Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1988 Saab 9000. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH:NEUTRAL START
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- THIS COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING OF THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITHSMOKE AND POSSIBLY A FIRE IN THE CENTER CONSOLE AREA.
- Remedy
- ADD AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, INCLUDING A RELAY, TO THE BACKUP LAMP CIRCUIT TO REDUCE THE CURRENT THAT CAN FLOW THROUGH THE COMBINATION SWITCH.
BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:LINES:METALLIC
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- THIS COULD CAUSE BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE; THUS, THE BRAKECIRCUIT SUPPLIED BY THAT LINE WOULD BECOME INOPERATIVE AND RESULT IN DECREASEDBRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND AN ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- CHANGE CABLE ROUTING AND INSTALL NEW ATTACHMENT BRACKET TO PREVENT CHAFING.
EQUIPMENT:SPEED CONTROL VACUUM LINES
- Summary
- THE BALL CHAIN BETWEEN THE CRUISE CONTROL VACUUM REGULATOR AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM MAY CATCH ON THE VACUUM REGULATOR ATTACHMENT CLIP.
- Consequence
- IF THE CHAIN GETS CAUGHT THE THROTTLE COULD BE PREVENTEDFROM RETURNING TO FULLY CLOSED POSITION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED.
- Remedy
- A PLASTIC CAP WILL BE INSTALLED OVER THE VACUUM REGULATOR CLIP TO COVER THE OPENINGS.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (12)
12 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 4 | 33.3% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 25% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 25% |
| Seats | 2 | 16.7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 8.3% |
| Equipment | 1 | 8.3% |
| Interior lighting | 1 | 8.3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 8.3% |
| Visibility | 1 | 8.3% |
How 1988 compares with other 9000 years
Best and worst 9000 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 3 | 2 |
| 1987 | 5 | 1 |
| 1988 | 12 | 3 |
| 1989 | 14 | 3 |
| 1990 | 7 | 1 |
| 1991 | 8 | 1 |
| 1992 | 19 | 4 |
| 1993 | 29 | 5 |
| 1994 | 14 | 4 |
| 1995 | 8 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 21 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,200
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 423 g/mi
- EPA class
- Large Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 21 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 24 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 24 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 15 / 22 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1988 9000 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1988 Saab 9000 FAQ
How many recalls does the 1988 Saab 9000 have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 90V001000 (electrical), 89V191000 (brake), 88V057000 (vehicle speed control). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1988 Saab 9000 problems?
Owners filed 12 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (4), Fuel system (3), Service brakes (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1988 Saab 9000 get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 18 city, 26 highway and 21 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1988 9000 compare with other years?
Among the 1986–1995 Saab 9000 model years at least five years old, the 1986 drew the fewest complaints (3) and the 1993 the most (29). The 1988 drew 12. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.