2001 Saab 9-5 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
82 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
62,977 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 66 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Module is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 82 complaints (30.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 20 | 24.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 15.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 15.9% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 6.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.4% |
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 | 25 |
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 25; Electrical System: 20; Electrical System:Ignition: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 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 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 16 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 22 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 5; 2004: 6; 2005: 22; 2006: 14; 2007: 9; 2008: 12; 2009: 4; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Module leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 13 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 10106474 · 2005-01-17 (January 17, 2005)
ADD ME TO THE LIST OF DRIVERS STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH TOTAL LOSS OF POWER BECAUSE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE BURNT UP. THE CAR ONLY HAD 62,000 MILES. IT COST OVER $1,300 TO REPLACE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10106474 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120099 · 2005-05-06 (May 6, 2005)
DT: VEHICLE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. DRIVING AT ABOUT 50 MPH ,AND THE VEHICLE JUST STALLED AND STOPPED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER REPORTED THAT THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120099 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093700 · 2004-10-06 (October 6, 2004)
MY 2001 SAAB 9-5 HAS JUST UNDER 80,000 MILES AND HAS GONE THROUGH 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. IT ALSO BURNS OUT A LOT OF LIGHTS--HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, ETC. EVERY FEW MONTHS. ALSO THE LED DISPLAY ON THE DASH HAS A LOT OF PIXELS OUT. I'M WONDERING IF THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT IS PERHAPS A LITTLE TOO HIGH AND THAT COULD BE WHAT'S CAUSING ALL OF THE PROBLEMS?*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 79,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093700 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105773 · 2005-01-04 (January 4, 2005)
MULTIPLE TIMES THE CAR, WHEN WARM WILL JUST WITHOUT WARNING. ALL ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE SIMULTANEOUSLY QUITS LEAVING THE DRIVER TO DEAL WITH A SITUATION OF NO POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. MULTIPLE TRIPS TO DEALER HAS RESULTED IN NO DIAGNOSIS AND GENEARL APATHY ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS STIL UNDER WARRANLTY BUT IT OFFERS NO VALUE. CLEAR SAFETY ISSUE AS THE LAST EVENT WAS AT A ELEMENARY SCHOOL WHERE A CHILD WAS ALMOST HIT AS THE LACK OF BRAKING AND STEERING POWER. HOW CAN SUCH A SYMPTOM BETREATED WITHSUCH APATHY. WE WILL BE FORCED TO SEL T…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105773 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104428 · 2004-12-23 (December 23, 2004)
A FAILED FUEL LINE RETAINING TAB AT THE FUEL PUMP ON MY 2001 SAAB 1995. NHTSA RECALL # 04V557000 IS THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD WITH MY SAAB, BUT I OWN A 1995, NOT A 1993. THIS DEFECTIVE TAB ALLOWED GASOLINE TO SPRAY FREELY TO THE GROUND MUST BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY RELATYED ISSUE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135009 · 2005-08-31 (August 31, 2005)
2001 SAAB 9-5 FUEL PUMP CLIP FAILED SPRAYING GASOLINE UNDER PRESSURE OVER EXHAUST SYSTEM BELOW REAR PASSENGER SEAT. THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR THE 2001 SAAB 9-3 FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. NO RECALL FOR THE 2001 SAAB 9-5. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135009 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121771 · 2005-05-21 (May 21, 2005)
1. DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH, COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WITH OUT ANY WARNING. 2. CAR COULD BREAK BUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING WAS NON FUNTIONAL, STEERING FUNCTIONED WITH OUT POWER ASSISTANCE, BUT VERY HARD TO SAFELY STEER VEHICLE. 3. WAS ABLE TO MOVE CAR OFF ROAD INTO GRASS DITCH AWAY FROM REAR TRAFFIC. 4. BLACK SMOKE CAME FROM DRIVERS SIDE OF ENGINE WITH SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC AND RUBBER. 5. CERTIFIED SAAB MECHANIC DIAGNOSED CAR AND FOUND THAT THE IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED AND BURNED FROM WITHIN. REPLACED IGNITION CASSETTE AT A C…
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121771 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019072 · 2003-05-21 (May 21, 2003)
I WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED ON THE BRONX RIVER PKWY AND MY PASSENGER REACHED INTO THE BACK SEAT. HER LEG HIT THE KEY AND TURNED THE CAR OFF WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS HURT. THE CAR LOCKED UP AND I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. IT TOOK A FEW ANXIOUS MOMENTS/MINUTE OR TWO BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THIS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES WHEN I DECIDED TO CONTACT SAAB. THEIR RESPONSE IN A LETTER IS AS FOLLOWS " WE HAVE REVIEWED YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE PLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH GARDEN CITY SAAB, CORPORATE TECH…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019072 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10239651 · 2008-08-25 (August 25, 2008)
ON TWO OCCASIONS OUR 2001SAAB,9.5 6 CYLINDER TRANSMISSION CASSETTE FAILED. LEAVING MY HUSBAND AND MY SELF STRANDED WITH A SMOLDERING CAR. ON OCT 19TH 05 WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF THE HWY IN THE NICK OF TIME, HEAVY SMOKE HAD BEGUN TO POUR OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED BUT THE IGNITION CASSETTE,THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE, THE WIRE HARNESS, BATTERY AND,SPARK PLUGS WERE DESTROYED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENCE WE WERE DRIVING IN THE SOUTHERN SIERRAS IN A SEASONAL DRY FOREST AREA. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT A WE WERE…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239651 at NHTSA ↗