1995 Saab 900 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report a wide mix of problems rather than a single dominant failure. The most common threads are manual-transmission concerns — especially the shift linkage and reverse gear, which some owners connect to a 1995 recall that their vehicle was told it was not covered by — plus electrical gremlins (stalls, flickering or dead lights, door locks) and cooling-system work such as timing belt and water pump replacement. Many reports involve cars past 100,000 miles, though brake and belt complaints often come in at much lower mileage.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Reverse gear not actually engaged; car rolls

   • 9 complaints (9%)
   • median 110,000 mi at 10.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2008

   Owners of manual-transmission cars describe putting the shifter in reverse and removing the key, only to find the gearbox in neutral or to have reverse pop out when the lever is bumped, so the car can roll. Several say the pattern matches a 1995 recall on the manual transmission, but the manufacturer told them their VIN was not included, and dealers were not willing to repair it under the campaign. A related complaint is a shifter linkage that needed replacement along with clutch work. Reported from roughly 94,000 to 151,000 miles, often in parking situations on level or sloped ground.

   Recall 95V068000

   What to check: On a test drive with the engine off, put the lever in reverse and check whether the car is actually held; also ask whether the shift linkage has been replaced. Ask if the car was ever checked against recall 95V068000.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Nhtsa recall bulletin model 95 Saab 900 campaign no.95v068000 spoke to Saab at 800 955 900 (file#14566) on 5/12 after car was diagnosed by sports and specialist a Saab dealer in princeton nj .the written invoice #13983 statesar will need new shifter linkage and clutch customer declined both Saab corporate and the dealer insist there is no recall camp. Yet your bulletin explains the exact problem the consequences the corrective action. I would appreceiate action to be taken by the NHTSA quickly since I have been without a car for 2 months. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10121995, filed 2005-05, 94,000 miles

   “I own a 1995 Saab 900 se with a mannual transmission. I would guess as a saftey feature, this vehicle requires the shift lever to be in the reverse position to remove the key. This insures that the vehicle does not move when not occupied if the parking brake has not been engaged. On my vehicle the shift lever can be in the reverse position and the key removed, but the reverse gear is never actually engaged or can be easily moved out of reverse. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10040906, filed 2003-09
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Timing belt failure and engine damage

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • median 51,500 mi at 9.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2010

   Several owners report the timing belt breaking, jumping off the pulley or coming loose, which cut power and in some cases bent valves or destroyed the engine. One report mentions a broken fan belt leading to engine seizure, and another notes the water pump leaking alongside cooling work. Owners describe disputes over whether the manufacturer would cover the repair, with coverage tied to specific mileage intervals. Reported from around 30,000 up to 60,000 miles, with one failure at 76,000 miles; several owners specifically note it happened well under 50,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for dated proof of the last timing belt replacement and at what mileage; if no record exists, budget for replacement. Also check the water pump and look for coolant staining around the engine.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Timing belt came off the pulley when I attempted to start the car. Major damage to engine. Engines needs major overhaul. No support from Saab na on this issue although the timing belt was installed by a Saab reseller.”

   NHTSA complaint #10129798, filed 2005-07, 60,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbags deploying without a crash

   • 5 complaints (5%)
   • median 103,064 mi at 12.1 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2012

   Owners describe the passenger and then driver airbag firing spontaneously, sometimes while the car is idling or moving slowly, with the windshield breaking and the SRS light coming on afterward. Some reports note the airbag control unit or main computer as a suspected cause, and one owner refers to a broadcast recall notice from late 2002. Repairs were often not done because the vehicle was out of warranty or the recall did not apply to that VIN. Reported from about 80,000 to 117,000 miles; one report came at low mileage on a car driven only occasionally.

   Recall 02V308000

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag control unit has been inspected or replaced and whether recall 02V308000 was applied. Watch for a persistent SRS warning light or a stored airbag fault before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving my Saab 900 convertible and while driving down the road the passanger airbag deployed. I immediatly pulled over and as I was checking to find out what the noise was the driver's side airbag deployed. The airbag broke my windshield and immediatly after they deployed the srs light came on and the warning light indicator came on. I will be taking the car to have it inspected by a certified Saab repair shop. The mechanic is guessing at this point that the computer system failed causing the spontaneous deployment. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10108466, filed 2005-02, 114,000 miles

   “Saab refuses to follow up on a confirmed (media-published) recall announced in nov 2002 (3 months ago) concerning random airbag deployment. Saab corporate refuses to specify vins or give any planned resolution, and the Saab dealers confirm that my car is likely to be affected, but no one will take any action yet, and Saab is dragging their feet! Isn't their a time limit for them to start this recall? How do we escalate this situation, pls?”

   NHTSA complaint #10007869, filed 2003-02
4. 4
   Brakes

   Weak or failing power brakes

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report a spongy pedal that travels too far and braking that feels ineffective, including a case where the car kept rolling forward. Some describe the vacuum assist fading after the car sits or when braking on an incline, and one owner says the brakes overheated and faded coming downhill in low gear. Dealers were reported to have replaced a master cylinder in one case, while another owner says mechanics knew of a V6 pattern with no fix available. Reported across a wide range, from very low mileage up to about 97,000 miles, with several complaints filed without mileage.

   What to check: Test the pedal for firmness and travel, including after the car has sat and on a downhill grade. Ask whether the master cylinder or brake booster has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The shift lock release problem is the latest in a long series of problems with this car. It will cost approximately $800 to repair this problem. We have not had the air conditioner repaired yet. The neutral safety switch replacement was $500. The master cylinder was replaced because the dealership had just passed our car for inspection the previous day. (they did not believe us when we told them that the brake failure light was lit.) these cars are called Saab for a reason we sob a lot everytime we get a repair bill. Dt”

   NHTSA complaint #768891, filed 2002-10

   “While driving the vehicle dash lights are continuously illuminated. Took vehicle to dealer, and nothing was remedied. Main computer may be the reason for the malfunction. Also, brakes are failing and airbags do not work.”

   NHTSA complaint #8005444, filed 2002-03
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Stalls and rough idle from engine control

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe engines stalling at cold start or while driving and RPMs hunting up and down after startup, which some link directly to a 1995 ignition module recall on a voltage drop to the engine control module. Several state the manufacturer declined the repair because their VIN was outside the campaign. Others report the engine dying while slowing down even after the recall work was said to have been done. Mostly reported in the 59,000 to 130,000 mile range, with some complaints filed on cars with no mileage given.

   Recall 95V066000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 95V066000 was performed and keep the paperwork. On a cold start, listen for idle wandering and note any stall when slowing to a stop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1995 Saab 900 se stalls upon cold start and also cuts off (stalls) while driving. Vehicle is totally tuned and all throttle, fuel injectors are clean etc. I contacted dealer and Saab web-site to inquire about recall 95v066000 but I was told this was not applicable to my vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10025197, filed 2003-06

   “Recall 95v066000 concerning electronic control unit. Due to the VIN this vehicle was not eligible for recall repairs. However, based on the symptoms in the description of the defect this vehicle was having the same problems as mentioned in the recall. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, who told consumer that because the recall information did not appear on the Saab web page they will not assist the consumer.”

   NHTSA complaint #10090195, filed 2004-09, 59,250 miles

Buying note. Check the service records first — timing belt history, any recall work done on the airbag control unit and ignition module, and whether transmission linkage repairs were made. Given the age of this model year, plan on a pre-purchase inspection that covers brakes, belts and the airbag warning light before committing.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.