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Saab 9-5Model year report

2006 Saab 9-5 Problems

Complaints
23filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
52,500miles, 8 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 2.3L 4-cyl FWD · 18 city / 27 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Saab 9-5 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 23 consumer complaints for the 2006 Saab 9-5. The part named most often is air bags, with 13 complaints (57% of the total), followed by brakes (2) and electrical system (2). 8 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 52,500 miles. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 156 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the inflator module and 9 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.

Also reported: Vehicle speed control (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall.I no longer have this vehicle,it was actually my daughters car but I was the co signer for her loan.this vehicle was traded in at van horn in fon du lac ,wi at least a year and a half ago.we have called people including contacting GM online saying we no longer have this car yet we keep getting recall info!!please contact van horn to see what they did with this car.”

NHTSA complaint #11234819, filed 2019-07

Brakes: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10162871, filed 2006-07, 10 miles

Electrical system: “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 been any further incidents.”

NHTSA complaint #10604642, filed 2014-06

Engine: “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).”

NHTSA complaint #10522549, filed 2013-07, 61,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

50% of the 8 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 24,500 and 112,500 miles.

25%0–1013%10–2513%25–5013%50–750%75–10013%100–15025%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (8 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 52,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

200820132015201762019
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 2006 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 FWDnot 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 2006 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 manual182722$3,750
9-5 FWD2.3L 4-cyl5-speed automatic162620$4,100
9-5 SportCombi FWD2.3L 4-cyl5-speed manual182722$3,750
9-5 SportCombi FWD2.3L 4-cyl5-speed automatic162620$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 2006 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. 156 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 156 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 2006 Saab 9-5 have?

NHTSA recorded 23 consumer complaints for the 2006 Saab 9-5 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 Saab 9-5 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 13 complaints (57% of the total), followed by brakes with 2.

Has the 2006 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 2006 Saab 9-5 get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Saab 9-5 (9-5, 2.3L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 18 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,750 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2006 Saab 9-5 reported?

Among the 8 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 52,500 miles and the middle half falls between 24,500 and 112,500 miles; 50% 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.