Problems · NHTSA complaints
1997 Saab 900 problems
Owners filed 21 complaints about the 1997 Saab 900 with NHTSA between Oct 1998 and Aug 2014. The most-cited component is power train (3).
Complaints
21
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train3
- Seat belts2
- Air bags2
- Structure2
- Electrical system2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Wheels2
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
- Steering1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Exterior lighting1
- Seats1
- Engine and engine cooling1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
3
2
1
1
2
2
3
2
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
3 reports
“THREE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR, THE CLUTCH CABLE ON MY CAR HAS BROKEN. THANKFULLY, EACH TIME I WAS WITHIN FOUR MILES OF MY HOME. WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO SHIFT, I WAS REQUIRED TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE HOME OR TO THE SERVICE STATION WITH NO STOPPING. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO BLOW THROUGH STOP SIGNS AND AVOID TRAFFIC. I DO NOT LOOK FORWARD TO THREE MONTHS FROM NOW WHEN THE CABLE BREAKS AGAIN LEAVING ME STRANDED IN A LESS CONVENIENT LOCATION. *NM”
Seat belts
2 reports
“I WENT TO PUT MY SEAT BELT ON AND IT CAUGHT ON SOMETHING AND WOULDN'T LET ME EXTRACT THE BELT FROM THE RETRACTOR. THIS VEHICLE REGISTRATION IS NOT-OPERATIVE. *TR”
Air bags
2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SAAB 900. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED HAPHAZARDLY. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO BECOME CRACKED AND THE CONTACT TO SUFFER MINOR HEARING LOST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.”
Structure
2 reports
“MY DRIVER SIDE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE, MASSACHUSETTS WILL NOT PASS IT DUE TO IT BEING A SAFETY HAZARD. WE TOOK THE DOOR APART FIXED THE DOOR AND THEN TESTED THE LOCKS TO MAKE SURE THEY STILL WORK. IT WAS THEN THAT THE DEADLOCK WAS ENGAGED. WE REALIZED THAT LAST NIGHT IF A CHILD WAS IN THE CAR THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO LET THEMSELVES OUT OF THE CAR NOR CAN YOU GET IN. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THIS FEATURE FAILING AND NOT RELEASING FROM A KEY. *TR”
Electrical system
2 reports
“FAILURE IN 1997 SAAB 900 SE OF DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR YEAR MODEL 2000-2002, BUT EARLIER MODEL YEARS FAIL TOO. *JB”
Vehicle speed control
2 reports1 related recall
“THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK. *PH WHILE LOOKING AT THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THE CONSUMER SAW THAT THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL (97V-046000). IT APPEARED THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT DONE ON THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE PRIOR TO HIM PURCHASING IT. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT IT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONSUMER TO MAKE SURE THE RECALL WAS DONE. *NM”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.