1999 Saab 9-5 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
116 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
78,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 99 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Module is the most frequently named component, appearing in 40 of 116 complaints (34.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 28 | 24.1% |
| Braking behavior | 18 | 15.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 7.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 6.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 3.4% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 3.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 40 |
| Electrical System | 23 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 22 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 4 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 3 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 3 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 40; Electrical System: 23; Electrical System:Ignition: 22; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 4; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 3; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 37 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 27 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 22 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 37; 75,000 to 99,999: 27; 100,000 to 149,999: 22; 150,000 and above: 5
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (37). 17 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 38 |
| 2006 | 29 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 5; 2004: 13; 2005: 38; 2006: 29; 2007: 5; 2008: 10; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Module leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 28 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10053131 · 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)
1999 SAAB 9-5 STALLING PROBLEM. SOMETIMES WHEN IN TRAFFIC. HAPPENED WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS (25-40 MPH). DEALER KEPT CAR FOR ONE WEEK THEN DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS DEFECTIVE "ECU" WHICH IT REPLACED AT A COST OF MORE THAN $900. THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 2003.
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053131 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064084 · 2004-03-29 (March 29, 2004)
I OWN A 1999 SAAB WAGON WHICH HAS HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE AND TURBO SYSTEM. THE CAR, WIH 92,000 MILES, NOW REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE. ESTIMATED COST BETWEEN 6 - 10 THOUSAND DOLLARS...ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE CAR. LAST YEAR, THE CAR REQUIRED A NEW TURBO SYSTEM (72,000 MILES) AT A COST OF $1200 PLUS. AT LEAST FOUR TIMES, THE VEHICLE FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. IT EITHER LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER OR WOULD STALL UPON ACCELERATION, REQUIRING "TWO PEDAL" DRIVING. THE CAR REQUIRED 5 TOWS BECAUSE OF MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN. CAR HAS REPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052759 · 2004-01-09 (January 9, 2004)
VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER DEVELOPED AN INTERNAL LEAK, CAUSING MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION WHEN FIRST STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL DURING AN EMERGENCY STOP. DURING "NORMAL" BRAKING THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. IMPORTANT!...THE BIG DANGER HERE IS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BOOSTER TILL YOU HAVE TO MAKE A QUICK STOP WHERE YOU NEED TO JAM ON THE BRAKES QUICKLY!! YOU SUDDENLY FINE THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO BRAKES FOR A SECOND OR TWO!! IN NORMAL BRAKING THEY WORK FINE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052759 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081720 · 2004-07-12 (July 12, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING AND THE BRAKES. DEALERSHIP REPLACED 3 TIMES THE CASSETTE IGNITION MODULE, PART 9197559 AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $400.OO. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10081720 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121543 · 2005-05-12 (May 12, 2005)
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THREE COMPLETE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL FAILURES ON THE 1999 SAAB 9-5. *MR THERE WERE NO WARNINGS. THE DI CASSETTE AND THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. *SC THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS EXPERIENCED BULB FAILURES FAILURES ON A REGULAR BASIS AND HE TRULY BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10121543 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10109841 · 2005-02-04 (February 4, 2005)
I PARKED MY CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY, WENT OUT TO MOVE IT INTO THE GARAGE AND IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND LEARNED IT WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM IN THE FUEL PUMP. I HAD TO PURCHASE A FUEL PUMP. THIS HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER 2003, I OWNED THE CAR LESS THAN THREE YEARS. THE TIME BEFORE THAT IT HAD TO BE TOWED, IT JUST LOST SPEED, AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I HAD TO HAVE TORQUE SEALS & RING BLOCK REPLACED IN JANUARY 2005, THE OIL WAS RUNNING OUT OF MY TRANSMISSION. I JUST HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED FOR THE 2ND TIME, IN FIVE Y…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,564 miles reported. Look up ODI 10109841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152686 · 2006-03-14 (March 14, 2006)
(1) DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE CAR, A HOLE HAS DEVELOPED IN THE TOP OF THE PLASTIC GAS TANK OF 1999 SAAB 9-5 SEDAN. (2) A "SMOKE TEST" HAS REVEALED THE HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE TANK. THE CAR HAS DEVELOPED A GAS EVAPORATION LEAK. THERE ARE PROMINENT GAS FUMES AND SMELLS IN THE CAR'S CABIN, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON. (3) THIS IS THE SECOND GAS TANK ON THE CAR, THE FIRST TANK WAS REPLACED BY A SAAB DEALERSHIP AFTER IT FAILED TO PRESSURIZE PROPERLY, A RELATED ISSUE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121349 · 2005-05-18 (May 18, 2005)
TRANSMISSION DIED AT 70,000 MILES, WITH NO WARNING, CAUSING BRAKES AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE CAR TO FAIL, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. THE CAR WAS SMOKING ALL THE WAY HOME AND I BARELY MADE IT. I WAS SHAKING BY THE TIME I GOT OUT OF MY CAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118203 · 2005-04-21 (April 21, 2005)
COMPLETE, INSTANTANEOUS SHUTDOWN OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE AT SPEED. LOSS OF POWER, LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, HAD TO ANGLE ACROSS TWO LANES OF HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC WHILE COASTING! THANKFULLY, NO ONE HIT ME! HAD TO REPLACE THE "DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE". THIS FAILED COMPLETELY. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118203 at NHTSA ↗