1999 Saab 9-5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 9-5 years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 118 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Saab 9-5. That ranks 2nd out of 14 9-5 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (70 complaints, 59%), typically at around 73,449 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 1 fire, 4 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 118owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1999 Saab 9-5 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 70 | 59% | 73,449 | “ignition cassette” (44%) | $1,100 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 17 | 14% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 | 7% | 84,915 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | 6% | 108,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 3% | 93,750 | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 3% | 84,783 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 3% | 128,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 3% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 3% | 111,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 3% | 114,377 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 2% | 108,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 2% | 130,083 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 2% | 69,650 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 2% | 72,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 2% | 93,000 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | 115,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1999 Saab 9-5 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Wheels:hub
Problem: 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.
Risk: These fractures would result in wheel bolt breakage, allowing the wheel to detach from the wheel hub, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners will be contacted by mail and asked whether they change between steel and alloy wheels. If they do engage in this practice, they will be instructed to bring their cars to an authorized dealer. The dealer will remove the wheels, clean any contamination from the wheel and wheel hub, and replace the wheels using new improved bolts with attached washers. Owner notification began march 31, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: 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."
Risk: The vehicle occupant may not properly understand the operation of the air bag system and the need to use seat belts.
Fix: Owners will be provided with an alert label to be installed on the visible side of the driver's sun visor. If an owner so desires, their dealer can install the label for them.
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
- Engine stall/ engine compartment fires (PE05017) — opened Apr 7, 2005, closed Sep 23, 2005, led to recall 05V399000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Driver side airbag deployed while driving in a smooth straightaway country road at about 30-35 mph. No other cas were around at the time and nobody got seriously hurt, only a minor bruise on the arm.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 saab 9-5. The contact stated that while parked, the passenger's side impact air bag erroneously deployed. The vehicle was not involved in a crash or any type of impact. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer for a diagnostic test however, dealer did not provide an…
My vehicle was sold originally in california and has been a california registered vehicle at all times. It has rear fog lights installed with it's own separate switch on cluster dash for them . This vehicle does not comply with the california vehicle code 24602 fog tail lamps or rear fog lights. As…
My vehicle has a crack about 2 inches in length on the right rear side on roof top. I can provide pictures and would like my vehicle investigated into on this issue. *tr
Vacuum brake booster filled with oil leaking from defective vacuum pump resulting in brake failure. Defective abs module causes brakes to suddenly lock up immobilizing car. This is a design failure in the electronic abs braking system in my opinion. *tr
Other Saab 9-5 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 9-5 | 9 | 0 |
| 2010 9-5 | 2 | 0 |
| 2009 9-5 | 2 | 1 |
| 2008 9-5 | 20 | 2 |
| 2007 9-5 | 17 | 2 |
| 2006 9-5 | 23 | 2 |
| 2005 9-5 | 11 | 2 |
| 2004 9-5 | 19 | 2 |
| 2003 9-5 | 47 | 4 |
| 2002 9-5 | 65 | 6 |
| 2001 9-5 | 104 | 4 |
| 2000 9-5 | 119 | 3 |
| 1999 | 118 | 2 |
| 1998 9-5 | 1 | 0 |
See all Saab 9-5 problems by year, every Saab model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Saab models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Saab 9-5?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling, fuel system, gasoline problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 70 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Saab 9-5?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1999 Saab 9-5 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 9-5 model years, the 1999 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.