2002 Saab 9-5 problems
The 2002 Saab 9-5 has 89 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (52%) concerns electrical system. After that come engine (15%) and fuel system (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 89 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 52% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 6
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 47,000 miles 70 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 7 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 18 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 17 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 17 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 5 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 70 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 47,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 43,000 miles (41 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 6 complaints mention a fire; 3 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 7 model years of the Saab 9-5 with enough data (73 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Had a head-on accident, traveling approximately 55MPH, car pulled out going across intersection, hit head-on. Slammed on brakes noticing she was going, and slammed into her car, her car turned around 180 degs. My airbags did not deploy, nor did the seat belt lock up, which allowed me to go forward in the accident.
Dt: consumer states on october 6, 2005 while driving on a road the vehicle caught on fire. The fuel line was ripped, and one smelled gasoline all over the passenger side of the vehicle. Consumer stated when putting the vehicle in reverse it will stall intermittently. Consumer took the vehicle to dealer and no codes showed up on the diagnostic machine. The dealer changed catalytic converter and the oxygen sensor twice. The dealer could not pin point the problem.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings summary: driving on highway, pressure line from fuel tank came loose and started leaking massive amounts of gas all over the underside of the vehicle and street. Stream of fuel on highway alerted driver. Lost unknown amount of gallons of gas quickly . Had to pull over and call for tow truck to take to nearest facility. I evacuated the car due to large amounts of gas under vehicle and streams of fuel near hot exhaust pipes.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 saab 9-5. While driving at speeds of 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle lost power steering and braking ability. The contact was able to move the vehicle off the roadway and restart the vehicle. The vehicle resumed normal operation upon restarting. The dealer was contacted and advised that the electrical ignition module would need to be replaced.