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1999 Saab 9-5Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 118 owner complaints about the 1999 Saab 9-5, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.

46
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.2× the 9-5 median · #2 of 10 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Free fix at dealersOwner complaints1188 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage73kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 5, 2018. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1999 Saab 9-5 has problems

118 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 system702
Engine and engine cooling170
Fuel system, gasoline80
Service brakes, hydraulic71
Air bags41
Seat belts30
Equipment30
Tires30
Wheels30
11 other systems173

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

1999 Saab 9-5 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Wheels: hub

Recall 03V-006 · Jan 13, 2003 · 70,726 vehicles

Risk. THESE FRACTURES WOULD RESULT IN WHEEL BOLT BREAKAGE, ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO DETACH FROM THE WHEEL HUB, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Other: labels

Recall 98V-139 · Jun 23, 1998 · 39,313 vehicles

Risk. THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT MAY NOT PROPERLY UNDERSTAND THE OPERATION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND THE NEED TO USE SEAT BELTS.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Saab.

Mileage at failure

When do electrical system problems start?

73kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 62 electrical system complaints. 81% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
2under 30k miles50under 100k miles12100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Electrical system

10 owners mentioned a cost

$553median

Middle half: $404 – $811

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1999 vs. every other 9-5 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 9-5 median. How we score

'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
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1999 Saab 9-5, and the recalls they led to.

  1. ENGINE STALL/ ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE05017 · closed Sep 23, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-399
In owners' words

What 9-5 owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

ALL OF THESE REPAIRS IN ABOUT A TWO YEAR PERIOD: ABS MODULE, OIL COOLER, THROTTLE BODY, UPPER RADIATOR HOSE, AND BOTH DIC CASSETTES. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY A $40K CAR. I HAVE LOVED SAAB'S SINCE MY CHILDHOOD, BUT THIS ONE CAR HAS COMPLETELY TURNED ME OFF OF THEM.…
Complaint 10432601 · Oct 24, 2011 · 97,000 miles
MY 1999 SAAB'S DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE HAS FAILED -- A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THIS MODEL, FOR WHICH A RECALL WAS ISSUED. THAT RECALL, HOWEVER, EXCLUDED 1999 MODEL YEARS FOR REASONS UNKNOWN TO ANYONE I HAVE SPOKEN WITH. MY CAR IS ESSENTIALLY IDENTICAL TO A 2000 SAAB 9-5, WHICH IS COVERED UNDER…
Complaint 10377119 · Jan 18, 2011 · 83,000 miles
1999 SAAB 9-5 ENGINE JUST SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING. THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE IGNITION CONTROL UNIT ON THE 2000. DEALER SAID IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE 1999 BUT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. ICM HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AT THE DEALER, THE LAST TIME BEING 2 YEARS AGO AND NEEDS TO BE…
Complaint 10262238 · Mar 18, 2009 · 150,000 miles

Own a 1999 9-5?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.