Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards.
Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.
Ask About This Model
Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the
Saab 9000. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.
AI Assistant
Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data.
Always check your specific VIN on
NHTSA.gov
for vehicle-specific recall information.
Key Takeaways
A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Saab 9000,
based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.
Coverage spans model years 1986–1998 with 26 recall campaigns and 196 complaints in NHTSA data.
Years with the most recall activity: 1993 (5), 1994 (4), and 1992 (4).
Years with the most complaint volume: 1993 (34), 1992 (32), and 1989 (24).
Top recall themes: Brakes, Electrical, and Fuel and emissions.
Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Power train:automatic transmission, Power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm).
Complaints are not proof of a defect, but repeated themes can be useful signals when researching a used vehicle.
Always check your specific VIN for open recalls (open recalls are VIN-specific and can change over time).
Recall Themes
Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas.
Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.
Brakes
4 campaigns · Years: 1988–1989, 1992–1994
These campaigns relate to braking system components that can affect stopping performance or warning behavior.
Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the
Saab 9000 in NHTSA complaint data are
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Power train:automatic transmission, Power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm).
Jump to Model Year
Year-by-Year Overview
Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer
complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and
complaints, not risk predictions.
Model Year
Recalls
Complaints
Details
1998
1
1
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Suspension:front:control arm.
1997
1
8
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Vehicle speed control, Child seat, Engine and engine cooling.
1996
0
23
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission, Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe, Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler.
1995
0
10
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Power train:clutch assembly:pedal/hand lever(motorcycle), Vehicle speed control, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline.
1994
4
20
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Air bags:frontal, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
1993
5
34
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm), Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly, Wheels.
1992
4
32
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm), Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly, Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
1991
1
11
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts:front:buckle assembly, Fuel system, gasoline, Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
1990
1
8
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Electrical system:wiring:front underhood, Power train:automatic transmission.
1989
3
24
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:starter assembly, Power train:automatic transmission, Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
1988
3
17
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash, Fuel system, gasoline.
1987
1
5
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Structure:body, Electrical system, Electrical system:ignition.
1986
2
3
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Equipment:electrical, Fuel system, gasoline, Seats:front assembly:recliner.
What to Do Next
Check open recalls by VIN on the official NHTSA site (open recalls are VIN-specific).
If buying used, ask for proof of recall remedy completion (dealer paperwork helps).
If symptoms match common complaint themes, consider a mechanic inspection before purchase or long trips.
A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model.
The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.
Most common areas involved:
Electrical system
, Service brakes
and Engine and engine cooling
Show recall evidence by year
1998
Equipment: Labels:
Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The air bag alert label on the driver side visor was omitted. This does not conform to the requirements of fmvss no. 208, "Occupant crash protection."
1997
Equipment: Labels:
Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The air bag alert label on the driver side visor was omitted. This does not conform to the requirements of fmvss no. 208, "Occupant crash protection."
1994
Exterior lighting: Brake lights:
Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: One of the bulbs in each of the brake light lower outboard lamp assemblies may not have been properly wired, resulting in improper tail light illumination on brake application. This does not conform to the requirements of fmvss no 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Engine and engine cooling: Cooling system:
Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: During low energy frontal impact collisions, the front crossmember can contact the metal tubing portion of the cooler hose assembly; and/or the hose assembly can break and leak oil onto the hot exhaust manifold or the turbocharger.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Control unit/module:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Moisture can follow the electrical harness and enter the pressure switch connector causing corrosion and malfunction of the switch.
Air bags: Sensor/control module-inactive:
Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Moisture can enter the air bag inflatable restraint electronic control module (ecm) and cause corrosion on portions of the ecm printer circuit boards.
1993
Fuel system, gasoline:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: A number of brake light switches have an oval-shaped piston which can get stuck under certain conditions. Other switches were mounted so that both locking tabs are not completely engaged in the mounting bracket. If one side is not engaged, the switch is misaligned with the pedal mechanism and can
Engine and engine cooling: Cooling system:
Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: During low energy frontal impact collisions, the front crossmember can contact the metal tubing portion of the cooler hose assembly; and/or the hose assembly can break and leak oil onto the hot exhaust manifold or the turbocharger.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Control unit/module:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Moisture can follow the electrical harness and enter the pressure switch connector causing corrosion and malfunction of the switch.
Air bags: Sensor/control module-inactive:
Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Moisture can enter the air bag inflatable restraint electronic control module (ecm) and cause corrosion on portions of the ecm printer circuit boards.
1992
Fuel system, gasoline:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The fuel filler and tank ventilation hoses may develop cracks under the securing hose clamps, resulting in fuel leakage.
Engine and engine cooling: Cooling system:
Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: During low energy frontal impact collisions, the front crossmember can contact the metal tubing portion of the cooler hose assembly; and/or the hose assembly can break and leak oil onto the hot exhaust manifold or the turbocharger.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Control unit/module:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Moisture can follow the electrical harness and enter the pressure switch connector causing corrosion and malfunction of the switch.
Air bags: Sensor/control module-inactive:
Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Moisture can enter the air bag inflatable restraint electronic control module (ecm) and cause corrosion on portions of the ecm printer circuit boards.
1991
Power train: Automatic transmission:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Improper assembly could cause the ball of the gear selector arm not to be properly fixed to the socket on the end of the gear selector cable; gear selector arm could separate from the gear selector cable at the ball socket joint.
1990
Electrical system: Switch:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Abrasion on the printed circuit card in the combination neutral safety/backup lamp switch operated by the automatic transmission gear selector may cause residue to collect in electrical area on the circuit card.
1989
Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Fuel filter may not meet the specification concerning leakage criteria due to low temperature during the gluing process.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The routing of the throttle kickdown cable could allow chafing to occur between the cable and any one of three steel brake fluid lines near the valve block of the hydraulic brake unit.
Electrical system: Switch:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Abrasion on the printed circuit card in the combination neutral safety/backup lamp switch operated by the automatic transmission gear selector may cause residue to collect in electrical area on the circuit card.
1988
Vehicle speed control:
Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The ball chain between the cruise control vacuum regulator and the accelerator pedal arm may catch on the vacuum regulator attachment clip.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The routing of the throttle kickdown cable could allow chafing to occur between the cable and any one of three steel brake fluid lines near the valve block of the hydraulic brake unit.
Electrical system: Switch:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Abrasion on the printed circuit card in the combination neutral safety/backup lamp switch operated by the automatic transmission gear selector may cause residue to collect in electrical area on the circuit card.
1987
Electrical system: Switch:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Abrasion on the printed circuit card in the combination neutral safety/backup lamp switch operated by the automatic transmission gear selector may cause residue to collect in electrical area on the circuit card.
1986
Electrical system: Interior/under dash:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The wiring harness may chafe against the windshield wiper motor bracket. Consequence of defect: if a short circuit develops, it could result in a fire.
Electrical system: Switch:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Abrasion on the printed circuit card in the combination neutral safety/backup lamp switch operated by the automatic transmission gear selector may cause residue to collect in electrical area on the circuit card.
Other Saab Models
Explore recall and complaint data for other Saab models.
Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data.
This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be
treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.
For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official
NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.
