Saab 9-5 problems

1 safety recall. 11 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

Reliability score

8.6 / 10

Above-average reliability for the segment. Few systemic issues on file.

Critical

Severe

Moderate

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2005 9-5 · airbags Crash

I WAS INVOLVED WITH IN AN ACCIDENT ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 14TH, 2012. I WAS RETURNING TO WORK ON MY LUNCH BREAK AND A LADY RAN A RED LIGHT, PULLING OUT INFRONT OF ME, AND I ENDED UP T-BONING HER GOING ROUGHLY 45MPH. I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT NO AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED IN SUCH…

12/17/2012 · NHTSA ODI #10489047.0

2005 9-5 · suspension

NOTICED ABNORMAL / EARLY REAR TIRE WEAR. NOTICED ABNORMAL (OUT OF MANUFACTURERS SPEC.) REAR CAMBER. NOTICED REAR SUSPENSION BOTTOM OUT WITH MODERATE LOADS (APPROX 1/2 OF MAX LOAD). OEM REAR TIRES CUPPED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT PREMATURELY DUE TO ABNORMAL REAR CAMBER.…

10/19/2010 · NHTSA ODI #10361142.0

2005 9-5 · engine

THE IGNITION CASSETTE CRACKS CAUSING IGNITION PROBLEMS, STALLING, ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. IT MAKES IT UNPREDICTABLE. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE PREVIOUS RECALL PASTED BELOW. WHY DOES IT NOT COVER THESE OTHER MODEL YEARS? NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V410000…

09/09/2011 · NHTSA ODI #10424440.0

2005 9-5 · powertrain

BECAUSE OF IMPROPER DESIGN, REAR WIRE HARNESS FOR REVERSE LIGHTS ARE BEING SEVERED CAUSING THE REVERSING LIGHTS NOT TO WORK. THIS SAME DESIGN FLAW CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHTS AND ELECTRONIC TRUNK RELEASE/LOCK. *TR

08/15/2011 · NHTSA ODI #10419580.0

Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 07V087000 07/03/2007

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.

Fix: 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.

Common questions

Is the 2005 Saab 9-5 reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.6 out of 10 based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Saab 9-5 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

What's the most common problem on the 2005 Saab 9-5?

No problem area has crossed our reporting threshold yet, which is a good sign for this vehicle.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

Major repair items haven't been flagged often enough on this vehicle to single one out.

How do I check if my Saab 9-5 has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2005 Saab 9-5?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 11 complaints on file, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 20 hours ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Saab. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.