2003 Saab 9-5 problems
The 2003 Saab 9-5 has 69 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (42%) concerns electrical system. After that come engine (12%) and fuel system (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 69 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 42% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 1 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 75,000 miles 48 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 | 4 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 7 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 11 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 5 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 5 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 48 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 75,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 80,000 miles (24 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 1 complaint mentions a crash; 3 injuries reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 89% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 7 model years of the Saab 9-5 with enough data (37 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 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.
While driving 30 MPH, another vehicle rear end the consumer. This caused the driver to loose control of the vehicle. As a result the vehicle was hit my other vehicle's from different angles. Both frontal airbags failed to deploy. Both the driver and passenger sustained injuries and were transported by ambulance. The vehicle was totaled out by the insurance company. Neither the side impact air bags nor the head restraint air bags deployed.
We purchased our 2003 9-5 arc in march of 2003. Immediately, I noticed the exhaust smelled of human gas, seriously. Soon after the stench seeped into the cab of the vehicle. At 7000 I couldn't take it anymore and I brought the car in to have checked out by the dealer. They informed me there was nothing wrong with the car, that sometimes new cars smell. It was suggested that I use only premium or better fuel to lessen the smell. 3000 miles later, the car stunk.
The vehicle stalled on 4 separate occasions from various speeds of 25 MPH or more while driving. The vehicle has been to the dealer on 3 separate occasions. The dealer has cleaned and tightened the battery cables, the first time, they replaced the crank sensor, t-7 and the ignition switch, the second time and the third time, they were unable to duplicate the problem.
Both direct ignition cassettes failed on my 2003 saab 9-5 3.0l v6. GM recalled the cassettes on the 2000-2002 model years.
Check engine light kept going on and off and car had made a loud popping noise from the electrical system, when trying to start one day. I checked online for recalls, which stated there was a recall for electrical, ignition issues. I took my car into a repair shop to check on check engine light. There is a recall 06v410000, oct 26 2006 for this very issue but for 6 cylinder, and mine is a 4 cylinder engine. The repair shop replaced the ign cassette.