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NHTSA vehicle safety data

1999 Saab 9-5 Recalls & Complaints

The 1999 Saab 9-5 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 116 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Saab dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1999 Saab 9-5. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1999 Saab 9-5 owner complaints

Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Saab 9-5, describing incidents dated June 1, 1999 to September 5, 2018.

Most-cited components

  • Electrical System 68 complaints
  • Engine 17 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 8 complaints
  • Service Brakes 8 complaints
  • Air Bags 4 complaints
  • Equipment 4 complaints

Of the 116 complaints on file, 4 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 116 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11124657 · Filed

    DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING IN A SMOOTH STRAIGHTAWAY COUNTRY ROAD AT ABOUT 30-35 MPH. NO OTHER CAS WERE AROUND AT THE TIME AND NOBODY GOT SERIOUSLY HURT, ONLY A MINOR BRUISE ON THE ARM.

  • ODI #10520408 · Filed

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH OR ANY TYPE OF IMPACT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST HOWEVER, DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE AN…

  • ODI #10476690 · Filed

    MY VEHICLE WAS SOLD ORIGINALLY IN CALIFORNIA AND HAS BEEN A CALIFORNIA REGISTERED VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES. IT HAS REAR FOG LIGHTS INSTALLED WITH IT'S OWN SEPARATE SWITCH ON CLUSTER DASH FOR THEM . THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE 24602 FOG TAIL LAMPS OR REAR FOG LIGHTS. AS…

Read all 116 complaints

Owner-reported

1999 Saab 9-5 mileage at failure

96 of the 116 complaints on file for the 1999 Saab 9-5 give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Electrical SystemMedian 75,000 milesMiddle half 60,000–90,000 milesBased on 60 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Complaints received before December 15, 2002 rarely give a mileage, so they aren't counted here.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1999 Saab 9-5 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

SAAB/WHEEL/TIRE CORROSION

NHTSA #03V006000 · Wheels — Hub · NHTSA notice

Reported January 13, 2003 · SAAB CARS USA, INC.

Potentially affected: 70,726 vehicles

Saab campaign 15013 · Owners notified March 31, 2003 · Vehicles built November 26, 1997 – October 10, 2002 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THESE FRACTURES WOULD RESULT IN WHEEL BOLT BREAKAGE, ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO DETACH FROM THE WHEEL HUB, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

SAAB RECALL NO. 15013. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

SAAB/FMVSS 208

NHTSA #98V139000 · Equipment — Other — Labels · NHTSA notice

Reported June 23, 1998 · SAAB CARS USA, INC.

Potentially affected: 39,313 vehicles

Owners notified September 1, 1998 · Vehicles built January 27, 1998 – June 9, 1998 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT MAY NOT PROPERLY UNDERSTAND THE OPERATION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND THE NEED TO USE SEAT BELTS.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATIONBEGAN SEPTEMBER 1,1998.OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE ALERT LABEL WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONBLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Other Saab 9-5 model years

Check your 1999 Saab 9-5 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Saab 9-5 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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