Most common 1996 Saab 900 problems
Share of the 48 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Saab 900 complaints by model year
Best 900 years: 1997, 1998. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996. Compare all years →
1996 Saab 900 recalls (3)
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The instructions for properly aiming the headlighting system were omitted. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Remedy: Owners will be sent aiming instructions, and directions for affixing these inserts to the owner guides. If an owner so desires, a dealer can affix the inserts in their owner guide for them.
Vehicle speed control
Corrosion around the zinc-coated throttle control lever bushing can cause the throttle lever to bind.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the zinc-coated throttle control lever bushing with a nickel-coated bushing and bolt.
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
During static testing of belt anchorage points, the outboard attachment plate being used in the testing deformed and detached from the seat anchorage. This does not comply with FMVSS no. 209, "seat belt assemblies" and no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages."
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the safety belt assemblies for the date of manufacture. Any assembly with date year 96 week 10 day 2 will be replaced.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1996 Saab 900:
New wheel bolts
saab issued a tsb informing dealers about a new wheel mounting bolt.If the issue is loosening of the lug nut, this could lead to bolt fatigue and the potential for a wheel separation.
Defective water pump pulley
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What 1996 Saab 900 owners say
Electrical system
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.
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. 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.
Transmission & drivetrain
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. 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.
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.
Engine & cooling
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. 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.
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.
1996 Saab 900 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Saab 900 a good car?
Based on 48 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 900 rates avoid: 2.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the 900 at the same age. It is one of the 900 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Saab 900?
The electrical system — 11 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year, most often about 12v/24v/48v battery. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (10) and engine & cooling (9).
How many recalls does the 1996 Saab 900 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1996 Saab 900, the most recent from February 24, 1998 (headlights). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Saab 900?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1997 and 1998. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995 and 1996. See the full Saab 900 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Saab 900 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.