Saab 9-5 years to avoid
More than twice the 9-5's typical complaint count for a model year.
Best Saab 9-5 years
Not enough model years on the road yet to compare.
Saab 9-5 complaints by model year
Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.
Most common Saab 9-5 problems
All model years combined.
- Electrical261
- Engine87
- Airbags64
- Fuel system58
- Brakes36
- Transmission16
- Lights16
- Tires14
- Visibility11
- Acceleration11
- Wheels10
- Body10
Most reported problems on the Saab 9-5
Saab 9-5 problems year by year
Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.
| Year | Score | Complaints | Top problem | Typical mileage | Recalls | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 87 | 9 | Lights | 58,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 95 | 2 | Airbags | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2009 | 95 | 2 | Airbags | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2008 | 73 | 20 | Airbags | 50,000 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 77 | 17 | Airbags | 52,000 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 68 | 23 | Airbags | 61,000 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 74 | 11 | Airbags | 95,000 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2004 | 73 | 19 | Electrical | 31,821 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 40 | 47 | Electrical | 73,000 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2002 | 23 | 65 | Electrical | 54,000 | 6 | 2 | Avoid |
| 2001 | 12 | 104 | Electrical | 62,000 | 4 | 1 | Avoid |
| 2000 | - | 119 | Electrical | 78,015 | 3 | 3 | |
| 1999 | - | 118 | Electrical | 78,000 | 2 | 4 | |
| 1998 | - | 1 | Brakes | 0 | 0 |
Recalls 9
Questions about the Saab 9-5
What years of the Saab 9-5 should you avoid?
2001 and 2002. Each has more than twice the Saab 9-5's typical number of owner complaints for a model year; 2001 alone has 104, mostly about electrical and engine.
What is the best year for a used Saab 9-5?
There are not enough model years on the road yet to compare.
What is the most common problem with the Saab 9-5?
Electrical, with 261 complaints across all years, followed by engine (87) and airbags (64).
How many recalls does the Saab 9-5 have?
9 recalls between 1998 and 2011. The 2002 model year has the most, with 6.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used Saab 9-5?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history