Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Saab 9-5 problems
Owners filed 117 complaints about the 1999 Saab 9-5 with NHTSA between Jul 1999 and Sep 2018. The most-cited component is electrical system (69).
Complaints
117
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system69
- Engine and engine cooling17
- Fuel system, gasoline8
- Service brakes, hydraulic7
- Equipment5
- Air bags4
- Tires3
- Wheels3
- Exterior lighting2
- Structure2
- Power train2
- Visibility2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Seat belts2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
2
2
2
5
12
38
29
5
10
1
2
3
2
1
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 38 |
| 2006 | 29 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
69 reports1 fire
“ALL OF THESE REPAIRS IN ABOUT A TWO YEAR PERIOD: ABS MODULE, OIL COOLER, THROTTLE BODY, UPPER RADIATOR HOSE, AND BOTH DIC CASSETTES. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY A $40K CAR. I HAVE LOVED SAAB'S SINCE MY CHILDHOOD, BUT THIS ONE CAR HAS COMPLETELY TURNED ME OFF OF THEM. FIRST THE ABS MODULE WENT, HAD IT REBUILT ($150) AND NO IMPROVEMENT. SO I BOUGHT A NEW ONE ($350). THEN JUST AFTER THAT THE THROTTLE BODY DIED ($450). THEN JUST A FEW MONTHS LATER THE OIL COOLER ($1100) WENT OUT. IT RAN SMOOTH FOR A SHORT TIME, BUT THEN BOTH DIC'S DIED AT THE SAME TIME ($850). IT IS TIME FOR THIS CAR TO GO AWAY, AND I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SAAB. WHY IS THERE A RECALL ON THE DIC FOR ALL SUBSEQUENT YEARS, BUT NO THE 1999'S? THANK SAAB!!! *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
17 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER IGNITION CASSETTE WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN SHE STARTS HER VEHICLE, IT MOVES SLUGGISHLY AND MAKES NOISE. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINS ILLUMINATED AND AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUMES EXIT THE EXHAUST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION CASSETTE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS HARMING THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.”
Fuel system, gasoline
8 reports
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
7 reports1 crash
“VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER FILLED WITH OIL LEAKING FROM DEFECTIVE VACUUM PUMP RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE. DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE CAUSES BRAKES TO SUDDENLY LOCK UP IMMOBILIZING CAR. THIS IS A DESIGN FAILURE IN THE ELECTRONIC ABS BRAKING SYSTEM IN MY OPINION. *TR”
Equipment
5 reports1 related recall
“DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE. IT CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL IN AN INTERSECTION. I WAS IN A TRAFFIC LANE TURNING LEFT WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN IT FAILED. I REPLACED IT AT THE DEALER FOR $400.00. *TR”
Air bags
4 reports1 crash
“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.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.