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U.S. public vehicle records

Saab 9-7X problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

171 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

80,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2005 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 148 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 171 complaints (27.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues2313.5%
Engine operation158.8%
Fuel system concerns105.8%
Steering behavior74.1%
Braking behavior42.3%
Transmission and shifting21.2%

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.

Exterior Lighting
47
Electrical System
43
Fuel System, Gasoline
37
Fuel/Propulsion System
11
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
9
Engine
9
Suspension
8
Air Bags
7
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Exterior Lighting47
Electrical System43
Fuel System, Gasoline37
Fuel/Propulsion System11
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)9
Engine9
Suspension8
Air Bags7

Exterior Lighting: 47; Electrical System: 43; Fuel System, Gasoline: 37; Fuel/Propulsion System: 11; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 9; Engine: 9; Suspension: 8; Air Bags: 7

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
11
25,000 to 49,999
8
50,000 to 74,999
47
75,000 to 99,999
40
100,000 to 149,999
33
150,000 and above
9
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00011
25,000 to 49,9998
50,000 to 74,99947
75,000 to 99,99940
100,000 to 149,99933
150,000 and above9

Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 47; 75,000 to 99,999: 40; 100,000 to 149,999: 33; 150,000 and above: 9

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (47). 23 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.

2006
2
2008
2
2009
4
2010
7
2011
29
2012
17
2013
11
2014
22
2015
32
2016
20
2017
8
2018
5
2019
8
2020
3
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20062
20082
20094
20107
201129
201217
201311
201422
201532
201620
20178
20185
20198
20203
20251

2006: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 4; 2010: 7; 2011: 29; 2012: 17; 2013: 11; 2014: 22; 2015: 32; 2016: 20; 2017: 8; 2018: 5; 2019: 8; 2020: 3; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 23 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 15 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 10 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 10355395 · 2010-09-13 (September 13, 2010)

HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM (H11) WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED SAAB 9-7X 2005 4.2L. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10355395 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10475343 · 2012-09-13 (September 13, 2012)

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REPOSITION THE SIDE MIRROR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, USING THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM INSIDE THE DOOR. SINCE THAT TIME THE DRIVER'S SIDE ELECTRIC SYSTEM HAS FAILED TO WORK. THE LOCAL SAAB DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE PARTS ARE AND WERE AT THAT TIME UNAVAILABLE. THIS PROBLEM MAY BE RELATED TO THE CURRENT ELECTRICAL ISSUE AFFECTING THE 2006 AND 2007 MODELS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10475343 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10322917 · 2010-03-30 (March 30, 2010)

I HAVE HAD MY USED VEHICLE FOR 20 MONTHS AND IT HAS LESS THAN 78,000 MILES. THE 2005 SAAB 9-7X STALLS WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT WILL RE-START AND RUN FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN STALL OUT AGAIN. WHEN IT STALLS I HAVE TO QUICKLY TRY TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC AND PULL OVER. MOST OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RE-START AND MUST BE TOWED. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THIS STARTED HAPPENING THERE WAS APPROXMATELY 60,000 MILES (MAYBE A LITTLE MORE) ON THE VEHICLE. HERE ARE A COUPLE INSTANCES OF WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10322917 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10427152 · 2011-09-26 (September 26, 2011)

FUEL GAUGE IS FAILING TO REGISTER GAS IN THE TANK, AND ENGINE KEEPS STALLING.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10427152 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10313430 · 2010-02-23 (February 23, 2010)

AT 60000 MILES FUEL SENSOR BROKE. IT FIRST FLUCTUATED BETWEEN E AND F, NOW IS ALWAYS ON E. WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH SAAB 9-7X MODELS. FUEL SENSOR IS LOCATED ON THE FUEL PUMP. THIS IS AN EXTENSIVE FIX ONLY TO HOPE IT DOES NOT BREAK AGAIN. WE HAVE BEEN CALCULATING OUR FUEL USAGE WITH MILEAGE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313430 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10521517 · 2013-06-24 (June 24, 2013)

WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE FALLS BELOW 1/2 TANK OF GAS (ESPECIALLY BELOW A 1/4 TANK) A FAULTY SENSOR CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER STEERING, BREAKS ETC. THIS HAPPENS EXCLUSIVELY WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND COMING TO A HALT (SUCH AS AT A STOP SIGN, STOP LIGHT OR MAKING A SUDDEN HALT TO TURN). IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED COUNTLESS TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2012. IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS SITUATION WE HAVE TO KEEP THE FUEL TANK ABOVE 1/2 TANK AT ALL TIMES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 98,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10521517 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10594699 · 2014-05-28 (May 28, 2014)

WHILE DRIVING HOME OUR HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED AND TURNED OFF. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. ONCE DRIVING AGAIN, THEY FLICKERED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME WITH THE ONE LIGHT (LUCKILY). WHEN I WENT TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT, IT WAS BACK ON AGAIN. I CHECKED ALL CONNECTIONS AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER THE STABILA-TRAC SYSTEM LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF (5 MIN PERIOD). A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER THE STEERING…

Owner-reported narrative. 68,672 miles reported. Look up ODI 10594699 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10664334 · 2014-12-15 (December 15, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-7X. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE HEATED SEATS WERE ACTIVATED AND SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10664334 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10817632 · 2016-01-04 (January 4, 2016)

1. VEHICLE STALLS/LOSES POWER WHILE IN MOTION AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. PROBLEM CAN'T BE IDENTIFIED BY 3 INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. ONE MECHANIC SAID REPLACE FUSE BOX AND HOPE IT SOLVES THE ISSUE. 2. VEHICLE HAS ELECTRICAL SURGES CAUSES A MULTITUDE OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES. SO FAR: FIRE IN FUSE BOX BURNING OUT THE LOW-BEAM RELAY, AUDIO INTERFERENCE THROUGH THE SPEAKERS (CRACKLING) WHEN TURN SIGNALS, OR RADIO ARE PLAYING, REMOTE ACCESS FAILS INTERMITTENTLY, REPLACED 2 BOSCH BATTERIES, BAD ALTERNATOR, 3 AIR-RIDE SUSPENSION COMPRESSORS, REPLACE TURN SIGNA…

Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10817632 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10361265 · 2010-10-19 (October 19, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-7X. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS RECURRING FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING FAILURES REPAIRED: LICENSE PLATE TRIMMING, FUEL SENDING UNIT, WATER PUMP, STABILITRAK SENSOR, STEERING SENSOR, BRAKE LIGHTS, FRONT STRUTS, FRONT MOUNTS, FRONT BEARINGS, UPPER CONTROL ARMS, SERPENTINE BELT, CUP HOLDER, MANUFACTURER EMBLEM, AND THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT HIS PASSENGER SIDE DOOR SPEAKER DOES NOT WORK DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10361265 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10503754 · 2013-03-20 (March 20, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SAAB 9-7X. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,300.

Owner-reported narrative. 46,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503754 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2005
2
2006
4
2007
4
2008
1
2009
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20052
20064
20074
20081
20090

2005: 2; 2006: 4; 2007: 4; 2008: 1; 2009: 0

Year-by-year records

Saab 9-7X model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
2005252Not available
2006594+2
20074840
2008221-3
2009170-1