2005 Saab 9-2X Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Feb 10, 2025 · 111 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other 9-2X years
Not enough data 1st of 2 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Saab 9-2X. That is the most of any 9-2X model year in the database (2 years). The most reported problem area is air bags (46 complaints, 41%), typically at around 97,400 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.

Saab 9-2X
My Saab 9-2x Aero; image taken May 5th, 2005.. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Iota, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2005 Saab 9-2X problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Air Bags46 · ~97,400 mi
Fuel/propulsion System27 · ~110,000 mi
Suspension17 · ~126,675 mi
Fuel System, Gasoline14 · ~74,500 mi
Engine8 · ~125,500 mi
Structure6 · ~102,427 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling3 · ~74,000 mi
Steering3 · ~26,000 mi
Unknown or Other3 · ~112,000 mi
Power Train2 · ~51,250 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Air Bags4641%97,400——
Fuel/propulsion System2724%110,000——
Suspension1715%126,675——
Fuel System, Gasoline1413%74,500——
Engine87%125,500——
Structure65%102,427——
Engine and Engine Cooling33%74,000——
Steering33%26,000——
Unknown or Other33%112,000——
Power Train22%51,250——
Service Brakes22%133,150——
Tires22%36,800——
Equipment11%26,000——
Wheels11%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2015, with 28 complaints
2005: 1200512006: 112007: 2200722008: 222010: 3201032011: 552012: 2201222013: 882014: 162014162015: 28282016: 212016212017: 552018: 1201812019: 222020: 112020112021: 112025: 220252

n = 111 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2005 Saab 9-2X recalls (4)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJan 2, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V001000 · 258,813 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJan 2, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V003000 · 111,562 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleMay 28, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V323000 · 432,016 vehicles

Problem: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles manufactured February 18, 2003, to May 5, 2008, and 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to March 17, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Subaru will notify their owners and General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The Subaru recall began on June 17, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. The Saab recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners of Saab vehicles may call 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is WQR-53. Note: The recall completely supersedes recall 14V-399 (WQL-48) and partially supersedes recall 14V-763 (WQP-51) in that model year 2004 through 2005 Subaru Impreza and model year 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles are now only part of this campaign. Note: On December 18, 2015 Subaru informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy and 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles.

Suspension:front:control arm:lower armSep 6, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V464000 · 318,215 vehicles

Problem: Subaru is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 impreza, model year 2003-2008 forester, and model year 2005-2006 saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured from september 5, 2000 through november 26, 2007 originally sold, or currently registered in, massachusetts, maryland, michigan, new hampshire, new york, pennsylvania, vermont, wisconsin, connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, maine, minnesota, missouri, new jersey, ohio, rhode island, west virginia and the district of columbia. The front lower control arms may break at the hanger brackets due to corrosion if the hanger bracket is exposed to salty and humid environments such as roads containing snow melting agent.

Risk: A broken control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Subaru will handle their vehicles and saab will handle theirs. Dealers will inspect the degree of corrosion of the front lower control arms, and will either rustproof or replace them. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during december 2011. Owners may contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA15001) — opened Feb 24, 2015, still open, led to recall 14V668.
  • Air Bag Inflator Rupture (PE14016) — opened Jun 11, 2014, closed Mar 2, 2015, led to recall 13V172000.
  • Front suspension control arm failure (PE11011) — opened Apr 7, 2011, closed Sep 23, 2011, led to recall 11V464000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Does recall supposed to be done under the general motors they’re refusing to do this recall. And it’s the law they have to do this recall not my fault. It’s a sob that was made by Subaru, but it’s GM’s product 05-06.

Air Bags · received Feb 10, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11641772

The contact owns a 2005 Saab 9-2X. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 11V464000 (Suspension) and 15V323000 (Air Bags); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer and Chevrolet 112 [redacted]) were contacted but referred the…

Air Bags · received Feb 10, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11641779

The contact owns a 2005 Saab 9-2x. The contact stated while attempting to park the vehicle, the control arm fractured. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer and was told rubber bushings and rubber control arm links could be worn. The control could just…

Suspension · received Jun 1, 2021 · NHTSA complaint 11419165

It is a known issue in the saab 9-2x community that the rear strut towers rust out and fall apart. This is an issue that should be addressed as it is so common whether in a rust prone state or not.

Structure · received Oct 21, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 11365493

Both rear left and right strut towers began rusting to the point the rear suspension alignment was constantly shifting due to the lack of structure remaining in the body

Structure · received Oct 16, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 11364615

Other Saab 9-2X years

2006 9-2X →

YearComplaintsRecalls
2006 9-2X107
20051114

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Saab 9-2X?

Owners most often report air bags, fuel/propulsion system, suspension problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 46 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2005 Saab 9-2X?

Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2005 Saab 9-2X a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 9-2X model years, the 2005 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.