Skip to content
Saab 9-5Model year report

2005 Saab 9-5 Problems

Complaints
11filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
95,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 2.3L 4-cyl FWD · 18 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2005 Saab 9-5 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 2005 Saab 9-5. The part named most often is air bags, with 2 complaints (18% of the total), followed by electrical system (2) and equipment (2). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 36% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 95,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 112 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 23 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Air bags: “I was involved with in an accident on friday december 14th, 2012. I was returning to work on my lunch break and a lady ran a red light, pulling out infront of me, and I ended up t-boning her going roughly 45mph. I was extremely disappointed that no air bags were deployed in such a severe head on collision. The car has been seen by the insurance company and they decided to total the vehicle. In such a violent accident I would expect the air bags to be deployed, especially when the accident was a front on collision that totaled my Saab. …”

NHTSA complaint #10489047, filed 2012-12, 101,000 miles

Equipment: “The factory floor mat slipped forward and was wedged to the accelerator pedal so that the pedal stuck at almost full throttle. Avoided a collision by shifting into neutral, stopping, and realizing the mat was jammed into the accelerator pedal. I extricated the mat from the pedal and restored the function to normal. The car has restraining pins designed to hold the mat in place but the design is flawed, especially if the mat curls in that area.”

NHTSA complaint #10291306, filed 2009-11, 52,000 miles

Exterior lighting: “Because of improper design, rear wire harness for reverse lights are being severed causing the reversing lights not to work. This same design flaw can be attributed to the failure of brake lights and electronic trunk release/lock.”

NHTSA complaint #10419580, filed 2011-08, 137,800 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

36% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 45,000 and 122,000 miles.

9%0–100%10–2527%25–509%50–759%75–10036%100–1509%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 95,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

20092010201120125
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2005 Saab 9-5. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
9-5 · sedan not rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2005 Saab 9-5 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
9-5 FWD2.3L 4-cyl5-speed manual182821$3,900
9-5 FWD2.3L 4-cyl5-speed automatic172620$4,100
9-5 Wagon FWD2.3L 4-cyl5-speed manual182821$3,900
9-5 Wagon FWD2.3L 4-cyl5-speed automatic172620$4,100

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2005 Saab 9-5 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 112 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 112 bulletins →

Other model years of the Saab 9-5

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2011958,0000—24—Not enough data
20082040,0002—21—Falling
20071752,0002—21—Rising
20062352,5002—22—Stable
20051195,0002—21—Not enough data
20041931,8212—21—Stable
20034773,0004—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20026553,8376—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200110461,5994—20Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200011978,0083—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199911878,0002—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Saab 9-5 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2005 Saab 9-5 have?

NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 2005 Saab 9-5 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2005 Saab 9-5 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 2 complaints (18% of the total), followed by electrical system with 2.

Has the 2005 Saab 9-5 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2005 Saab 9-5 get?

The EPA rates the 2005 Saab 9-5 (9-5, 2.3L 4-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2005 Saab 9-5 reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 95,000 miles and the middle half falls between 45,000 and 122,000 miles; 36% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.