NHTSA vehicle safety data

2000 Saab 9-5 Recalls & Complaints

The 2000 Saab 9-5 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 102 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 2000 Saab 9-5. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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

2000 Saab 9-5 owner complaints

Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Saab 9-5, describing incidents dated January 1, 2002 to November 1, 2016.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 53 complaints
Service Brakes 15 complaints
Engine 12 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 11 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 5 complaints
Equipment 3 complaints

Of the 102 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 5 a fire; across all 102 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10935339 · Filed December 14, 2016
COMPLAINT ABOUT AUTOMOBILE PAINT.I PURCHASED CAR RECENTLY AND THE HOOD AND TOP ON CAR IS FLAKY AND FADED.THE COLOR DESCRIPTION IS GRAY.I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH CARS THAT WERE MADE IN THE YEAR 2000.THE HOOD AND TOP WOULD HAVE TO BE PAINTED.IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE TREE SAP OR ANY FOREIGN…
ODI #10414473 · Filed July 20, 2011
DRIVING SLOWLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, I NOTICED A LOSS OF POWER WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE WITH FREEWAY TRAFFIC. THE GAS GAUGE NEEDLE WAS DROPPING QUICKER THAN NORMAL, AND THE GASOLINE FUMES BECAME APPARENT AFTER CRACKING A WINDOW. THE ENGINE STALLED FOR THE THIRD AND LAST TIME AS I EXITED THE FREEWAY…
ODI #10414272 · Filed July 17, 2011
DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AFTER LEAVING WORK, I NOTICED NO LOSS OF POWER UNTIL I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE WITH FREEWAY TRAFFIC. SOON ENOUGH, THOUGH I DID NOTICE THAT THE GAS GAUGE NEEDLE WAS DROPPING QUICKER THAN NORMAL, AND THE GASOLINE FUMES BECAME APPARENT AFTER CRACKING THE WINDOWS. THE ENGINE STALLED…

Read all 102 complaints

Owner-reported

2000 Saab 9-5 mileage at failure

83 of the 102 complaints on file for the 2000 Saab 9-5 give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Electrical System	Median 80,000 miles	Middle half 65,000–100,000 miles	Based on 47 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.

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 2000 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.

Preliminary Evaluation PE05-017: ENGINE STALL/ ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
Closed September 23, 2005
- Recall 05V-399
- Recall 06V-410

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR OVERHEATING/BURNOUT

NHTSA #05V399000 · Electrical System — Ignition — Module · NHTSA notice

Reported September 14, 2005 · SAAB CARS USA, INC.

Potentially affected: 103,202 vehicles

Saab campaign 15021 · Owners notified March 13, 2006 · Vehicles built June 1, 1999 – June 30, 2000 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH B205/B235 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND B308 6-CYLINDER GASOLINE 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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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 THE INTRODUCTION OF QP3. AN INTERIM LETTER WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS IN OCTOBER 2005, INFORMING THEM OF THE CONDITION. PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AND OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN TO THE DEALERS TO HAVE THE IDM REPLACED BY LETTER DATED MARCH 13, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.

Notes

SAAB RECALL NO. 05087.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

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/AIR BAG LABEL

NHTSA #01V168000 · Air Bags · NHTSA notice

Reported May 18, 2001 · SAAB CARS USA, INC.

Potentially affected: 43,073 vehicles

Owners notified July 30, 2001 · Vehicles built September 27, 1999 – July 7, 2000 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE AIR BAG ALERT LABELS MAY NOT BE PERMANENTLY AFFIXED AS REQUIRED BY THIS STANDARD.

Safety consequence

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE SUNVISOR SURFACE AND APPLY A NEW AIR BAG ALERT LABEL ON BOTH SUNVISORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 30, 2001. 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

ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2000 Saab 9-5. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

102 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2000 Saab 9-5.

Unknown or Other

ODI #10935339

Incident: November 1, 2016 · Filed: December 14, 2016

COMPLAINT ABOUT AUTOMOBILE PAINT.I PURCHASED CAR RECENTLY AND THE HOOD AND TOP ON CAR IS FLAKY AND FADED.THE COLOR DESCRIPTION IS GRAY.I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH CARS THAT WERE MADE IN THE YEAR 2000.THE HOOD AND TOP WOULD HAVE TO BE PAINTED.IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE TREE SAP OR ANY FOREIGN SUBSTANCE AFFECTED THE PAINT.IT LOOKS LIKE THE PAINT JUST BROKE DOWN.

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10414473

Incident: July 13, 2011 · Filed: July 20, 2011

DRIVING SLOWLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, I NOTICED A LOSS OF POWER WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE WITH FREEWAY TRAFFIC. THE GAS GAUGE NEEDLE WAS DROPPING QUICKER THAN NORMAL, AND THE GASOLINE FUMES BECAME APPARENT AFTER CRACKING A WINDOW. THE ENGINE STALLED FOR THE THIRD AND LAST TIME AS I EXITED THE FREEWAY. UPON INSPECTION, I COULD SEE THAT THE FUEL 'LINE OUT' FROM THE PUMP UNDER THE BACK SEAT HAD COME OUT, FORCING FUEL OUT ONTO THE ROAD, JUST IN FRONT OF MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT BACK IN AS THE RETAINING CLIP WAS NOT BROKEN. WITH AIR IN THE LINE, IT TOOK A WHILE TO START UP AND GET TO A NEARBY GAS STATION. DOUBLE ZIP-TIES WHEN I GOT HOME. CALLED MY SAAB GUY WHO SAID THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL, AND I NEED TO GET THEIR LATE FIX BRACKET. IT WILL NEVER COME OUT AGAIN OF ITS OWN ACCORD, AND I'M THANKFUL THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO GET IT TOWED - THIS TIME.

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10414272

Incident: July 13, 2011 · Filed: July 17, 2011

DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AFTER LEAVING WORK, I NOTICED NO LOSS OF POWER UNTIL I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE WITH FREEWAY TRAFFIC. SOON ENOUGH, THOUGH I DID NOTICE THAT THE GAS GAUGE NEEDLE WAS DROPPING QUICKER THAN NORMAL, AND THE GASOLINE FUMES BECAME APPARENT AFTER CRACKING THE WINDOWS. THE ENGINE STALLED FOR THE THIRD AND LAST TIME JUST AS I ESCAPED OFF THE FREEWAY. UPON INSPECTION, I COULD SEE THAT THE FUEL LINE OUT FROM THE PUMP UNDER THE BACK SEAT HAD COME OUT, FORCING ALL (OF THAT OH-SO-PRECIOUS) FUEL OUT ONTO THE ROAD, JUST IN FRONT OF MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL. I PUSHED IT BACK IN (FUEL TANK 'ROADS?), AS THE RETAINING CLIP WAS NOT BROKEN. NOW WITH SOME AIR IN THE LINE, IT TOOK A WHILE TO SUCK ENOUGH FUMES TO START UP AND GET TO A NEARBY GAS STATION. SMOOTH AS SILK AFTER A DOSE OF FUEL. DOUBLE ZIP-TIES WHEN I GOT HOME. CALLED MY SAAB GUY WHO SAID THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL, AND I NEED TO GET THEIR 'AFTER FIX' BRACKET. IT WILL NEVER COME OUT AGAIN, AND I'M GRATEFUL I DIDN'T HAVE TO GET TOWED THIS TIME.

Equipment

ODI #10398271

Incident: April 29, 2011 · Filed: April 29, 2011

DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE...THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO SPUTTER LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING TO DIE AND BURNS THE ELECTRICAL INSIDE OF THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. WE HAD THE CAR HOOKED UP TO THE MACHINE AND TESTED AND GOT A MISFIRE CODE (P0325) AND ONCE THE CHECK ENGINE WAS CLEARED IT WORKED AGAIN FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE CAR WILL THEN STOP OPERATING, THE ENGINE STAYS RUNNING BUT WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE, GOES INTO LIMP MODE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME ON THE FREEWAY THIS MORNING AND THANKFULLY I COULD COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SAABSERVICES.COM SHOWS THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL BUT THE SERIAL NUMBERS ON MINE FALL OUT OF THE RANGE OF THE SERIAL NUMBERS THE RECALL COVERS. *TR

Electrical System

ODI #10357910

Incident: September 21, 2010 · Filed: September 27, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS SAFELY DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. AFTER WAITING FOR THE ENGINE TO COOL, THE CONTACT DISPENSED OIL INTO THE RESERVOIR. THE VEHICLE RESUMED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED RAPIDLY TO THE HOT LEVEL READING. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V399000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: MODULE) HOWEVER, THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

Electrical System

ODI #10335354

Incident: May 14, 2005 · Filed: June 8, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V399000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: MODULE) HOWEVER, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE YEAR THE ENGINE WAS MANUFACTURED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10325172

Incident: August 15, 2004 · Filed: April 12, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 95. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE MINUTES WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE VEHICLE OPERATED PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

Fuel System, Gasoline; Electrical System

ODI #10313165

Incident: October 3, 2008 · Filed: March 3, 2010

2000 SAAB 9-5 FAILED IGNITION CASSETTE. SAAB SAID THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE PART HAD BEEN RECALLED. RECALL # 05V399000. *DT ALSO THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10294498

Incident: November 22, 2009 · Filed: December 4, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-5. THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE GAS TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY THE FOLLOWING DAY SINCE ALL OF THE FUEL LEAKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC ADVISED HIM THAT RECALL 07V087000, FUEL WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO CONFIRMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 191,535 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,708. UPDATED 12/30/09. *LJ UPDATED 12/30/09*JB

Electrical System

ODI #10276968

Incident: January 8, 2007 · Filed: July 16, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-5. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLS. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED OR EVEN BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX MONTHS LATER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SHOP AND THE IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED ONCE AGAIN. THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX MONTHS LATER. THROUGH RESEARCH, HE FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V399000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL SINCE THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Other Saab 9-5 model years

Check your 2000 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.

Check a Saab VIN