2004 Saab 9-5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 9-5 years
- About as many complaints as other years 8th of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Saab 9-5. That ranks 8th out of 14 9-5 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (13 complaints, 68%), typically at around 46,336 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 19owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2004 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 | 13 | 68% | 46,336 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 11% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 11% | 39,161 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 11% | 51,108 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 11% | 34,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 11% | 17,348 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 5% | 46,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 5% | 51,108 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 5% | 46,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 5% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 5% | 5,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2004 Saab 9-5 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seats:front assembly:head restraint
Problem: Saab is recalling 57,389 my 2002-2008 9-5 series vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact." during compliance testing, one of the upper interior occupant protection test points exceeded the standard's requirements.
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, personal injury to occupants may occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a-pillar trim with improved energy-absorbing capability free of charge. The recall began on november 25, 2008. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump retaining tabs holding the fuel lines were damaged during production.
Risk: Over time, this could cause the fuel lines to loosen from the pump resulting in fuel leakage. If an ignition source were present, the fuel may ignite resulting in a vehicle fire.
Fix: Dealers will develop a securing bracket that will secure the fuel lines to the fuel pump even if the plastic retaining tabs should break. The recall began on june 13, 2007. This is an expansion of previous recall campaigns - see 04v557 and 06v126. 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.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I purchased my 2004 Saab 9-5 in 2023. I was under the impression that everything was running and that drivability was proper. When I attempted to drive the automobile it would start, idle 7 minutes and stall. It would not start again for about 35 minutes. I tried to use it, and this behavior…
7/26/22 10:23pm on interstate 25 North of Denver mile 249 I was not able to stop and rear ended another vehicle. My air bags did not deploy there were no dash lights indicating any problem with the airbags prior to the accident. My vehicle was not drivable and was towed to H&R Towing in Johnstown…
I have owned a 2004 saab 9-5 sport combi wagon since 2006. Twice, over the last several years (2011, 2014), my husband and i have been on the highway and had an ignition switch incident where he was the driver and i was the passenger. In both incidents, i turned around to talk to my daughter (2011)…
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 sabb 9-5. The contact stated that while driving 75 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and took it to the dealer for inspection of the failure where the technician replaced the ignition module. The contact was made aware…
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 saab 9-5. The contact stated that while traveling various speeds, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was found that the crank shaft position sensor, fuel pump, and the twice unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was…
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 | 19 | 2 |
| 2003 9-5 | 47 | 4 |
| 2002 9-5 | 65 | 6 |
| 2001 9-5 | 104 | 4 |
| 2000 9-5 | 119 | 3 |
| 1999 9-5 | 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 2004 Saab 9-5?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 13 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2004 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 2004 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 2004 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.