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1986 problems

FaultScore report

1986 Saab 900 problems

Owners have filed 18 complaints about the 1986 Saab 900 with NHTSA between 1995 and 2003. The largest single group is the electrical system.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Saab 900

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Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

Complaints

Crashes reported

Fires reported

Injuries reported

How 1986 compares with every other Saab 900

Click any bar to open that year's report.

2 1 1 2 4 5 18 12 18 34 21 15 25 8 88 159 78 27 26 4 1

79 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1986 Saab 900

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Electrical System 6 33.3%

Median failure at 203,000 miles

Engine & Cooling 5 27.8%

0 crashes, 2 fires

Tires 2 11.1%

Equipment & Accessories 1 5.6%

Seats 1 5.6%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Fuel & Propulsion 1 5.6%

Median failure at 203,000 miles

Suspension 1 5.6%

Brakes 1 5.6%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Mar 1995 peak 7 Sep 2003

Recalls on the 1986 Saab 900

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1987024 17 Feb 1987 255 units in Canada

Fuel System

On certain Saab 900S and 900 turbo, the fuel hose between the pressure regulator and the injector fuel rail may rupture due to stress resulting in a fuel leak and possible fire. Correction: A new plastic fuel hose with an outer casing of rubber will be installed.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Filed 14 Oct 1998 Hillsville, VA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE ENGINE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #512027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 23 Sep 1996 Solon, OH Crash

SEATS

THE CONSUMER WAS HIT IN THE REAR AND THE DRIVERS SEAT RECLINED BACKWARDS. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #802779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 6 Sep 1995 Brooklyn, WI Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATED WIRING AND SENT SMOKE INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. TT

NHTSA complaint #971653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Filed 1 Sep 2003 at 203,000 miles Tucson, AZ

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

MY 1986 , 8 VALVE, 2.0 LITER SAAB 900 STALLS OUT IN HOT WEATHER AND WILL NOT RESTART UNLESS AT LEAST 15 MINUTES HAVE PASSED. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER,DISTRIBUTOR CAP, IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA complaint #10037006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 1 Sep 2003 at 203,000 miles Tucson, AZ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

NHTSA complaint #10037006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 20 Apr 2001 Santa Clar, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER ABRUPTLY CAUSING THE TACHOMETER TO DROP AND THE STEERING TO BECOME HEAVY YET THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN SMOOTHLY, AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTS TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER THE POWER RETURNS BEFORE THE CAR STOPS, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. NLM

NHTSA complaint #0 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 8 Nov 2000 Columbia, SC

TIRES

I AM AWARE OF THE TIRE RECALL AND QUESTIONS ABOUT OTHER MANUFACTURERS. I PURCHASED A SAAB IN 1986 EQUIPPED WITH PIRELLI TIRES. ALL FOUR OF THE TIRE TREADS SEPARATED WITHIN 15,000, INCLUDING ONE INCIDENT AT 65 MPH. I SENT ONE FO THE TIRES BACK TO PIRELLI FOR EXAMINATION. THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS NO MNAUFACTURING FLAW THAT CAUSED THE SEPARATION. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY 4 NEW TIRES WITH LESS THAN 15,000 MILES COULD ALL SEPARATE WITHOUT A DEFECT. I REALIZE THIS IS AN OLD COMPLAINT BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT OTHER TIRE COMPANIES ARE ALSO PRODUCING SHODDY TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA complaint #735910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 9 Dec 1999 Seituate, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

WHEN DRIVING AT 65 MPH THERE WAS NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. ALSO, BATTERY KEPT GOING DEAD/ AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT/THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STOPPED WORKING/BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AND REPLACED FOUR TIMES/ SPARE TIRE KEPT GETTING A FLAT/CONTROL UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED FOUR TIMES/ REPLACED A CRACK IN EXHAUST SYSTEM, AS WELL AS OTHER PARTS IN THE VEHICLE.