NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1998–2011

Saab 9-5 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns and 557 owner complaints for the Saab 9-5, covering model years 1998 to 2011. The 2000 model year drew the most complaints (119), and Electrical System is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Saab 9-5 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

9 recall campaigns on file
557 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
14 model years with data (1998–2011)

most complaints: 2000 (119 for that model year)
top component: Electrical System (261 complaints)
latest recall 16V063000 (reported Feb 3, 2016)

14 complaints reporting a crash (2.5%)
17 complaints reporting a fire (3.1%)
12 complaints reporting an injury (2.2%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Saab 9-5 complaints by model year

14 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2000 model year has the most complaints: 119 of 557, or 21.4%. Next come 1999 (118) and 2001 (104). The fewest are for 1998, with 1 complaint.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

Show the figures for all 14 model years

Saab 9-5 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

Saab 9-5 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury
1998	1	0	0	0
1999	118	4	1	3
2000	119	3	5	4
2001	104	1	5	0
2002	65	2	5	2
2003	47	1	0	1
2004	19	1	1	0
2005	11	2	0	1
2006	23	0	0	0
2007	17	0	0	0
2008	20	0	0	0
2009	2	0	0	0
2010	2	0	0	1
2011	9	0	0	0
All model years	557	14	17	12

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Saab 9-5 components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Electrical System is the component named most often, in 261 complaints (46.9% of all 557), followed by Engine and Engine Cooling (81) and Air Bags (64).

Components named most often in Saab 9-5 complaints (top 15)

Components named most often in Saab 9-5 complaints (top 15)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Electrical System	261	46.9%
Engine and Engine Cooling	81	14.5%
Air Bags	64	11.5%
Fuel System, Gasoline	46	8.3%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	26	4.7%
Exterior Lighting	16	2.9%
Power Train	16	2.9%
Tires	14	2.5%
Equipment	11	2.0%
Vehicle Speed Control	11	2.0%
Visibility	11	2.0%
Structure	10	1.8%
Wheels	10	1.8%
Seat Belts	9	1.6%
Steering	9	1.6%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Saab 9-5 recalls

9 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name 9-5, newest first. The 9 campaigns cover model years 1999 to 2009. The 2002 model year appears in the most campaigns (6).

9 recall campaigns

Saab 9-5 recall campaigns covering each model year
Decade	Years ending in 0	Years ending in 1	Years ending in 2	Years ending in 3	Years ending in 4	Years ending in 5	Years ending in 6	Years ending in 7	Years ending in 8	Years ending in 9
1990s										1999: 2 campaigns
2000s	2000: 3 campaigns	2001: 4 campaigns	2002: 6 campaigns	2003: 4 campaigns	2004: 2 campaigns	2005: 2 campaigns	2006: 2 campaigns	2007: 2 campaigns	2008: 2 campaigns	2009: 1 campaign

Highlighted: the model year with the most campaigns.

NHTSA campaign 16V063000
Reported Feb 3, 2016
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module
Model years 2006–2009
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence:
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy:
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2017. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 28810.
Filed by General Motors, LLC
NHTSA campaign 08V160000
Reported Apr 9, 2008
Seats › Front Assembly › Head Restraint
Model years 2002–2008
Saab is recalling 57,389 MY 2002-2008 9-5 series vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact." During compliance testing, one of the upper interior occupant protection test points exceeded the standard's requirements.
Consequence:
In the event of a vehicle crash, personal injury to occupants may occur.
Remedy:
Dealers will install a-pillar trim with improved energy-absorbing capability free of charge. The recall began on November 25, 2008. Owners may contact Saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Filed by General Motors, LLC
NHTSA campaign 07V087000
Reported Mar 7, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Model years 2001–2005
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump retaining tabs holding the fuel lines were damaged during production.
Consequence:
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.
Remedy:
Dealers will develop a securing bracket that will secure the fuel lines to the fuel pump even if the plastic retaining tabs should break. The recall began on June 13, 2007. This is an expansion of previous recall campaigns - see 04V557 and 06V126. Owners may contact Saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Filed by SAAB CARS USA, INC.
NHTSA campaign 06V410000
Reported Oct 26, 2006
Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Model years 2002–2003
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with 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.
Consequence:
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.
Remedy:
Dealers will inspect to see what version idm is in the vehicle and replace the idm if it is a version built prior to January 2003. The recall is expected to begin during December 2005. Owners may contact Saab at 1-800-955-9007. Note: this recall is an expansion of a previous campaign (please see 05V399).
Filed by General Motors, LLC
NHTSA campaign 05V399000
Reported Sep 14, 2005
Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Model years 2000–2002
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.
Consequence:
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.
Remedy:
Dealers will inspect to see what version idm is in the vehicle and replace the idm if it is a version built prior to the introduction of QP3. An interim letter will be mailed to owners in October 2005, informing them of the condition. Parts are now available and owners will be notified to bring their vehicles in to the dealers to have the idm replaced by letter dated March 13, 2006. Owners may contact Saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Filed by SAAB CARS USA, INC.
NHTSA campaign 03V006000
Reported Jan 13, 2003
Wheels › Hub
Model years 1999–2003
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 bolts due to wheel to hub movement.
Consequence:
These fractures would result in wheel bolt breakage, allowing the wheel to detach from the wheel hub, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
Owners will be contacted by mail and asked whether they change between steel and alloy wheels. If they do engage in this practice, they will be instructed to bring their cars to an authorized dealer. The dealer will remove the wheels, clean any contamination from the wheel and wheel hub, and replace the wheels using new improved bolts with attached washers. Owner notification began March 31, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Filed by SAAB CARS USA, INC.
NHTSA campaign 02V006000
Reported Jan 4, 2002
Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm
Model year 2002
The steering knuckle castings on certain passenger vehicles may have been contaminated during the casting process.
Consequence:
These knuckles can break, resulting in possible loss of steering control.
Remedy:
Dealers will inspect the steering knuckle for the casting number. If the knuckle was in the defective batch, the steering knuckle will be replaced. Owner notification is expected to begin during January 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Filed by SAAB CARS USA, INC.
NHTSA campaign 01V168000
Reported May 18, 2001
Air Bags
Model years 2000–2001
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.
Consequence:
These vehicles do not comply with the requirements.
Remedy:
Dealers will clean the sunvisor surface and apply a new air bag alert label on both sunvisors. Owner notification began July 30, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Filed by SAAB CARS USA, INC.
NHTSA campaign 98V139000
Reported Jun 23, 1998
Equipment › Other › Labels
Model year 1999
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The air bag alert label on the driver side visor was omitted. This does not conform to the requirements of FMVSS No. 208, "occupant crash protection."
Consequence:
The vehicle occupant may not properly understand the operation of the air bag system and the need to use seat belts.
Remedy:
Owners will be provided with an alert label to be installed on the visible side of the driver's sun visor. If an owner so desires, their dealer can install the label for them.
Filed by SAAB CARS USA, INC.

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Saab 9-5 questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Saab 9-5 have?

NHTSA lists 9 vehicle recall campaigns for the Saab 9-5, covering model years 1998 to 2011. The most recent, 16V063000, was reported on February 3, 2016 and is filed under “Air bags”. The 2002 model year is covered by the most campaigns (6).

Which Saab 9-5 model year has the most complaints?

The 2000 model year, with 119 of the 557 complaints in NHTSA’s file (21.4%). The next are 1999 (118) and 2001 (104). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Saab 9-5 complaint?

Electrical System is the component named most often: 261 complaints, or 46.9% of all 557. Engine and Engine Cooling (81) and Air Bags (64) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Saab 9-5?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Saab dealer.

How many Saab 9-5 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 557 complaints, 14 report a crash, 17 a fire, 12 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

7 models · most complaints first

The Saab models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Saab VIN decoder with every Saab model page, WMI code and VIN note.

Saab 9-3 1999–2011 · 17 recalls · 1,345 complaints
Saab 900 1995–2000 · 10 recalls · 196 complaints
Saab 9-7X 2005–2009 · 4 recalls · 171 complaints
Saab 9-2X 2005–2006 · 8 recalls · 121 complaints
Saab 9-3 Convertible 1999–2002 · 2 recalls · 61 complaints
Saab 9000 1995–1998 · 1 recall · 25 complaints
Saab 9-4x 2011–2012 · 2 recalls · 5 complaints

All Saab models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.

Saab 9-5 complaints by model year

Most-reported Saab 9-5 components

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

Saab 9-5 recalls

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module

Seats › Front Assembly › Head Restraint

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings

Electrical System › Ignition › Module

Electrical System › Ignition › Module

Wheels › Hub

Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm

Air Bags

Equipment › Other › Labels