1996 SAAB 900 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

Passenger airbag deployed for no reason while driving car, no warning lights on dashboard, no impact, no precipitating event occured

DRIVING SMOOTHLY AT 50 MPH IN 1996 SAAB 900 SE TURBO, 99K MILES. ENGINE RPM SUDDENLY BUT SMOOTHLY DROPS TO ZERO AND STOPPED IN A VERY UNSAFE PLACE ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR WOULD NOT RE-START. ABSOLUTELY NO FAULTS OF ANY KIND OCCURRED DURING THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THIS INCIDENT. THIS CAR'S DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY IN JAN. 2000 BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. *JB

IN JUNE 2003, A CRACK WAS DISCOVERED IN THE FUEL TANK OF MY 1996 SAAB 900S. THE TANK WAS REPLACED. ON 28 JULY 2004, THE REPLACEMENT TANK WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE A LEAK AND WAS REPLACED. ON 1 SEPTEMBER 2005, THE SECOND REPLACEMENT TANK WAS DIAGNOSED AS LEAKING.*JB

PRIOR TO DI FAILURE, STARTING IMPAIRMENT AND MISFIRES DETECTED WITH CEL. UPON FAILURE, CAR WOULD NOT RUN AND STEERING WAS LOST. TO CORRECT FAILURE, NEW DI WAS FITTED AFTER IT WAS BROKEN. SYMPTOMS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REASON ENOUGH TO CHANGE IT EARLY. *NM

WHILE DRIVING BALL BEARRINGS EXPLODED IN THE LOWER ENGINE. CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BOOM. THE VEHICLE WAS FULL OF CLEAN OIL. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MAUFACTURER AND THE DEALER. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER. *AK

WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WAS OPENED FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND SMOKE ENTERED THE PASSENGER'S CABIN. *AK

ON APRIL 27, 2003, MY SAAB 900 SE HAD AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING WITHIN A MINUTE HAD COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE CAR. THE "CHECK BATTERY" LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE HAZARD LIGHT. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND JUST ESCAPED THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE POLICE HAD TO CALL ME TO GET THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER AND VIN, AS THEY HAD MELTED. THE CAR HAD 72,000 MILES AND HAD BEEN CHECKED TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR. JUST MONTHS BEFORE IT HAD BEEN COMPLETELY INSPECTED. THE CAR WAS IN SHOW ROOM CONDITION. *JB

Fire

ODOMETER FRAUD. THE ADVERTISED MILEAGE WAS 55,000 BUT THE CARFAX REPORTED THE MILEAGE AT 150,000 MILES OVER A YEAR AGO. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER, TOOK BACK MY DEPOSIT AND GAVE BACK THE CAR. THEY INFORMED ME THEY ALREADY HAD ANOTHER BUYER FOR THE CAR AND ARE STILL ADVERTISING IT WITH 55,000 MILES. *JB

THE TIMING BELT FAILED. *JB (SAAB 900 SE)

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A RADDLING NOISE, HAD IT CHECKED OUT. MAIN FRONT LEFT SPRING HAD FRACTURED. SPRING REPLACEMENT, 44 83-178.CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

WILL NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST, FIFTH, OR REVERSE. KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED SINCE IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. SAAB HAS REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIR.*AK

PLASTIC FUEL TANK IS LEAKING, DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

S MODEL, CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL, DEALER DETERMINED THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. PART WAS REPLACED, NEW FUEL TANK HAS LEAKED TWICE.*JB

INTERMITTENTLY GEARBOX LIGHT WILL LIGHT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE 1ST AND SECOND GEAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS VEHICLE MAY NOT GET UP TO HIGHTWAY SPEEDS AT RAMPS, ALMOST CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE W/ SAAB. I CONTACTED THEM REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THEY STATED THERE ARE NO SAFETY ISSUES OPEN ON THIS VEHICLE. OVER 25 POSTS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM ON SAABNET.COM. DEALER HAS TRIED TO REPAIR VEHICLE TWICE WITHOUT SUCCESS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $800.00 TRYING TO REPAIR THIS SAFETY PROBLEM . PLEASE HELP. *AK

THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A NIGHTMARE. IT HAS REQUIRED THREE TOWS FROM JUNE 2001 TO FEBRUARY 2002. THE MOST EXPENSIVE FAILURE OCCURRED THE DAY AFTER I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE (INTERNATIONAL MOTORS, FALLS CHURCH, VA), AND THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH FAILED BECAUSE THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK THAT WAS NOT CAUGHT BY THEIR MECHANICS. I HAVE CONTACTED SAAB CORPORATE BY LETTER IN DECEMBER 2001 ABOUT MY MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THEIR RESPONSE BY TELEPHONE WAS THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 60MPH TRANSMISSION BECAME LOCKED IN GEAR. WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR. HAD REMAINED IN 4TH GEAR UNTIL ABLE TO SHIFT. TOOK VEHICLE TO SERVICE STATION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE ANY PROBLEMS. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP.*AK

TIMING CHAIN HAS TO BE REPLACED AFTER 75,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOUD WARNING NOISE. SAAB DEALER FOUND PROBLEM AFTER DOING A ROUTINE SERVICE CHECK. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FOUND, DEALER HAS NEVER DONE REPAIRS. *AK

SAAB CARS USA REFUSES TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I HAVE HAD THE CLUTCH PLATE EXAMINED BY SPECIALISTS AND THEY ALL THINK THIS IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. MOST EXPERTS HAVE NEVER SEEN A CLUTCH PLATE SPLIT IN HALF LIKE THIS. THE DEBRIS FROM THE CLUTCH DISINTEGRATING BLEW INTO THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING CAUSING A HOLE. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT WAS CAUSED BY THE CLUTCH EXPLODING. I SENT PHOTOS TO SAAB AND THREE SEPARATE LETTERS REQUESTING THEY FIX THIS PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT THESE FACTS.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CLUTCH PROBLEM AND A TRANSMISSION FAILURE, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SLC

AFTER A 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA BEFORE A FIRE STARTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ON SITE TO PUT OUT FIRE. SAAB HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK VEHICLE TRAVELING, CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND STAYED ON THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SENSOR. THE VEHICLE SLIPS WHILE IN GEAR AND BEFORE GOING INTO GEAR DUE TO LOSS OF FLUID BY LTHE LEAKING TRANSMISSION. *YH

Fire

AFTER A 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA BEFORE A FIRE STARTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ON SITE TO PUT OUT FIRE. SAAB HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK VEHICLE TRAVELING, CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND STAYED ON THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SENSOR. THE VEHICLE SLIPS WHILE IN GEAR AND BEFORE GOING INTO GEAR DUE TO LOSS OF FLUID BY LTHE LEAKING TRANSMISSION. *YH

Fire

AFTER A 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA BEFORE A FIRE STARTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ON SITE TO PUT OUT FIRE. SAAB HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK VEHICLE TRAVELING, CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND STAYED ON THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SENSOR. THE VEHICLE SLIPS WHILE IN GEAR AND BEFORE GOING INTO GEAR DUE TO LOSS OF FLUID BY LTHE LEAKING TRANSMISSION. *YH

Fire

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CLUTCH PROBLEM AND A TRANSMISSION FAILURE, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SLC

SAFETY ALERT COMES ON AND NEEDS DEALER SERVICE IF BATTERY DISCONNECTED. CANNOT TELL IF AIRBAG WORKS - REQUIRES DEALER SERVICE TO CORRECT EACH TIME. *AK

REOCCURING GEAR SHIFTING PROBLEMS CAUSING SHIFTER BUSHINGS AND MOTOR MOUNT HOUSING TO BE WORN.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH, THE ELECTRIC SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STARTED MOVING TO THE REAR. THIS HAPPENED FIVE TIMES BEFORE DRIVER ARRIVED AT HOME, AND WAS CAUSING THE DRIVER'S FEET TO BE PULLED AWAY FROM THE PEDALS. *ML

REMOTE ALARM SYSTEM FAILED. NLM

BATTERY WENT DEAD. NLM

HEAT SHIELD LOOSE CAUSING VIBRATIONS WHEN ACCELERATING. NLM

FAN CONTROL UNIT FAILED CAUSING A HIGH PITCHED NOISE TO COME FROM THAT AREA. NLM

LOOSE CONNECTION CAUSED DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT TO FAIL. NLM

CELLULAR PHONE KEPT BLOWING FUSES. NLM

ANTENNA GEARS WERE DAMAGED AND MOTOR FAILED CAUSING IT NOT TO RETRACT PROPERLY. NLM

SUN VISOR SNAPPED OFF. NLM

RADIATOR HAS A SMALL LEAK. NLM

DIRTY CABIN AIR FILTER CAUSED A MUSTY SMELL TO COME FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT. NLM

VEHICLE DOES NOT START FIRST THING IN MORNING. WOULD JERK AFTER STARTING, FOR 1/2 HOUR. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AFTER THE JERKING MOTION. STAYED ON UNTIL VEHICLE PUT IN THE GARAGE, THEN WENT OFF. CAME BACK ON 2 DAYS LATER. *AK

THE COMPLAINT HERE IS THAT A PROVIDED SAFETY DEVICE, THE SEAT BELTS, HAVE INADEQUATE WEBBING LENGTH TO ACCOMODATE LARGER OCCUPANTS. I HAVE CONTACTED SAAB'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND WAS ADVISED THAT WHILE SEAT BELT EXTENDERS WERE AVAILABLE FOR THIS MODEL, THE COST WOULD BE $250 EACH. WE CONSIDER THAT COST-PROHIBITIVE TO ENABLE USE OF A MANDITORY SAFETY DEVICE. WE HAVE PURCHASED OTHER NEW AND USED VEHICLES FOR MORE THAN THE LAST DECADE SUCH AS FROM GM AND SEAT BELT EXTENDERS WERE READILY AVAILABLE AT ZERO COST. I CAN ENTERTAIN PURCHASING THESE EXTENDERS FOR A REASONABLE AMOUNT, SUCH AS $50/EACH, BUT $250/EACH IS OUTRAGEOUS AND QUITE FRANKLY SHOULDN'T BE NECESSARY AS THE BELT WEBBING IS QUITE SHORT TO BEGIN WITH. SAAB'S POSITION AS OF THIS AFTERNOON IS THEY WILL OFFER $100 OFF ON A PAIR OF THESE BELTS. STILL, $400 OUT OF POCKET TO ENABLE A MANDITORY-TO-USE-BY-STATE-AND-FEDERAL-LAW SAFETY FEATURE IN A CAR IS ABSURD. SAAB'S STATEMENT WAS WE SUGGEST YOU TRY OUT THE CAR BEFORE YOU BUY, AND THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS SHOULD TELL US NOT TO BUY. THAT MISSES THE WHOLE POINT OF WHY THESE SAFETY BELTS WERE REQUIRED IN THE FIRST PLACE. I AM NOW GOING THROUGH A LOCAL REFERENCE OBTAINED FROM THE NATIONAL MOBILITY EQUIPMENT CENTER (THANKS NHTSA FOR SUGGESTING IT!) AND THEY ARE LOOKING AT ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO BE LESS IN COST. BUT THE POINT HERE IS WHY ARE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS ALLOWED TO DENY CUSTOMERS THE EFFECTIVE USE OF MANDITORY SAFETY ITEMS BECAUSE OF EXORBITANT EXTRA PRICING, SUCH AS SEAT BELT EXTENDERS AT $250/EACH WHEN THE PROBLEM COULD BE AVOIDED SIMPLY BE LENGTHING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING IN THE FIRST PLACE, AT A LIKELY COST OF LESS THAN $10? I THINK THAT AS A SAFETY ISSUE IF NOTHING ELSE, VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS MUST PROVIDE, AT REASONBLE COST, WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO ENABLE USE OF MANDITORY LAWFULLY-REQUIRED SAFETY FEATURES IF THE "STANDARD" IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE TO COVER CUSTOMERS. *AK

UPON SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE GEAR, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

EXHAUST CHECK VALVE LIFTERS MALFUNCTIONED.