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Saab 9-5Years to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 557 NHTSA owner complaints across 21 model years, no Saab 9-5 year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2003. The 9-5 has 16 safety recalls on record.

Saab 9-5
Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years'99 '01 '02 '03Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints557Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls161965–2011 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.

Best & worst years

Saab 9-5 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 9-5 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'65'67'68'69'70'71'72'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2011Not rated–/1009 complaints · 0 recalls2010Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls2009Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall2008Not rated–/10020 complaints · 2 recalls2007Not rated–/10017 complaints · 2 recalls2006Not rated–/10023 complaints · 2 recalls2005Not rated–/10011 complaints · 2 recalls2004Not rated–/10019 complaints · 2 recalls2003Best69/10047 complaints · 4 recalls2002Solid58/10065 complaints · 6 recalls2001Solid50/100104 complaints · 4 recalls2000Solid45/100119 complaints · 3 recalls1999Solid46/100118 complaints · 2 recalls1998Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1972Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1971Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1970Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1969Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1968Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1967Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1965Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Saab 9-5 problems

All model years combined: 557 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system26113
Engine and engine cooling815
Air bags6410
Fuel system, gasoline462
Service brakes, hydraulic261
Power train160
Exterior lighting160
Tires140
Visibility111
18 other systems10710
16 recalls

Saab 9-5 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

68%Driver side: inflator module16V-063 · 2006–2009 · Feb 3, 2016 · 113,716 vehicles–Front assembly: head restraint08V-160 · 2002–2008 · Apr 9, 2008 · 57,389 vehicles–Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings07V-087 · 2001–2005 · Mar 7, 2007 · 94,377 vehicles–Ignition: module06V-410 · 2002–2003 · Oct 26, 2006 · 5,078 vehicles–Ignition: module05V-399 · 2000–2002 · Sep 14, 2005 · 103,202 vehicles–Wheels: hub03V-006 · 1999–2003 · Jan 13, 2003 · 70,726 vehicles–Spindle: arm02V-006 · 2002 · Jan 4, 2002 · 2,601 vehicles–Air bags01V-168 · 2000–2001 · May 18, 2001 · 43,073 vehicles–Other: labels98V-139 · 1999 · Jun 23, 1998 · 39,313 vehicles–Visibility: windshield72V-302 · 1970–1972 · Dec 11, 1972 · 12,126 vehicles–Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings71V-149 · 1967–1968 · Aug 24, 1971 · 13,560 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline: delivery70V-150 · 1970 · Dec 14, 1970 · 6,648 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 16 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

2 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the 9-5

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · 2006–2009 · still open
    Open
  2. ENGINE STALL/ ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE05017 · 1999–2002 · closed Sep 23, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-399