Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Saab 9-7X problems

Owners filed 22 complaints about the 2008 Saab 9-7X with NHTSA between Aug 2009 and May 2020. The most-cited component is exterior lighting (9).

Complaints
22
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Exterior lighting9
  2. Electrical system6
  3. Engine4
  4. Electronic stability control (esc)2
  5. Air bags2
  6. Steering2
  7. Power train1
  8. Service brakes1
  9. Visibility/wiper1
  10. Equipment1
  11. Visibility1
  12. Structure1
  13. Other / unknown1

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 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20091
20101
20110
20120
20130
20146
20152
20169
20171
20180
20191
20201

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Exterior lighting

9 reports1 fire1 related recall
“THERE IS NOT A DEALERSHIP THAT IS ABLE TO FIX THE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE THAT IS NEAR ME. GM RECALL #: 15037 NHTSA # 15V519 DATE ISSUED: JAN 06, 2015 RECALL TITLE: RECALL 15037 - HEADLAMP DRIVER MODULE RECALL STATUS: INCOMPLETE *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 21, 2020Exterior lighting, Unknown or otherODI 11325387

Electrical system

6 reports
“"TAKATA RECALL" PURCHASED FROM EASTCHESTER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGR DEALERSHIP IN BRONX, NY 10486 , ON FEB. 28, 2015, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD INDICATING A POSSIBLE PROBLEM. I TOOK IT BACK APPROXIMATELY 7X TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND APPROXIMATELY 8 ADDITIONAL TIMES AT OTHER MECHANICS. UNFORTUNATELY, LIGHT CONTINUES TODAY. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE PROBLEM; DRIVERS SIDE BEGINNING FIRST DIMMING VERY LOW. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS AS WELL. EVENTUALLY IT BECAME A NECESSITY TO BECOME AN EXPENSIVE OUT-OF- POCKET EXPENSE. FINALLY, THE STABILITY CHECK LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY COMES ON AND OFF MAKING IT NECESSARY TO STOP AND TURN OFF AND RESTART VEHICLE AS SUGGESTED BY DEALER MECHANIC ADVICE. ALLINFORMATION DESCRIBED IS VERIFIED WITH DOCUMENTS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 4, 2016Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 10903590

Engine

4 reports
“I GOT A TROUBLE CODE FOR CYLINDER #7 MISFIRE. IT IS THE LIFTERS GOING OUT DUE TO THE AFM OR DOD, WHATEVER GM CALLS IT. THE SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN THE 8 CYLINDER TO 4 CYLINDERS. $3000 JOB FOR SOMETHING THAT I'M SURE GM IS VERY AWARE OF. THESE 5.3S WITH THIS AFM WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHEN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 25, 2016EngineODI 10822105

Electronic stability control (esc)

2 reports
“THE SERVICE STABILI TRAC LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON I ALSO HAD A 06 TRAILBLAZER SAME THING PAID 300.00 TO FIX IT AND KEPT DOING IT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 23, 2016Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10870362

Air bags

2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SAAB 9-7X. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 21, 2016Exterior lighting, Air bagsODI 10887581

Steering

2 reports
“POWER STEERING LINES UNDER THE CLAMP THAT BOLTS TO THE DRIVERS SIDE STRUT TOWER HAVE RUSTED THROUGH DUE TO MOISTURE AND VIBRATION CAUSING A LOSS IN FLUID DAMAGING THE PUMP. AFTER DOING A SEARCH I FOUND NUMEROUS POSTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE ON THE TRAILBLAZER, ENVOY AND SAAB. POOR DESIGN AND LACK OF QUALITY CAUSED THE FAILURE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 19, 2014SteeringODI 10626495
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.