Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Saab 9-5, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system70
- Engine and engine cooling17
- Fuel system, gasoline8
- Service brakes, hydraulic7
- Air bags4
- Wheels3
- Seat belts3
- Power train3
- Equipment3
- Tires3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1999 Saab 9-5 failed the safety check 3.68% of the time — 109% more often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 137,393 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1999 Saab 9-5 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (110 kW, 148 hp), 3.0 petrol (147 kW, 197 hp) and 2.3 petrol (125 kW, 168 hp), out of 4 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 82 |
| 3.0 petrol | 147 kW 197 hp | 69 |
| 2.3 petrol | 125 kW 168 hp | 38 |
| 2.3 petrol | 169 kW 227 hp | 23 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
227 first registered in 1999 are on Dutch roads; 30% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €51,955.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde114
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen111
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse36
- Band onvoldoende profiel34
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm33
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt31
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)31
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld28
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
142 cars built in 1999 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 311 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 240 of these cars first registered in 1999 took their annual MOT test. 67% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1999 the figure was 63%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1999 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 17.5% | 16.6% |
| Suspension | 9.2% | 13.1% |
| Visibility | 7.9% | 6.9% |
| Brakes | 7.5% | 12.2% |
| Tyres | 5.8% | 4.3% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 4.6% | 9.3% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
238 of these cars first registered in 1999 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 326,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
18 1999 cars are on the New Zealand register; 67% arrived as used imports, 33% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 11.0–12.8 L/100 km (about 18–21 mpg US), CO₂ 253–294 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9-5 Turbo · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 12.8 | 8.8 | 11.0 |
| 9-5 Turbo · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.8 | 9.5 | 11.9 |
| 9-5 Turbo · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.9 | 10.2 | 12.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1999 Saab 9-5.
| 2002247 23 Dec 2002 | Suspension On certain vehicles, when changing back and forth between alloy and steel wheels (as for winter tires), rust and other contaminates may build up on the mating s… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IF AN OWNER CHANGES THEIR WHEELS/TIRES BETWEEN SUMMER AND WINTER USING A STEEL WHEEL IN THE WINTER AND AN ALLOY WHEEL IN THE SUMMER, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR RUST AND CONTAMINATION TO BUILD UP ON THE WHEEL HUB DURING THE STEEL WHEEL USAGE. IF THIS OCCURS AND THE CONTAMINATION IS NOT REMOVED, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT AFTER THE TIRE CHANGE SERVICE, SOME OF THIS CONTAMINATION COULD FLAKE OR GRIND AWAY RESULTING IN REDUCED CLAMPING FORCE OF THE WHEEL TO THE HUB. OVER SEVERAL SEASONS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS REDUCED FORCE COULD RESULT IN FRACTURES DEVELOPING IN THE WHEEL BOLTS DUE TO WHEEL TO HUB MOVEMENT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG ALERT LABEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR WAS OMITTED. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Saab told its dealers about the 1999 Saab 9-5: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 621490 | SUBJECT REGARDING CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS OF TEST BRAKE LIGHTS MESSAGE DELETED FROM SID REPLACEMENT UNITS. *TT |
| 619564 | ADDRESSING COMPLAINT OF NOISE CAUSED BY LEAVES ENTERING FAN HOUSING. *TT |
| 619562 | TO ADDRESS AN EXTERNAL OIL OR COOLANT LEAK FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET WHEN NO ENGINE OVERHEATING OR OTHER RUNNING COMPLAINTS HAVE OCCURRED. *TT |
| 619554 | SUBJECT REGARDING NEW UPDATE KIT FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. *TT |
| 617823 | THIS BULLETIN ADDRESSES A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT OF ENGINE / EXHAUST NOISE FORM A COLD ENGINE OR WHEN TURNING A CORNER. *TT |
| 614920 | EXPERIENCING RATTLING NOISE HEARD FROM CLUTCH DISC HUB ON VEHICLES WITH MANUAL GEARBOXES AS FROM VIN X3000655 - X3086621. *TT |
| 614917 | RECALL INFORMATION ON REPLACING ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM). *TT |
| 614913 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN 838: DISTURBANCES DUE TO WIRING HARNESS PROVISIONS FOR CD CHANGER . CARS AFFECTED ARE WITHIN VIN RANGES X3020001 - Y3046149. *TT |
| 614095 | CUSTOMER SATISFICATION CAMPAIGN 827 ON REPLACING THE C-PILLAR TRIM ON ALL WAGON MODELS WITHIN VIN RANGES X3020150 - X3090057. *TT |
| 614094 | IN CONNECTION WITH THE INTRODUCTION IN PRODUCTION OF A NEW SCREW FOR THE TRUNK (BOOT) LID HINGES, A SMALL OPENING IN ONE OF THE FASTENING HOLES TO THE WATER CHANNEL WAS SEALED. THIS OPENING WAS USED TO DRAIN WATER FROM THE TOP OF THE HINGE FASTENING TO THE WATER CHANNEL AND, CONSEQUENTLY, THE WATER IS NOW DRAINED INTO THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT ON VEHICLES WITHIN VIN RANGES X3039285 - X3043680. *TT |
| 612513 | THERE HAVE BEEN OCCASIONAL CASES WHERE THE WIRING HARNESS HAS COME TOO CLOSE TO THE ABS UNIT ON ALL VEHICLES WITHIN VIN X300853 - X3001441. *TT |
| 610154 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN THAT THE SEAT HEATER SWITCH OR SEAT FAN SWITCH WILL NOT ILLUMINATE OR DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WORKING. *TT |
| 610153 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN 484 TO REPLACE THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM SIREN ON VEHICLES WITHIN VIN SERIAL NO. RANGES X3000001 - X3001609. *TT |
| 610147 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN 473 REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF SHIFT LOCK SOLENOID ON VEHICLES WITHIN VIN SERIAL NO. RANGES X3000001 - X3023950. *TT |
| 608079 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CHECK ENGINE LAMP ON AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P1230, P1240, P1251, P1530, P1614 IS FOUND. *TT |
| 608077 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A SID THAT DISPLAYS TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED MESSAGE OR A PROBLEM WITH WINTER OR SPORT BUTTONS. *TT |
| 607548 | INFORMATION ON REPLACING THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM SIREN ON VEHICLES WITHIN VIN X3000001 - X3001609. *TT |
| 604279 | INCORRECT ENGINE BEARING CAP TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. *TT |
| 604272 | ADDRESSING CUSTOMER COMPLAINT OF WIND NOISE FROM FRONT DOOR WINDOWS. *TT |
| 604271 | ADDRESSING COMPLAINTS OF WIND NOISE / WHISTLE AT 65 MPH WHERE THE A-PILLAR MEETS THE ROOF AND WINDSHIELD. *TT |
| 604270 | CUSTOMER COMPLAINT REGARDING OUTER DOOR MIRROR CASING COMING LOOSE. *TT |
| 604048 | PROCEDURES ON PREVENTING JUDDERING OF SIDE WINDOWS ( UNSMOOTH OPERATION ) FOR VEHICLES UP TO AND INCLUDING VIN X3001194 AND W3075121. *YC |
| 603064 | INFORMATION ON ELECTRICAL FAULT TRACING. *YC |
| 603053 | ADDRESSING QUESTIONS REGARDING RADIO FREQUENCIES. *YC |
| 602954 | REPLACEMENT OF SHIFT LOCK SOLENOID. *YC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE STALL/ ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation