1988 Saab 9000 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1988 Saab 9000, and owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1988 Saab 9000
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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Switch (electrical system)
Abrasion on the printed circuit card in the combination neutral safety/backup lamp switch operated by the automatic transmission gear selector may cause residue to collect in electrical area on the circuit card.
Remedy: Add an electrical circuit, including a relay, to the backup lamp circuit to reduce the current that can flow through the combination switch.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
The routing of the throttle kickdown cable could allow chafing to occur between the cable and any one of three steel brake fluid lines near the valve block of the hydraulic brake unit.
Remedy: Change cable routing and install new attachment bracket to prevent chafing.
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Vehicle speed control
The ball chain between the cruise control vacuum regulator and the accelerator pedal arm may catch on the vacuum regulator attachment clip.
Remedy: A plastic cap will be installed over the vacuum regulator clip to cover the openings.
12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1988 Saab 9000 have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a fire. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 10 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Vehicle experiencing ongoing problem with brake failure. Provide further details. *ak”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 22, 2000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
“Fuel line leak under vent of fuel tank and near center of under carriage. *skd”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 11, 1995 · Fuel system, gasoline
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1988 Saab 9000. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18–21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–19 / 22–26 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Large Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Saab 9000 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Saab 9000 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 Saab 9000 | 2 | 3 |
| 1987 Saab 9000 | 1 | 5 |
| 1988 Saab 9000 | 3 | 12 |
| 1989 Saab 9000 | 3 | 14 |
| 1990 Saab 9000 | 1 | 7 |
| 1991 Saab 9000 | 1 | 8 |
| 1992 Saab 9000 | 4 | 19 |
| 1993 Saab 9000 | 5 | 29 |
| 1994 Saab 9000 | 4 | 14 |
| 1995 Saab 9000 | 0 | 8 |
| 1996 Saab 9000 | 0 | 10 |
| 1997 Saab 9000 | 1 | 6 |
| 1998 Saab 9000 | 1 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1988 Saab 9000
How do I know if my 1988 Saab 9000 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. 3 campaigns currently list the 1988 Saab 9000; 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 88V057000).
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
- 900360 complaints
- 9-7X171 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.