2006 Saab 9-7X Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report a fuel gauge that stops giving a usable reading — swinging between full and empty, or sticking on empty right after a fill-up — with many saying they ran out of fuel or stalled as a result. The gauge complaints arrive across a wide mileage range and are the most repeated theme by a wide margin. A separate cluster of complaints describes headlights that flicker or go out while driving, and some owners describe water getting into the driver's door switch module.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel gauge reads wrong or sticks near empty

   • 29 complaints (49%)
   • median 65,062 mi at 5.6 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2016

   After refueling, the gauge often reads empty or bounces between full and empty, and the low-fuel light and check engine light may come on. Owners describe losing track of how much fuel is in the tank and, in some cases, stalling or running out of fuel while the gauge still showed fuel remaining. Several say they now reset the trip odometer and refuel by mileage. Complaints describe dealers and independent shops attributing it to the fuel level sensor or sending unit in the tank, often quoting several hundred dollars for the repair. Reported from roughly 50,000 miles upward, with many complaints between 55,000 and 105,000 miles.

   What to check: Fill the tank and watch the gauge through a full sweep of the key cycle; note whether the low-fuel light or check engine light stays on. Ask whether the fuel level sensor has been replaced and keep a mileage log if the gauge is unreliable.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At 60000 miles fuel sensor broke. It first fluctuated between e and f, now is always on e. Well documented problem with Saab 9-7X models. Fuel sensor is located on the fuel pump. This is an extensive fix only to hope it does not break again. We have been calculating our fuel usage with mileage.”

   NHTSA complaint #10313430, filed 2010-02, 60,000 miles

   “After fueling up my tank my gas light stayed on along with my engine light. I took it to a local auto parts store to get it scanned and it ended up being my fuel sensor. The needle floats between full and empty as I drive down the road. I have a family of 8 and 5 of us able to drive. I would like my vehicle to work properly so one of my family members do not become stranded because of this well know faulty fuel sensor. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10660971, filed 2014-11, 105,000 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights flicker or shut off while driving

   • 10 complaints (17%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 8.9 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2019

   Owners describe headlights and daytime running lights flickering, then going dark, sometimes one side at a time and sometimes both. Cycling the headlight switch back on brings them back temporarily. Several complaints say a mechanic traced it to the headlamp driver module, and some owners report being told their vehicle was not covered under a related headlight recall campaign or that the parts were unavailable. Mostly reported between about 20,000 and 160,000 miles; owners note it happening on both cold and warm nights.

   Recall 15V5190002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that the headlamp recall work was completed for this vehicle, and test both low and high beams at night, watching for flicker over several minutes. Ask whether the headlamp driver module has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall I bought a 2006 Saab 97x n I have problems w my hid low beams the left side just wont light up n wen im drivin somtimes my drivin lights go on n off while im on the highway ! Ive had the bulbs changed twice n still the passenger low beam wont light up !!!”

   NHTSA complaint #11184163, filed 2019-03, 124,000 miles

   “While driving home our headlights flickered and turned off. I was able to pull over and restart the vehicle and the headlights came back on. Once driving again, they flickered and the passenger side headlight went out. I was able to drive the vehicle home with the one light (luckily). When I went to replace the headlight, it was back on again. I checked all connections and was unable to find the cause. A couple of weeks later the stabila-trac system light and air bag light came on and went off (5 min period). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10594699, filed 2014-05, 68,672 miles
3. 3
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Driver door switch module failure or water intrusion

   • 11 complaints (19%)
   • median 105,000 mi at 10.0 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2020

   Complaints describe the driver's door window switch panel failing — windows that open or stop working on their own, mirror and door controls that go dead, and occasionally a burning smell from the door panel. Owners also describe fluid getting into the module and corrosion. Some report the problem returned after the door module recall repair was performed, and some were told the part was unavailable. Reported from about 95,000 miles upward, with several complaints past 120,000 miles.

   Recall 14V404000Recall 13V248000Recall 12V406000

   What to check: Open and close each window from the driver's panel and check the mirror and lock buttons; look for moisture or staining around the switch module. Ask whether the door module recall was performed and whether the module has been replaced since.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased this vehicle in clark county indiana in 2011 the month of may. The original bill of sale was in the car from 2006 where it was sold from a Saab dealership in fisherville indiana. My driver side door as of september 2012 started making a burning smell and all of a sudden nothing on my driver side door works window switch mirror control and the heater button on the door will no longer work. I keep getting a smoke smell off and on since last month!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10480618, filed 2012-10, 98,000 miles

   “The driver side front window will not go down, all other works. That part was a recall last year and was replace, with no charge to me. Also the engine shuts off after the vehicle has started.”

   NHTSA complaint #10575724, filed 2014-03

Buying note. The most consistent thing to verify on this model year is the fuel gauge: fill the tank and confirm the reading tracks the actual level before buying, since a replacement sensor is a common expense. Also confirm the headlight and driver door module recalls were completed, and check both at night and during a test drive.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 53 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.