Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age, so 61% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Power Train, with 41 complaints, typically at 4.9 years.
Saab 900 years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 20 | 17 | yes | |
| 1997 | 13 | 12 | yes | |
| 1996 | 33 | 28 | yes | |
| 1995 | 80 | 59 | yes | |
| 1994 | 35 | 30 | yes | |
| 1993 | 4 | 4 | yes | |
| 1992 | 14 | 13 | yes | |
| 1991 | 8 | 8 | yes | |
| 1990 | 16 | 16 | yes | |
| 1989 | 14 | 14 | yes | |
| 1988 | 8 | 8 | yes | |
| 1986 | 5 | 5 | yes |
Among the 6 Saab 900 years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 1995, 1996, 1998; the three worth hunting are 1990, 1989, 1994.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 22% | covered | |
| 1 year | 29.9% | covered | |
| 2 years | 39% | covered | |
| 3 years | 47.6% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 55.5% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 60.4% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 67.7% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 76.8% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 84.1% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 86.6% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 92.7% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 95.1% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 97.6% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 98.8% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 39% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 61% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 31% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Saab 900, the early trouble is Service Brakes and Hydraulic — reported at around 2 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Power Train at 4.9 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 4.9 yrs | 2 | 1 | |
| Electrical System | 4.3 yrs | 1 | 9 | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4.9 yrs | 1 | 3 | |
| Air Bags | 6.4 yrs | 5 | 1 | |
| Service Brakes | 2 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 2 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belts | 4.4 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3.5 yrs | 3 | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the 900's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Corolla draws 5.16, the Lexus IS 1.31 and the BMW M3 1.49, against 1.17 for the 900. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the 900 | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla | 219 | 1981–2026 | |
| Lexus IS | 118 | 2001–2026 | |
| BMW M3 | 78 | 1988–2026 | |
| Acura TLX | 41 | 2015–2026 | |
| Ford Focus | 138 | 2000–2026 | |
| Subaru WRX | 17 | 2015–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Saab 900 reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.17 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which 900 years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 1995, 1996, 1998. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 1990, 1989, 1994. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do 900 problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age. The most reported system is Power Train, typically at 4.9 years, followed by Electrical System.
Will the warranty cover 900 problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 39% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 31% of the complaints here.
Is the 900 more reliable than the Toyota Corolla?
Yes: 1.17 complaints per production run for the 900 against 5.16 for the Toyota Corolla.
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