- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- In the event of a vehicle crash, personal injury to occupants may occur.
- The fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
2005 Saab 9-5 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 2005 Saab 9-5 with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (2) and the engine & cooling (2). Those complaints describe 2 crashes and 1 injury. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in April 2008 for the head restraint. For comparison, the 2004 has 19 and the 2006 has 23.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical 9-5 year, for its age
#217 most complained-about 2005 vehicle
- Complaints
- 11
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 2
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2005 Saab 9-5 problems
Share of all 11 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2005 Saab 9-5 recalls 2
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump retaining tabs holding the fuel lines were damaged during production.
- The risk
- 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.
- The 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.
What owners say
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11 complaints about the 2005 Saab 9-5
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
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 a severe head on collision. The car has been seen by the insurance company and they decided to total the vehicle. In such a violent accident I would expect the air bags to be deployed, especially when the accident was a front on collision...
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that totaled my saab. I was taken to the er because I hit my head on the a frame and had major back and neck pain. This problem about the air bags not going off needs to be known, and I am very disappointed that this vehicle did not meet the basic standards for safety in a head on collision. *Tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 9-5 saab. The contact stated that while traveling 70 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated repeatedly as the vehicle began to sputter and jerk. The contact then merged to the side of the road where the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to be driven to the contact's residence and was later taken to a private mechanic where it was confirmed that the fuel line failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure and current mileages were 122,000. The vin was not available.
Check engine light was sporadically on for about two weeks. On 7/14 coolant level low indication came on. Coolant reservoir was empty. Filled, started engine, coolant leaked in a steady stream from the car. Towed to dealer. Diagnosed ignition cassette as faulty and water valve (part servicing heater core) as faulty and the source of the leak. Check engine light was due to ignition cassette. Good there is a warning, but it could be more specific, as failure of this part shuts down the engine. Water valve leak could...
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cause overheating. Both parts are critical and failure in a car with so little mileage is unacceptable. The ignition cassette for model years 1999-2002 was recalled due to overheating. This was reportedly fixed. Now the part that has failed in a fairly young car is not available through normal channels (saab parts usa) and shops are charging inflated prices for the part (in my case $850 as opposed to $465 list price; and my dealership claims they are not able to sell it for less. My extended warranty will not pay more than list and I am being asked to make up the difference). There is clearly a problem when a part standard to over a million vehicles is not available except from shops who have collected the parts in inventory and are now selling them on something not unlike a black market. *Tr
Running lights will not turn off, even after the car is stopped and the key is out of the ignition, causing the battery to run down. *Js
THE IGNITION CASSETTE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
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 www.Nhtsa.Dot.Gov manufacturer saab cars usa, inc. Recall date: oct 23, 2006 potential number of units affected: 5078 description electrical system:ignition:module summary certain passenger vehicles equipped with b308 6-cylinder gasoline...
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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). *Tr
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
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 9-5 saab. The contact stated that while making a turn she crashed into a parked vehicle. The air bags did deploy after the crash occurred and the driver received injuries to her face and mouth. A police report was filed. She was not transported to the hospital. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who advised her that the way the she crashed into the vehicle, the air bags would not deploy. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000. The vin was unavailable. Updated 07/18/11 *bf updated 3/6/12 *cn
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. New tires installed. Rear aftermarket camber shims installed. *Tr
My 2005 saab 9-5 arc right front coil spring broke while my wife was driving the vehicle causing extensive tire damage. The vehicle is being repaired requiring the replacement of both coil springs along with the cv boot. The total cost for repairs is approximately $1200.00 Along with the above repairs the tire was also replaced at a cost of $100.00. *Tr
The factory floor mat slipped forward and was wedged to the accelerator pedal so that the pedal stuck at almost full throttle. Avoided a collision by shifting into neutral, stopping, and realizing the mat was jammed into the accelerator pedal. I extricated the mat from the pedal and restored the function to normal. The car has restraining pins designed to hold the mat in place but the design is flawed, especially if the mat curls in that area. *Tr
Saab 9-5: every year compared
All 9-5 years2005 Saab 9-5 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Saab 9-5 | 11 | 2 | C | |
| 2005 Saab 9-2X | 111 | 4 | - | Compare |
| 2005 Saab 9-3 | 95 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 2005 Saab 9-7X | 25 | 2 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2005 Saab 9-5
Does the 2005 Saab 9-5 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2005 Saab 9-5: head restraint (April 2008); hoses, lines / piping, and fittings (March 2007). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Saab 9-5?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (2), engine & cooling (2), equipment & accessories (2).
How many complaints has the 2005 Saab 9-5 had?
11 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on November 7, 2009 and the latest on December 17, 2012. Of these, 2 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 1 injury and 0 deaths.
Is the 2005 Saab 9-5 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 57 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Saab 9-5 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Saab 9-5 years have the most complaints?
1999 (117), 2000 (102), 2001 (82). See every Saab 9-5 year compared.
What should I do if my 2005 Saab 9-5 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data