Saab›900 SE›1996›Overview/saab/900-se/1996/base/

1996 Saab 900 SE

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 900 SE.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1996 Saab 900 SE is a passenger car requiring 4.5 quarts of oil with a recommended viscosity of 10W-30, 10W-40, or 0W-30 meeting API standards, specifications that reflect the turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain typical of the model's performance-oriented character. This model year recorded 66 total owner complaints with the electrical system emerging as the most frequently cited problem area, alongside three recalls issued during the vehicle's production cycle. According to available owner feedback, this particular model year falls within a period of moderate reliability concerns for the 900 platform, with the electrical system issues representing the most significant persistent problem area that potential researchers should note when evaluating long-term ownership outcomes.

Model year1997 1996

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 / 10W-40 / 0W-20 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque78-96 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 520 CCA battery, OE oil filter 95509857. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 520 CCAOEM · verified

Tire size195-60VR15OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	95509857 alt 93186554
Engine air filter	4236030 alt 4236063
Fuel filter	4163853
Spark plug	9195109 alt 4501029
Front wiper blades	93195936
Serpentine belt	4395430 alt 4395422
Thermostat	30577561 alt 9176165
Cabin air filter	32020156

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	182.7 in
Overall width	67.3 in
Overall height	56.7 in
Wheelbase	102.4 in
Curb weight	3131 lb
Track (front / rear)	57.1 / 56.7 in

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 10W-30 / 10W-40 / 0W-20 API engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 78-96 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	MINERAL OILS: 10W-30 OR 10W-40 API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	MINERAL OILS: 10W-30 OR 10W-40 API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	MINERAL OILS: 10W-30 OR 10W-40 API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.6 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	11 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	7 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	6 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings	36 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings	36 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	140 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	129 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	60 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	78-96 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug	28.0-38.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	214 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	850 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	0.5-0.8 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	7200-8200 ohms

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.60 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Standard BCI Group Number	47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	520 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	520 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	47

Service checks

Pressure Test	20-22 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	20-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	192 °F
Pressure Test	20-22 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	20-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	192 °F
Pressure Test	20-22 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	20-22 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	24 ft-lbs / 20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	67 ft-lbs / 35 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	0.94 in / 0.39 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	0.89 in / 0.33 in
Rotor Finish	0.87 μin / 0.31 μin

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

26 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45 degrees, Step 3: 15

26 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

185 ft. lbs., step 2: 45

185 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	44 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
2	59 ft. lbs.	59 ft. lbs
3	90 degrees.	90 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	44 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
2	59 ft. lbs.	59 ft. lbs
3	90 degrees.	90 degrees

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

48 ft. lbs., Step 2: 30

48 ft. lbs

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

37 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60 degrees, Step 3: 15

37 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs at 60,000 mi; coolant every 15,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 15,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Bag System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Body Fasteners (torque) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Power Booster Unit (inspect)
Every 10,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Bag System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Body Fasteners (torque) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Power Booster Unit (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 30,000 mi	Suspension Shock or Strut (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · PCV System (inspect)
At 35,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 mi	Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · PCV System (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 65,000 mi	Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 1996 Saab 900 SE top in one area — the electrical system, 10 of 66 reports (15%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 3 recall campaigns target the electrical system, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 3 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the electrical system pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 3 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 66 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System10

Power Train10

Engine & Engine Cooling8

Air Bags5

Fuel System, Gasoline4

Equipment4

Structure3

Exterior Lighting3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

98V038000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 24/02/1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROPERLY AIMING THE HEADLIGHTING SYSTEM WERE OMITTED. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED… Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT AIMING INSTRUCTIONS, AND DIRECTIONS FOR AFFIXING THESE INSERTS TO THE OWNER GUIDES. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, A DEALER CAN AFFIX THE INSERTS IN THEIR OWNER GUIDE…

97V046000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 21/03/1997

CORROSION AROUND THE ZINC-COATED THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHING CAN CAUSE THE THROTTLE LEVER TO BIND. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ZINC-COATED THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHING WITH A NICKEL-COATED BUSHING AND BOLT.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 46 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
130089009	2013-09-01	Engine And Engine Cooling	Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
850	2001-03-13	Air Bags	SUBJECT REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF SRS WIRING HARNESS. *TT
731	2000-10-31	Suspension	CONCERNS WITH CLUNKING / SNAPPING NOISE HEARD WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL. *TT
8111984	2000-01-01	Visibility	INFORMATION ON REPLACING CONNECTING TAB ON ELECTRICALLY HEATED REAR WINDOW. *TT
8112156	1999-07-01	Structure	SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT IRRITATING ROAD AND WIND NOISE PENETRATING INTO THE CABIN…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific 900 SE. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 47 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 95509857 Engine air filter 4236030 Fuel filter 4163853 Spark plug 9195109

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1996 900 SE take?

4.5 qt of MINERAL OILS: 10W-30 OR 10W-40 API, SYNTHETIC: USE FULLY SYNTHETIC 0W-20, 0W-50, 5W-30 OR 5W-40 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1996 900 SE have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.