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Saab 900Model year report

1998 Saab 900 Problems

Complaints
24filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
96,000miles, 13 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 18 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Saab 900 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1998 Saab 900. The part named most often is air bags, with 12 complaints (50% of the total), followed by electrical system (3) and engine cooling (2). 13 of the complaints include a mileage, and 15% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 96,000 miles. Of all complaints, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 3 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 1 NHTSA investigation filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Air bags: “I own a auto repair shop and was driving a customer vehicle. I was driving straight down the street at 20-25 MPH when the passenger airbag exploded. It was a very scary experience, I pulled over to the side of the road. After a minute I decided I should pull the car a little more off the road , as I was doing that the drivers side airbag went off.”

NHTSA complaint #10969652, filed 2017-03, 200 miles

Electrical system: “My 1998 Saab 900 se turbo convertible has 62,000 miles on it, and yet I've just had to replace the direct ignition cassette which completely failed -- thankfully I was still in the driveway when it conked out, this is ridiculously early in the life of the car according to my Saab specialist mechanic. I saw that the 2000 and 2002 model di cassettes were recalled but not the earlier models. Wondering if there's a way for redress.”

NHTSA complaint #10199775, filed 2007-08, 62,000 miles

Engine cooling: “Chronic, abrupt stalling problems for 3+ years. Dealership has tried to repair on at least, 15+ occasions. Dealership had it at their facility for over 3 months one period, conducting diagnostic tests. Parts changed: sensors; multiple times, wiring harness, main computer chip and various other parts. The car abruptly stalls. It will stall at anytime - whether driving, coasting, at a stop, or on the expressway. It will stall without warning and is very difficult to control the vehicle safely to the roadside multiple times over and over without causing a collision. …”

NHTSA complaint #10184358, filed 2007-03, 50,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

15% of the 13 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 50,000 and 169,000 miles.

8%0–100%10–258%25–5023%50–7515%75–1008%100–15038%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (13 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 96,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’9833’013’04’06’08’10’173
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1998 Saab 900. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
900 · sedan not rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1998 Saab 900 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
900S FWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed manual202622$3,050
900S FWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed manual182421$3,200
900S FWD2.0L 4-cyl4-speed automatic172319$3,550
900S FWD2.3L 4-cyl4-speed automatic182420$3,350
900S Convertible FWD2.3L 4-cyl5-speed manual202622$3,050
900S Convertible FWD2.3L 4-cyl4-speed automatic182420$3,350
900SE FWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed manual182521$3,200
900SE FWD2.0L 4-cyl4-speed automatic172319$3,550
900SE Convertible FWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed manual182521$3,200
900SE Convertible FWD2.0L 4-cyl4-speed automatic172319$3,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1998 Saab 900 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 3 on record; the latest 3 are shown.

Other model years of the Saab 900

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
19982496,0003—21—Stable
199721111,0003—20—Stable
19964899,5003—19Not compared (before 2008)Rising
199510086,0647—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19944475,0008—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19936—0—20—Not enough data
199221299,0000—20—Stable
199113—0—20—Not enough data
199019175,7560—21—Stable
19892285,0002—21—Stable
198813—2—21—Not enough data
19869203,0002—19—Not enough data
19855—1—19—Not enough data

All Saab 900 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 Saab 900 have?

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1998 Saab 900 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1998 Saab 900 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 12 complaints (50% of the total), followed by electrical system with 3.

Has the 1998 Saab 900 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1998 Saab 900 get?

The EPA rates the 1998 Saab 900 (900S, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1998 Saab 900 reported?

Among the 13 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 96,000 miles and the middle half falls between 50,000 and 169,000 miles; 15% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.