What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2001 Saab 9-5

Typical pattern

6.6% of complaints about the 2001 Saab 9-5 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2001 vehicle — around the middle of the 216 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (70 complaints), typically at 4.7 yr or about 50,000 miles.

Complaints
137
Median age at failure
4.8 yr
Median mileage
58,000 n=102
Crash / fire / tow
9.5% of reports
Safety recalls
4

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
70 reports · 50,000 mi
4.7 yr
11.4%
Engine cooling
23 reports · 60,100 mi
4.7 yr
4.3%
Fuel system
16 reports · 61,198 mi
5.5 yr
12.5%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

07V087000 2007-03-07
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINES WERE DAMAGED DURING PRODUCTION.

OVER TIME, THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL LINES TO LOOSEN FROM THE PUMP RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL MAY IGNITE RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

05V399000 2005-09-14
Electrical system:ignition:module

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH B205/B235 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND B308 6-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE OVERHEATING AND BURNOUT OF THE ISOLATED GATED BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR (IGBT) WITHIN THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE (IDM) DUE TO INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ELECTRICAL LOADS.

OVERHEATING OF THE IGBT OCCURS MOST OFTEN AT ENGINE START-UP, BUT IT MAY ALSO OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. ENGINE STALLING MAY OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

03V006000 2003-01-13
Wheels:hub

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IF AN OWNER CHANGES THEIR WHEELS/TIRES BETWEEN SUMMER AND WINTER USING A STEEL WHEEL IN THE WINTER AND AN ALLOY WHEEL IN THE SUMMER, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR RUST AND CONTAMINATION TO BUILD UP ON THE WHEEL HUB DURING THE STEEL WHEEL USAGE. IF THIS OCCURS AND THE CONTAMINATION IS NOT REMOVED, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT AFTER THE TIRE CHANGE SERVICE, SOME OF THIS CONTAMINATION COULD FLAKE OR GRIND AWAY RESULTING IN REDUCED CLAMPING FORCE OF THE WHEEL TO THE HUB. OVER SEVERAL SEASONS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS REDUCED FORCE COULD RESULT IN FRACTURES DEVELOPING IN THE WHEEL BOLT

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

01V168000 2001-05-18
Air bags

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE AIR BAG ALERT LABELS MAY NOT BE PERMANENTLY AFFIXED AS REQUIRED BY THIS STANDARD.

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.

In owners’ own words

Engine cooling mileage not reported 11 mo in service
WHITE SMOKE EXITS THE EXHAUST AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND SITS, AND IS STARTED AGAIN. SAAB CUSTOMER SERVICE FIRST TOLD ME A TSB WOULD BE ISSUED CONCERNING THE PROBLEM. POQUET AUTO AND MORRIES SAAB BOTH STATED "SOME" SAABS HAVE A PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE CSR, THE INJECTORS RELEASE TOO MUCH FUEL UPON STARTUP WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD AND THAT CAUSES THE SMOKE. WHEN THE SAAB IDLES, IT STOPS. I WAS INFORMED THAT SAAB WAS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM AT FIRST. NOW I AM TOLD, THERE IS NO PROBLEM. THIS DEFECT SERIOUSLY DIMINISHES THE OVERALL VALUE OF A $40K CAR.*AK
Engine cooling mileage not reported 10 mo in service
THE CAR HAS STALLED TWICE WITHOUT WARNING, ON THE SECOND OCCASION THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, IN THE FIRST INSTANCE THE DEALER REPLACED THE D1 CASSETTE BECUSE IT MALFUNCTIONED BUT IN THE SECOND INSTANCE DIAGNOSTIC TEST DID NOT REVEAL A CAUSE FOR THE SHUT DOWN. NLM
Engine cooling mileage not reported 10 mo in service
THE CAR HAS STALLED TWICE WITHOUT WARNING, ON THE SECOND OCCASION THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, IN THE FIRST INSTANCE THE DEALER REPLACED THE D1 CASSETTE BECUSE IT MALFUNCTIONED BUT IN THE SECOND INSTANCE DIAGNOSTIC TEST DID NOT REVEAL A CAUSE FOR THE SHUT DOWN. NLM
Electrical system mileage not reported 10 mo in service
THE CAR HAS STALLED TWICE WITHOUT WARNING, ON THE SECOND OCCASION THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, IN THE FIRST INSTANCE THE DEALER REPLACED THE D1 CASSETTE BECUSE IT MALFUNCTIONED BUT IN THE SECOND INSTANCE DIAGNOSTIC TEST DID NOT REVEAL A CAUSE FOR THE SHUT DOWN. NLM

Other 9-5 model years

20032002200120001999

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