Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Saab 95 problems
Owners filed 22 complaints about the 2001 Saab 95 with NHTSA between Jun 2001 and Apr 2018. The most-cited component is electrical system (8).
Complaints
22
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system8
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Power train1
- Wheels1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Seat belts1
- Parking brake1
- Suspension1
- Exterior lighting1
- Tires1
- 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 Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
5
5
1
2
4
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 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
8 reports1 fire
“TURBO MALFUNCTION AT A COST OF $455.00 AND ALSO ENGINE FILTER BOX.VEHICLE STILL NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY.WILL ONLY GO AT SPEED OF 25 MPH.REPAIRED ON 03/27/2018.STARTED OUT SMOKING ALL OVER THE PLACE FROM EXHAUST.WAS TOLD TURBO WENT BAD.I THINK A LOT OF THESE CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AS I READ ON FORUMS(SAAB,).THAT I HAVE SINCE JOINED.THE SAAB HAS 139,000 MILES..I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT SPEED AROUND 35MPH.STARTED TO SMOKE HEAVY,BUT ONCE OUT OF CITY AS LONG AS I DROVE 50 MPH ON HIGHWAY SMOKE WAS DISPERSED FROM WIND AND MADE IT HOME BUT WHEN STOPPING FOR RED LIGHT WOULD BUCK AND TRY TO SHUT OFF.SMOKE NOT GOOD FOR ENVIRONMENT......”
Engine and engine cooling
6 reports1 fire
“I OWN A 2001 SAAB 95 SE V6. WAS DRIVING DOWN THE NJ TPK AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND HAD A SMALL ELECTRICAL LIKE FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED FROM THE NJ TURNPIKE OFF AND THEN AGAIN TO MY PLACE IN BENSALEM PA. TOTAL COST $77 + 66. FOUND OUT THAT THE DI CASSETTE BURNED OUT, COST ME APPROX $600 TO FIX. A DAY LATER THE CAT CONVERTER FAILS (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN). THIS IS CERTAINLY DUE TO DI CASSETTE BURNING OUT. VERY FRUSTRATING FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 60K MILES ON IT. *NM”
Fuel/propulsion system
1 report
Service brakes, hydraulic
1 report
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 95. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,980. UPDATED 11/15/07 *TR”
Power train
1 report
“ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER THE SAAB SPECIFY TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE, MY 2001 SAAB 95SE WAGON WITH 66,363 MILES HAS DEVELOPED THE BELOW PROBLEM. APPROXIMATELY A MILE TO A MILE AND HALF AFTER DRIVING 20-40 MPH, THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING FINE. TURNED THE IGNITION OFF FOR 10 MINUTES, RESTARTED THE CAR, MOVED ABOUT 100-200 FEET, THE SAME SYMPTOM HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN INDY AND THEN TO A DEALER. INDY FOUND CODE P0730 BUT THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SAME. DEALER CHARGED OVER $100 AND SAID THE CAR WAS FINE AFTER ALLEGEDLY TEST DRIVE "10 MILES". WE PICKED THE CAR. AFTER A MILE OF SLOW DRIVING, THE SAME SYMPTOM DEVELOPED. WITHOUT FINDING OUT WHAT'S THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM NOR HAD THEY OPENED THE TRANSMISSION, THE DEALER CONCLUDED THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. SAAB USA WAS INFORMED AND IT WAS SAAB USA DIRECTED ME TO THE DEALER. NOW THEY WANT TO CLOSE THE CASE, WITHOUT ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM”
Wheels
1 report
“DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 95. WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF A RECALL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE AND REPAIR. THE INVOICE STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACED LUGS: BOLTS. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THIS RECALL. *AK *JB”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.