC, ABRUPT STALLING PROBLEMS FOR 3+ YEARS. DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TO REPAIR ON AT LEAST, 15+ OCCASIONS. DEALERSHIP HAD IT AT THEIR FACILITY FOR OVER 3 MONTHS ONE PERIOD, CONDUCTING DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. PARTS CHANGED: SENSORS; MULTIPLE TIMES, WIRING HARNESS, "MAIN COMPUTER CHIP" AND VARIOUS OTHER PARTS. THE CAR ABRUPTLY STALLS. IT WILL STALL AT ANYTIME - WHETHER DRIVING, COASTING, AT A STOP, OR ON THE EXPRESSWAY. IT WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE ROADSIDE MULTIPLE TIMES OVER AND OVER WITHOUT CAUSING A COLLISION. I JUST GOT THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN LAST WEEK AFTER THEY "POSSIBLY FIXED IT AGAIN" . I DROVE A DISTANCE OF 15 MILES BEFORE THE CAR STARTED STAMMERING, JERKING AND STALLING AGAIN. IT TOOK ME OVER AN HOUR TO DRIVE THE RETURN FEW BACK HOME, WHICH WAS A HARROWING EXPERIENCE. THE VEHICLE IS KEPT GARAGED BY ME, IN MINT BODY CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT AND ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT. SAAB HAS OFFERED TO APPLY

Mileage: 50,000

20061127AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 01V222000, REGARDING AIR BAGS:FRONTAL. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTIFICATION ABOUT THIS RECALL.

Mileage: 169,000

20061010AIR BAGS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOTH THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE CONTROL MODULE SHORTED CAUSING THE DEPLOYMENT. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE CONTROL MODULE, AIR BAGS, AND SEATBELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

Mileage: 31,000

20061010SEAT BELTS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL BOTH THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE CONTROL MODULE SHORTED CAUSING THE DEPLOYMENT. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE CONTROL MODULE, AIR BAGS, AND SEATBELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

Mileage: 31,000

20050802ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

1998 SAAB 900SE CONVERTIBLE - HAS HAD A CHRONIC PROBLEM 1YR+ OF VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STALLING WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. USUALLY COULD BE RESTARTED AFTER A MINUTE, BUT NOW IS DIFFICULT TO RE-START ONCE IT STALLS. THE VEHICLE STALLS OUT ON THE HIGHWAY AS WELL AND IS DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO CONTROL WHEN STALLS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES 10+ RETURNS; VARIOUS PARTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED AND/OR REPLACED. SENSORS, MAIN COMPUTER CHIP, REWIRING, ETC.. THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND IS GETTING MUCH WORSE. THE VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE IS ONLY 59,000 MILES THIS CAR AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. THE DEALERSHIP IS AT A LOSS AS WHAT TO DO NEXT. I HAVE A CAR THAT CAN NOT BE FIXED AND CAN NOT BE DRIVEN AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. *NM

Mileage: 50,000

20050520STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A 1998 900 SAAB SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT HAD ABOUT 155,500 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT DESCRIBED BELOW. RECENTLY, I WAS GOING TO REMOVE THE FRONT SUSPENSION UPRIGHTS TO REPLACE THE SHOCK ABSORBER INSERTS. AFTER REMOVING THE WHEEL ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, I DISCOVERED THAT THE "STEERING PIVOT ARM" (A HOLLOW CLAM-SHELL STAMPING WELDED TO THE UPRIGHT) WAS SO SEVERELY RUSTED OUT THAT I COULD ACTUALLY SLIP MY HAND INSIDE THE ARM. (APPROXIMATELY, 1/2 OF ITS TOTAL SURFACE AREA WAS GONE AND FATIGUE CRACKS WERE DEVELOPING IN THE REMAINING PORTION.) THE STEERING RACK TIE ROD END ATTACHES TO THIS ARM. TO MY KNOWLEDGE ALL SAAB 900S FROM 1994-2000 WERE DESIGNED WITH THIS TYPE OF STEERING LINKAGE THAT USES A RACK MOUNTED HIGH ON THE FRONT-OF-DASH, CONNECTED TO THE WHEEL VIA THIS PIVOT ARM WELDED TO THE UPRIGHT. HAD THIS PIVOT ARM BROKEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. I HAVE DONE A L

Mileage: 155,285

20041028EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT

THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR THE RIGHT SIDE MARKER HAS FALLEN OUT TWICE IN 13 MONTHS.*AK

20021022ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

KEEP HEARING THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM, COULD BE DANGEROUS TO OPERATE WHEN TOP IS STUCK OPEN. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A 4 YR OLD CAR DEALER WANTS $ 1,700. FOR NEW MOTOR. MR

20010329AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND PASSED IN OFF POSITION AND FOR NO CAUSE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT.*AK CONSUMER STATES DEALERSHIP COMPLETED THE REPAIR, THEY INDICATED THAT THE COMPUTER DID NOT SHOW AN AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, DEALER COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY AIR BAG DEPLOYED, ONE PERSON WAS INJURIED DUE TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *JB

20010329AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND PASSED IN OFF POSITION AND FOR NO CAUSE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT.*AK CONSUMER STATES DEALERSHIP COMPLETED THE REPAIR, THEY INDICATED THAT THE COMPUTER DID NOT SHOW AN AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, DEALER COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY AIR BAG DEPLOYED, ONE PERSON WAS INJURIED DUE TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *JB

20010118AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE PARKED, I WAS TURNING ON THE CAR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND HIT ME. VERY DANGEROUS, MY THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS BEHIND ME AND WAS KNOCKED DOWN. IN ADDITION, I COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. APPARENTLY THIS WAS A MALFUNCTION (DEALER COMMENTS). CHECKED YOUR DATABASE AND FOUND ANOTHER INCIDENT AROUND THE SAME TIME A YEAR BEFORE, SAME MAKE,MODEL,YEAR. ISN'T THIS A PROBLEM?*AK

20010112AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WITHOUT ANY IMPACT. *AK

Compare 1998SAAB900 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 SAAB 900 have?
The 1998 SAAB 900 has 26 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 SAAB 900?
The most-complained component for the 1998 SAAB 900 is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT.
Is the 1998 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.