The 1997 Saab 900 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 184,318 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
EQUIPMENT98V1390001998-06-2339,313 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG ALERT LABEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR WAS OMITTED. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Consequence
THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT MAY NOT PROPERLY UNDERSTAND THE OPERATION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND THE NEED TO USE SEAT BELTS.
Remedy
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ALERT LABEL TO BE INSTALLED ON THE VISIBLE SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SUN VISOR. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.
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."
Consequence
IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY AIM THE HEADLIGHTS.
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.
CORROSION AROUND THE ZINC-COATED THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHING CAN CAUSE THE THROTTLE LEVER TO BIND.
Consequence
THIS BINDING CAN RESULT IN THE THROTTLE PLATE NOT RETURNING TO THE CLOSED POSITION WHEN THE THROTTLE PEDAL IS RELEASED AND A SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ZINC-COATED THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHING WITH A NICKEL-COATED BUSHING AND BOLT.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
2
1injuries
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
1
Total complaints27
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I went to put my seat belt on and it caught on something and wouldn't let me extract the belt from the retractor. This vehicle registration is not-operative. *tr”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 saab 900. The contact stated that while parking, the air bags deployed haphazardly. The air bag deployment caused the windshield to become cracked and the contact to suffer minor hearing lost. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic. The mechanic stated the vehicle…”
“1997 saab 900 se turbo- direct ignition cassette failure caused vehicle to stall in middle of road. *tr”
“My driver side inside door handle broke, massachusetts will not pass it due to it being a safety hazard. We took the door apart fixed the door and then tested the locks to make sure they still work. It was then that the deadlock was engaged. We realized that last night if a child was in the car…”
“My driver side inside door handle broke, massachusetts will not pass it due to it being a safety hazard. We took the door apart fixed the door and then tested the locks to make sure they still work. It was then that the deadlock was engaged. We realized that last night if a child was in the car…”
“Failure in 1997 saab 900 se of direct ignition cassette. There was a recall for year model 2000-2002, but earlier model years fail too. *jb”
“Re: saab 900 1997. Upon turning the ignition key in an attempt to start the car the airbags deployed and the seat belts tensioned. The windshield was broken and the radio popped out of the dash. This is event is very much alike to defects described in recalls of saab 900 1995 and 1998 model years.…”
“Three times in the past year, the clutch cable on my car has broken. Thankfully, each time I was within four miles of my home. Without the ability to shift, I was required to attempt to drive home or to the service station with no stopping. Luckily, I was able to blow through stop signs and avoid…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP00008 Opened 2000-09-25 · closed 2001-11-19
DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP PULLEY
a
InvestigationSQ98018 Opened 1998-10-09 · closed 1998-10-27
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.
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Saab 900 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.