Saab 95 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
51 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
60,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1965 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Module is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 51 complaints (11.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 14 | 27.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 17.6% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 13.7% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 9.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 5.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.0% |
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 | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 2 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 6; Electrical System: 5; Electrical System:Ignition: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 26 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 | 5 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2000: 5; 2001: 7; 2002: 9; 2003: 3; 2004: 4; 2005: 9; 2006: 4; 2007: 6; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2014: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Module leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 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 10141656 · 2005-11-03 (November 3, 2005)
ANOTHER VOICE: COMMON SUDDEN FAILURE OF SAAB ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY CAUSING IMMEDIATE STALL AT SPEED, IN TRAFFIC. NO CRASH. UNDRIVEABLE "LIMP HOME" MODE. NECESSITATED LONG TOW AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THIS ITEM CITED FREQUENTLY ON SAAB-RELATED WEBSITES, BUT GOT ME TODAY! NOTE THAT CURRENT RECALL IS FOR A DIFFERENT PART, EQUALLY SAFETY-RELATED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10141656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10341441 · 2010-07-05 (July 5, 2010)
2000 SAAB 95 AUTOMOBILE HAS POOR PERFORMANCE AND LOSS OF POWER. SAAB DEALER REPLACED DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE (DIC) IN 2006 UNDER RECALL AND THE PROBLEM HAS DEVELOPED AGAIN. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE A SECOND DIC. THIS IS BOTH EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS FOR HIGHWAY OPERATION. THE PART HAS PROBLEMS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10341441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10201274 · 2007-08-30 (August 30, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-5. ON APRIL 20,2006, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED DUE TO NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 05V399000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE). ON JULY 10, 2007, THE ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND DISPLAYED A READING OF P1312. SAAB STATED THAT THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY WARRANTY ON THE IDM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,458 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000. THE DEALER STATED BROKEN WINDOW. UPDATED 09/19/07 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 62,458 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10208447 · 2007-11-08 (November 8, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 95. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START. AN HOUR LATER, THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR ONE WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION: MODULE FAILED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V39900 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,215.
Owner-reported narrative. 85,215 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122440 · 2005-05-30 (May 30, 2005)
THE ABS MODULE ON 2000 SAAB 9-5 EXPEIENCES INTERMITTENT FAILURES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THER IS NO ABS, TRACTION CONTROL OR SPEEDOMETER. THIS PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT MECHANICS ARE RECOMMENDING AGAINST USED PARTS. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE MILEAGE RELATED, BUT AGE RELATED. SAAB HAS ISSUED GOODWILL CREDIT TO LOW MILEAGE VEHICLES BUT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT HIGHER MILEAGE CARS. A NEW REPLACEMENT PART IS $2800.00.
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10122440 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181200 · 2007-01-31 (January 31, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 2000 9 5 SAAB. THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND LOST POWER AS SHE WAS TURNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE BARELY HAD ANY POWER. THE VEHICLE DID NOT LOSE POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC. THE CONTACT STATED IT TOOK THE MECHANIC THREE ATTEMPTS BEFORE THEY COULD DUPLICATE WHA…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181200 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131440 · 2005-08-03 (August 3, 2005)
DT:THE OWNER HAD PROBLEMS WITH SAAB BEGINNING IN JUNE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CAR SHUT DOWN. THE CAR HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER OR POWER STEERING. THE OWNER GOT OFF THE MAIN ROAD AND GOT ONTO SHOULDER. THE OWNER'S CAR ENDED UP AT SAAB PACIFIC, THE OWNER FOUND OUT THAT HER FRIEND HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT PARTS FAILED ON EVERY 1995 SAAB. MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT IT BUT WERE NOT DOING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FAILED PART WAS AN IGNITION DISCHARGE PROBLEM. THE PART WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 66,654 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131440 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 716927 · 2000-01-05 (January 5, 2000)
THE FUEL TANK MAKES A UNBEARABLE LOUD NOISE. THE FUEL IS BANGING AGAINST THE WALLS OF THE TANK WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY RUPTURE THE TANK OR LOOSEN THE CONNECTING COMPONENTS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 716927 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722584 · 2000-05-12 (May 12, 2000)
FUEL TANK IS DEFECTIVE--FUEL RUSHES TO FRONT OF TANK UPON BRAKING AND THUNKS THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THIS STRESS ON THE FUEL TANK COULD POSE A THREAT, SUCH AS A FUEL EXPLOSION, IN A CRASH. PROBLEM EXISTS WHEN TANK IS 1/2 TO 3/4 FULL. SAAB IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND STATES THAT IT IS CAUSED BY COMPLIANCE WITH CA EMISSIONS STANDARDS. NO OTHER MANUFACTURERS HAVE HAD SUCH PROBLEMS IN COMPLYING WITH CA EMISSIONS. I HAVE SPOKEN BY THE INTERNET WITH OVER 10 OTHER SAAB 9-5 OWNERS WHO ALL REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT, NOT AN INDI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154737 · 2006-04-06 (April 6, 2006)
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 T…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154737 at NHTSA ↗
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0