2006 Saab 9-5: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
52,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 23 complaints (56.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 8.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 13 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
Air Bags: 13; Electrical System: 2; Engine: 2; Exterior Lighting: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.: 1; Power Train: 1
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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 15 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2008: 2; 2010: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 5; 2017: 6; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10162871 · 2006-07-19 (July 19, 2006)
NO SPECIFIC EVENTS LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS MARGINALLY FUNCTIONAL AND HAS BEEN SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW. THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS BEGAN TO WEAR SHOWING VISIBLE GROOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 1200 MILES WHILE THE FRONT ROTORS STILL SHOW NO SIGNS OF WEAR OR GROOVING AT 4800 MILES. IMPROPER BRAKE PERFORMANCE IS FURTHER EVIDENCED BY THE RAPID ACCUMULATION OF BRAKE DUST ON THE SURFACE OF THE REAR WHEELS WND ONLY SLIGHT ACCUMULATION OF BRAKE DUST ON THE FRONT WHEELS. THE VEHICLE IS ALSO QUITE UNSTABLE AND DIFFIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10213949 · 2008-01-03 (January 3, 2008)
2006 SAAB 9-5 WITH MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE THROTTLE BROKE, SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE. MINOR PROBLEMS ARE RADIO GRILL POPPING OUT AND HEAT COMES ON IN THE SUMMER AND COLD AIR COMES IN THE WINTER. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10213949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233488 · 2008-07-08 (July 8, 2008)
SIGNIFICANTLY DELAYED ACCELERATION WHEN AMBIENT TEMPS EXCEED 90F. CAR FUNCTIONS NORMALLY UNTIL YOU ENCOUNTER SUMMER TEMPS AND HEAVY TRAFFIC. THEN, UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAR HESITATES SEVERELY UNTIL ENGINE SPEED REACHES APPROXIMATELY 2100 RPM. THEN ACCELERATION COMES ON STRONGER THAN EXPECTED. THIS IS PARTICULARLY DISTURBING WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS OR ENTERING A BUSY STREET. CAR SOMETIMES MISFIRES WHEN THIS OCCURS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10298139 · 2010-01-04 (January 4, 2010)
LOSS OF BRAKING POWER, CAR WOULDN'T STOP. WAS ABLE TO STOP CAR BY PUSHING EXTREMELY HARD ON THE BRAKES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10298139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10510972 · 2013-05-07 (May 7, 2013)
UNKNOWN- DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. EACH TIME OF REPLACEMENT THE ACTUAL PART HAS MELTED, BURNED OUT CAUSING THE CAR TO AUTOMATICALLY SHUT DOWN. THE CAR ONLY HAS 72,000 MILES. THE PART IS MELTING AGAIN MAKING THIS THE FOURTH REPLACEMENT IN A 3 MONTH PERIOD. ENGINE - EXHAUST MANIFOLD/CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND ALL SAAB AUTHORIZED DEALERS IN NORTHERN CA. STATE THEY ARE UNABLE TO GET PART DUE TO BEING ON BACK ORDER AND NO IDEA WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. BUT I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE PART…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10510972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10522549 · 2013-07-01 (July 1, 2013)
ENGINE MISFIRING, DUE TO COMMON DI CASSETTE ISSUES THAT PLAGUED OTHER MODELS, SOME OF WHICH WERE PREVIOUSLY RECALLED. THIS SHOULDN'T FAIL AFTER ON 60,000, REGARDLESS OF AGE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN IT'S EXORBITANT COST. THANKFULLY IT HASN'T FAILED ME ON THE HIGHWAY (YET). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10522549 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10604642 · 2014-06-19 (June 19, 2014)
CAR SHUT OFF TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.EACH TIME I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER AND RE START. I TOOK THE CAR TO SAAB DEALER AND THEY COULD NO FIND ANYTHING. I LATER TOOK CAR TO ANOTHER SAAB DEALER AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW DEVICE (BELIEVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH COMPUTER) AND SAID THAT IF THAT DID NOT TAKE CARE OF PROBLEM, THEY DID NOT HAVE AN ANSWER. THERE WERE NO FURTHER ISSUES UNTIL MAYBE 2 YEARS LATER, ALSO SHUT OFF WHILE COMING OFF A RAMP BUT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO LOW FUEL ACCORDING TO DEALER (MY FUEL WAS LOW). THERE HAVE NOT BEE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10604642 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10743352 · 2015-07-24 (July 24, 2015)
THE HEADLIGHTS OF THIS CAR IS SO WEAK THAT I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN THE DARK. I DID POLISH THE OUTSIDE OF THE LIGHTS BOX BUT IT DID NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. I REPLACED THE LIGHTS WITH SAAB BUT IT IS STILL VERY HARD TO SEE THE ROAD IN THE DARK.
Owner-reported narrative. 187,123 miles reported. Look up ODI 10743352 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
08V160000 · Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint
Reported: 2008-04-09 (April 9, 2008)
SAAB IS RECALLING 57,389 MY 2002-2008 9-5 SERIES VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." DURING COMPLIANCE TESTING, ONE OF THE UPPER INTERIOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION TEST POINTS EXCEEDED THE STANDARD'S REQUIREMENTS.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY TO OCCUPANTS MAY OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A-PILLAR TRIM WITH IMPROVED ENERGY-ABSORBING CAPABILITY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 25, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V063000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2016-02-03 (February 3, 2016)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2017. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 28810.
NHTSA campaign record ↗