2001 Saab AERO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
52,850 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Module is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 11 complaints (27.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 2 | 18.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 18.2% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 9.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 9.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 9.1% |
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 | 3 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 1 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 3; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Horn: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2002: 2; 2003: 4; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Module leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking 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 10007713 · 2003-02-18 (February 18, 2003)
FUEL AND VABOR LEAK, CAUSED ORDOR OF FUEL INSIDE MV AND ON OUTSIDE RIGHT REAR AREA. DEALER REPLACED PART # 54-62-288 FUEL FILLER TUBE, #48-99-621 FUELLINB235PLST AND # 79-74-546 O-RING
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007713 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014045 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
IN BOTH MY 2001 SAAB 9-5 AND MY 1999 SAAB 9-3, UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE WHEN I LOCK THE ELECTRONIC DOORS AND TURN THE IGNITION KEY IN QUICK SUCCESSION, THE DOOR LOCKS OPEN. ALTHOUGH THIS PROBLEM WAS DEMONSTRATED TO THE SAAB DEALER, THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THEIR HAS BEEN A CHRONIC PROBLEM OF ELECTRICAL CHARGE BUILD-UP IN THE IGNITION CONSOLE (WHERE THE DOOR LOCK SWITCH IS LOCATED), AND WHEN LOCKING THE DOORS AND STARTING THE IGNITION ARE PERFORMED IN QUICK SUCCESSION, IT CAUSES AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH POPS OPEN THE LOCK…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014045 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019764 · 2003-05-13 (May 13, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019764 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031032 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)
2001 SAAB AERO WHILE TRAVELING IN THE FAST LANE OF A FREEWAY AT 65 MPH WITHOUT WARNING EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR MADE IT ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER (RAINY DAY AT DUSK); THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS THEN FAILED WITHIN 25 MINUTES. DIAGNOSED AS A DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE (DIC) FAILURE, BUT FLASHERS FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DIC FAILURE WAS COMMON, BUT REPLACEMENTS SELDOM FAILED. IN OUR SMALL CIRCLE, OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR HAD DIC FAILURE WITH HIS 2000 SAAB 9-5 AND STATED …
Owner-reported narrative. 51,699 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060734 · 2004-03-08 (March 8, 2004)
ELECTRICAL FIRE AND FAILURE OF IGNITION MODULE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 42,133 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060734 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137092 · 2005-09-20 (September 20, 2005)
THE DIRECT IGNITION MODULE/CASSETTE FAILED ON MY 2001 9-5 AERO AND I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP. I JUST DISCOVERED ON THE SAAB BULLETIN BOARD (I.E. SAABNET) THAT THIS PART FAILS REGULARLY IN SAABS, PARTICULARLY IN THE 2001 9-5S. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147030 · 2006-01-05 (January 5, 2006)
CAR LEAKING DARK FLUID...TOOK CAR INTO DIFFERENT SAAB SERVICE CENTER STATED SEEN ISSUE A LOT SINCE LAST TIME I TOOK CAR INTO DIFFERENT SINCE SAAB DEALERSHIP NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT THE IDM WAS DEFECTIVE UNTIL AFTER RECALL HEAD GASKET WENT BAD AND COOLANT SENSOR MELTED...IS THIS DUE TO DEFECT IN CAR OR IS THIS JUST THE BEGINNING OF MORE ISSUES TO COME...54000 MILES ON VEHICLE $1200 PART. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147030 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177696 · 2007-01-03 (January 3, 2007)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN I NOTICED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. THE STEERING AND BRAKES WERE DIFFICULT TO USE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD NOT START ONCE STOPPED, LATER I NOTICED THAT WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE ENGINE OVER, GASOLINE WAS SPEWING OUT NEAR THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR AND NEAR THE EXHAUST PIPE! I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED TRYING TO START THE CAR AND LEFT FOR A CALL BOX TO GET A TOW. I GOT IT TOWED TO THE SACRAMENTO SAAB DEALER WHERE THEY SAID THE RETAINER FOR THE FUEL PUM…
Owner-reported narrative. 94,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177696 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.