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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Saab 9-5 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2008 Saab 9-5 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 20 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 2008 Saab 9-5, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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

2008 Saab 9-5 owner complaints

Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Saab 9-5, describing incidents dated January 24, 2008 to January 6, 2020.

Most-cited components

  • Air Bags 19 complaints
  • Electrical System 2 complaints

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11302603 · Filed

    I HAD MY AIRBAG REPLACED ON RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I NOW HAVE AN ERROR ALERT ON MY DASH INDICATING AN AIR BAG PROBLEM. MY SERVICE TECHNICIAN TELLS ME THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. WHAT ALTERNATIVES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ME, BESIDES DRIVE AN UNSAFE CAR OR JUNK IT (PROBABLY ILLEGAL TO SELL )

  • ODI #10967765 · Filed

    TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 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…

  • ODI #10939233 · Filed

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT…

Read all 20 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2008 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

Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture

NHTSA #16V063000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported February 3, 2016 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 113,716 vehicles

Repair completion: 84.82% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 28810 and 28811 · Owners notified March 1, 2017 · Vehicles built June 23, 2010 – February 21, 2011 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2017. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 28810.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT/FMVSS 201

NHTSA #08V160000 · Seats — Front Assembly — Head Restraint · NHTSA notice

Reported April 9, 2008 · SAAB CARS USA, INC.

Potentially affected: 57,389 vehicles

Saab campaign E080101/15204 · Owners notified November 25, 2008 · Vehicles built July 1, 2007 – February 28, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY TO OCCUPANTS MAY OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

SAAB RECALL NO. 15204/E080101.CUSTOMERS MAY 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.

Other Saab 9-5 model years

Check your 2008 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