10 of the 78 complaints about the 1996 Saab 900 are about the engine — 13% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 100,000 miles.
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.
NHTSA complaint #10103134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE TIMING BELT FAILED. *JB (SAAB 900 SE)
NHTSA complaint #10011829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #888235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
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.
NHTSA complaint #873699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RADIATOR HAS A SMALL LEAK. NLM
NHTSA complaint #547823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
FAN CONTROL UNIT FAILED CAUSING A HIGH PITCHED NOISE TO COME FROM THAT AREA. NLM
NHTSA complaint #547823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #844456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
EXHAUST CHECK VALVE LIFTERS MALFUNCTIONED.
NHTSA complaint #781982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND SPINNED AROUND IN A 360 DEGREE CIRCLE.
NHTSA complaint #515533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
THERMOSTAT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #603126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.