1999 Saab 9-5 Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 3%of 118 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 128,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1999 Saab 9-5, 3% of the 118 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 128,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Transmission died at 70,000 miles, with no warning, causing brakes and other components of the car to fail, nearly causing an accident on a major thoroughfare. The car was smoking all the way home and I barely made it. I was shaking by the time I got out of my car.”
NHTSA complaint #10121349, filed 2005-05, 70,000 miles“Consumer stated the rear buckle assemblies for the rear seat belts appear to be those from a 9-5 sedan, the rear seat safety belts overlaps, making them difficult to latch and unlatch, when the rear seat buckle is latched, its hip belt covers the buckle for the rear drivers side belt, with these 2 belts buckled, the center belt has a sharp twist where it crosses the rear drivers side buckle, additionally, when individually buckled with the shoulder straps flat, the rear center and drivers side hip belts have a twist in them.”
NHTSA complaint #567257, filed 2002-09Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 1999 Saab 9-5
70 complaintsEngine cooling
17 complaintsBrakes
9 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsEquipment
3 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaintsTires
3 complaintsWheels
3 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Saab 9-5
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology