This service bulletin provides information on Takata Air Bag Courtesy Transportation Reimbursement Program - Applicable to GM Recalls listed in bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Saab 9-5 airbags problems
moderate 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
When does it fail?
Of the 12 airbags complaints filed for the 2007 Saab 9-5, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides information on Takata Air Bag Completion Rate Improvement Program - Applicable to GM Recalls 14491, 14735,15040, 15041, 15043,15044, 15045, 15046, 15406,15438, 15442, 15815, 15816,15817, 15818, 15826, 17009, 17476, 17477, 28810, 28811,17478, 18015, N192273760, N192278940, N212328760, N212328770, N212328780, N212328790, N212328800, N242437050, N242437060, N242437070.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information on Takata Air Bag Completion Rate Improvement Program - Applicable to GM Recalls 14491, 14735, 15040, 15041, 15043, 15044, 15045, 15046, 15047, 15048, 15049, 15050, 15052, 15053, 15406, 15438, 15442, 15815, 15816, 15817, 15818, 15826, 17009, 17476, 17477, 28810, 28811, 17478, 18015, N192273760 and N192278940.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information on Takata Air Bag Completion Rate Improvement Program - Applicable to GM Recalls 14491, 14735, 15040, 15041, 15043, 15044, 15045, 15046, 15047, 15048, 15049, 15050, 15052, 15053, 15406, 15438, 15442, 15815, 15816, 15817, 15818, 15826, 17009, 17476, 17477, 28810, 28811, 17478, 18015 and N192278940.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information on Takata Air Bag Completion Rate Improvement Program - Applicable to GM Recalls 14491, 14735, 15040, 15041, 15043, 15044, 15045, 15046, 15406, 15438, 15442, 15815, 15816, 15817, 15818, 15826, 17009, 17476, 17477, 28810, 17478 and 18015.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2007 Saab 9-5 airbag complaints center entirely on the Takata inflator recall (NHTSA 16V063000), issued in February 2016. Owners received notification that driver-side inflators could deteriorate over time and combust too aggressively during deployment, rupturing the inflator body and sending metal fragments through the airbag cushion into occupants' faces and chests. This was a safety defect, not a pre-deployment malfunction—the airbag would not fail to deploy, but would fail dangerously when it did deploy.
GM stated replacement parts would be supplied, but owners reported waiting 8 to 11+ months with no parts available and no timeline for repair. Several owners could not schedule service appointments because dealers had no inflators in stock. One owner reported being told the replacement inflators were newer Takata units and questioned whether those were truly safe. Owners described the situation as unacceptable—vehicles were too unsafe to drive normally, could not be sold without disclosure, and customer service was unresponsive. No owner reported an actual deployment or injury; the complaints are about the recall delay and the unresolved hazard.
Same Saab 9-5 airbags reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Takata driver airbag inflator rupture hazard
Driver airbag inflator susceptible to alteration over time, leading to overaggressive combustion during deployment. Excessive internal pressure can cause inflator body rupture, allowing metal fragments to penetrate airbag cushion material and strike occupants.
When: 2007 model year; recall issued February 2016
Symptoms owners cite: Risk of inflator overaggressive combustion on deployment; Potential inflator body rupture; Metal fragment ejection through airbag cushion; No pre-deployment warning or failure symptoms reported by owners
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 16V063000
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replacement of driver airbag inflator at no charge; replacement parts were unavailable for extended periods (8–11+ months after recall notification in February 2016)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V063000 recall; GM notified owners and stated parts were being obtained; replacement inflators supplied by Takata. Some owners reported being told replacement parts included newer Takata units, raising concerns about ongoing safety.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 12 most recent
Takata recall - I received the attached letter in may, 2016. The vehicle is unsafe to drive. However, gm tells me it's ok to drive. That's not acceptable. Attached is an e-mail string of my correspondence with gm. I can't drive the car, it's in storage; and I can't sell it without full disclosure, which makes it worthless. And it's been six months with no indication that the replacement…
Takata recall I received a letter from gm informing me of the takata airbag recall for my car in february this year (2016). It has been more than 8 months since the recall was issued but my car's airbag systems has not yet been repaired. There has been no further communication from gm about the recall. Please help with resolving this matter. Thanks. *tr
Summary: in some vehicles, the driver airbag inflator may experience an alteration over time, which could lead to overaggressive combustion in the event of an air bag deployment. This condition could create excessive internal pressure when the air bag is deployed, which could result in the body of the inflator rupturing upon deployment. Safety risk: in the event of an inflator rupture, metal…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 saab 9-5. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v063000 (air bags). The manufacturer indicated that the contact would have to wait to receive the second recall notice to determine if the parts were available. The contact had been waiting for months to receive the recall repair and was unable to schedule a repair with the dealer…
Takata recall: gm/saab sent me notification at the beginning of may that my vehicle was subject to a recall because of saftey concerns around my airbags. However, the manufacturer has yet to offer a solution - they note that parts are not available. No date is given for a remedy. I feel like I've been driving a defective, potentially dangerous vehicle for 2 months without a sense of when this…
I was notified several months ago of recall report receipt date: feb 03, 2016 NHTSA campaign number: 16v063000 component(s): air bags . I was advised no parts were available at that time. It is now june 22 and still no parts are available and I am driving a car with a lethal safety defect. When will gm have the parts necessary for repair.?I have called the saab customer assistance center but…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 saab 9-5. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v063000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not…
My vehicle was on recall for Takata air bags. My vehicle was then installed with a new set of Takata airbags. Are not these airbags just as unsafe? Have not there been cases of the same issues happening to these airbags? Is my 2017 front passenger Airbag going to explode like a grenade and kill me? These are all questions I have, but I am told these airbags are safe. Yet I have seen lawsuits…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 saab 9-5. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v063000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms…
Takata recall. 2/3/17 will mark 1 yr since notification of recall. Gm site says working quickly to obtain replacement parts. Use of adverb quickly is inappropriate. I need to know risk factor as my wife and I have a loaded pistol pointed at our heads every time we drive this vehicle. Should we disable the SRS system? What is the geographical distribution of deaths and injuries from exploding…
Had airbags trouble with your 2007 Saab 9-5?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2007 Saab 9-5?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 103,500 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Saab/9-5.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.