Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Saab 9-5 problems
Owners filed 65 complaints about the 2002 Saab 9-5 with NHTSA between Sep 2002 and Jun 2014. The most-cited component is electrical system (33).
Complaints
65
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system33
- Engine and engine cooling13
- Fuel system, gasoline6
- Seat belts3
- Fuel system, other3
- Power train3
- Air bags2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Steering2
- Tires1
- Wheels1
- Exterior lighting1
- Structure1
- Seats1
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
4
5
11
9
11
11
2
3
4
0
1
1
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
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
33 reports2 fires2 related recalls
“IGNITION SWITCH SHUT OFF WHILE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY TWICE! ONCE IN 2006 AND ONCE LATER ANOTHER YEAR PLUS ONCE IN A DRIVEWAY (CAR PURCHASED USED IN THE FALL OF 2005). THE SAAB SWITCH IS LOCATED IN THE CENTER CONSOLE AND IF IT IS HIT IT SWITCHES OFF AND SHUTS DOWN THE CAR, SAME AS RECALLED SWITCHES IN OTHER GM CARS. VERY DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT I WAS LUCKY AND ABLE TO STEER TO THE SIDE WITHOUT A CRASH. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LOCK MECHANISM TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING. IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME TO REPORT IT THOUGH IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD IN A WHAT WAS AT THE TIME A GM OWNED PRODUCT. I STILL OWN THE CAR AND DRIVE IT DAILY ON THE SAME HIGHWAY, HOWEVER AM VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE ISSUE. I WASN'T AWARE OF WHAT CAUSED THE SHUT DOWN UNTIL IT HAPPENED THE SECOND TIME A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST TIME. YOU SHOULD INCLUDE SAAB IN THE RECALL OF GM PRODUCTS. *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
13 reports2 fires
“THE ENGINE ON MY 4 CYLINDER SAAB 9-5 (2002) HAS SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING AT LEAST 4 TIMES SINCE OWNING THE CAR, BOTH ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN SLOWER TRAFFIC. THE FIRST TIME I REPORTED OFFICIALLY (2007) TO THE DEALER, "NO CAUSE WAS IDENTIFIED." I NOTICED THE LAST TIME THAT IT HAPPENED (AROUND MAY 2011) THAT IT SEEMED TO COINCIDE WITH INADVERTENTLY BUMPING INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH LIGHTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE SYMPTOMS MATCH THAT OF ANOTHER OWNER'S COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE FOR THE 2002 SAAB 9-5. I EXPECTED MY CAR TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECENT RECALL INVOLVING THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH BUT GOT NO NOTIFICATION. I HAVE ALSO PAID IN JUNE 2008 AND AGAIN IN OCTOBER 2009 AND JANUARY 2013 TO REPLACE/RESET A FAULTY IGNITION CASSETTE, WHICH I BELIEVE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF A RECALL CAMPAIGN AND NOT CHARGED TO ME, BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IN SUMMARY, DUE TO THE CAR SHUTTING OFF, I FEEL IT IS NOT SAFE AND THAT IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECENT GMC RECALL. AND THAT THE FAULTY IGNITION CASSETTE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND NOT REPLACED AT OWNER EXPENSE MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAVE DOCUMENTED SERVICE RECORDS OF THE ABOVE INCIDENTS. *TR”
Fuel system, gasoline
6 reports1 fire1 related recall
“FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS SUMMARY: DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, PRESSURE LINE FROM FUEL TANK CAME LOOSE AND STARTED LEAKING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF GAS ALL OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND STREET. STREAM OF FUEL ON HIGHWAY ALERTED DRIVER. LOST UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF GALLONS OF GAS QUICKLY . HAD TO PULL OVER AND CALL FOR TOW TRUCK TO TAKE TO NEAREST FACILITY. I EVACUATED THE CAR DUE TO LARGE AMOUNTS OF GAS UNDER VEHICLE AND STREAMS OF FUEL NEAR HOT EXHAUST PIPES. TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED FUEL LINE HAD COME LOOSE AFTER LOOKING INSIDE PORT FROM UNDER BACK SEAT. NO EVIDENCE OF ANY BREAKAGE OR OTHER ISSUES THE FIRST EVENT-- THE LINE SIMPLY CAME LOOSE AND WAS EASILY RE-ATTACHED. THE SECOND EVENT HAPPENED IN JUNE 2007 AND FUEL AGAIN WAS POURING OUT FROM THE UNDERSIDE IN A PARKING LOT. I CALLED THE SAME INDEPENDENT DEALER WHO IMMEDIATELY HAD THE CAR TOWED . THIS TIME THE REPAIR WAS DONE WITH METAL STRAPS TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER COMING APART. I THEN RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM SAAB AFTER THIS OCCURRENCE TWO TIMES. I WAS TOLD BY SAAB USA TO SUBMIT REPAIR ORDERS FOR REIMBURSEMENT WHICH I DID. I RECEIVED A DENIAL LETTER UNTIL AN AUTHORIZED SAAB…”
Seat belts
3 reports1 crash
“HELLO...I NEED TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP. I HAVE A 2002 SAAB 9-5 WHICH HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT. IT DOES NOT RETRACT AND THEREFORE THE PASSENGER IS UNPROTECTED. I KNOW THAT SAAB HAS A HISTORY OF THIS BEING A PROBLEM. MY ATTEMPTS TO GET SOME HELP FROM SAAB HAVE BEEN FUTILE. IF THIS WAS A MINOR ITEM, I WOULD JUST PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $450 TO HAVE THE SEAT BELT FIXED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THAT. ISN'T THIS THE KIND OF VERY BASIC THING THAT A VEHICLE OWNER SHOULD EXPECT WHEN THEY PURCHASE A CAR? ALSO, ISN'T THIS THE VERY BASIC KIND OF THING THAT A VEHICLE MANUFACTURER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING TO ITS CUSTOMERS, AT A REASONABLE COST? I EXIST ON A VERY LIMITED INCOME (SOCIAL SECURITY) AND CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY $450 TO FIX THIS. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN OTHER YEARS AND MODELS OF SAAB. CAN I ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN TRYING TO GET SAAB TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION? THANK YOU. *TR”
Fuel system, other
3 reports1 fire
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SAAB 9-5 ARC. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ENGINE MISFIRED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES AFTER SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE FUEL TANK. THE FLAMES ENGULFED THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE TREES AND DRIVEWAY. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. AS OF DECEMBER 5, 2007, THE INSURANCE COMPANY OR MANUFACTURER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECALL #07V087000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS) WAS PERFORMED TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE RECALLED PART CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 66,500.”
Power train
3 reports
“TRANSMISSION "CLUNK" OCCURRED WITH SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. DEALER DIAGNOSED VALVE BODY AND RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION REBUILD. AAMCO DIAGNOSED SAME ISSUE RESULTING FROM METAL SHAVINGS BEING RELEASED FROM TORQUE CONVERTER INTO TRANSMISSION. ENTIRE TRANSMISSION INCLUDING TORQUE COVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 74,000 MILES.*JB”
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.