1979 Saab 900 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 1979 Saab 900, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 1979 Saab 900
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Automatic transmission (power train)
A problem relating to the front exhaust pipe bracket attachment could cause leaking of transmission oil. Transmission could lock up due to lack of proper oil lubrication.
Remedy: Dealer will replace the existing exhaust pipe bracket with one that attaches to the side of the transmission. The rear differential cover gasket will also be replaced, using screws instead of studs.
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Cables (electrical system)
The insulation of the positive battery cable may possibly melt or become brittle due to the high temperatures which may be generated in the vicinity of the cable.
Remedy: Dealer will replace the "b+" cable (positive cable from starter), add protective sleeves over the starter wiring harness, and install a new heat guard for the battery, without charge.
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Vehicle speed control
Under certain conditions such as ambient humidity and vehicle pre-conditioning by repeated cold start, and short trip driving cycles in combination with sub-zero temperatures, there exists the possibility for ice to form in the throttle housing and temporarily impede full closure of the throttle plate when the accelerator is released.…
Remedy: The dealer will modify the engine intake system to further improve preheating of incoming air in cold weather. This will be done free of charge.
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High/low beam dimmer switch (exterior lighting)
The headlamp relay may fail in such a way as to cause the headlamps to fail to switch from low to high beam (or vice versa) when the control switch is operated. Also, the headlamps may shut off intermittently or completely.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the headlamp relay, without charge to owner.
2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1979 Saab 900 have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“This is important: the rt pass seat belt did not hold my wife in a head on crash, and somebody removed the car from salvage yard quickly, inc co and yard owner did not know who took it before investig”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 25, 2001 · Seat belts
“Consumer found fractures in rear arm of the lower control arm, indicating fatigue with age.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 3, 1997 · Suspension
Compare Saab 900 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Saab 900 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 Saab 900 | 4 | 2 |
| 1980 Saab 900 | 2 | 0 |
| 1981 Saab 900 | 2 | 1 |
| 1982 Saab 900 | 1 | 1 |
| 1983 Saab 900 | 1 | 2 |
| 1984 Saab 900 | 1 | 2 |
| 1985 Saab 900 | 1 | 5 |
| 1986 Saab 900 | 2 | 9 |
| 1987 Saab 900 | 2 | 4 |
| 1988 Saab 900 | 2 | 13 |
| 1989 Saab 900 | 2 | 22 |
| 1990 Saab 900 | 0 | 19 |
| 1991 Saab 900 | 0 | 13 |
| 1992 Saab 900 | 0 | 21 |
| 1993 Saab 900 | 0 | 6 |
| 1994 Saab 900 | 8 | 44 |
| 1995 Saab 900 | 7 | 100 |
| 1996 Saab 900 | 3 | 48 |
| 1997 Saab 900 | 3 | 21 |
| 1998 Saab 900 | 3 | 24 |
| 1999 Saab 900 | 0 | 2 |
| 2000 Saab 900 | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1979 Saab 900
How do I know if my 1979 Saab 900 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1979 Saab 900; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Saab dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 79V099000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Saab models
- 9-31,346 complaints
- 9-5506 complaints
- 9-7X171 complaints
- 9000136 complaints
- 9-2X121 complaints
- 9-3 Convertible61 complaints
- 9551 complaints
- Aero15 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.