Total Complaints
3 filings
SAAB 9000 · model year
1986 SAAB 9000
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986SAAB9000 carries 3 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 1986 9000 is fuel system, gasoline with 1 filings, followed by equipment:electrical (1) and seats:front assembly:recliner (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 1986 9000. 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.
3
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 |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19981010SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
FRONT SEAT BACKS HAVE ALMOST AN INCH OF FREE-PLAY FRONT TO REAR. THIS FREE PLAY IS FELT ON STOPS, FLOPPING BACK TO FRONT, PARTICULARLY ON DOWNHILL STOPS. MAY CAUSE BACK INJURY AND ROAD DISTRACTION.
19960314FireEQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
WHEN PUTTING A MATCH IN THE ASHTRAY THE MATCH CONTINUED TO BURN AND THE WHOLE DASH WENT UP IN FLAMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
19950814FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AND INOPERATIVE.THE FIRE BEGAN UNDER THE HOOD IT CAUSED AN EXPLOSION.THE CAR WAS STARTED BY ITSELF.(EA95-020). TT
Compare 1986SAAB9000 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 SAAB 9000 have?▼
The 1986 SAAB 9000 has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 SAAB 9000?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 SAAB 9000 is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL and SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER.
Is the 1986 SAAB 9000 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.