1990 Saab 900 Problems: 1 Issues Every Owner Should Know
1990 model year · NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports · Updated May 2026
According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 1990 Saab 900 has 1 documented known issues, with 1 rated critical. The most serious is Classic 900 (1979-1993) Windshield Frame & Rear Wheel Arch Rust ($200-$6,000 repair). Across all issues, repair costs range from $200 to $6,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
All 1 Known Issues
On the 1990-1993 Saab 900 all, classic 900 (1979-1993) is notorious for rust at the windshield frame corners (especially below the trim moldings), the rear wheel arches, and the floor pan under the carpet. Once visible, rust is usually already advanced because the inner structure rots first. Salt-belt cars commonly have structural rust by 25+ years old.
Common Symptoms
- rust bubbles around windshield
- rear arch rust
- wet carpet (floor pan rust)
- crumbling door bottoms
How to Fix
Annual inspection at the windshield frame (lift the trim moldings) and rear wheel arches. Treatment of pinhole rust early ($200-$500) is far cheaper than structural repair ($1,500-$5,000) once advanced. Convertibles have additional rust at the chassis stiffening members. SaabClub specialists in the US Northeast offer body restoration packages.