Saab 9-5 Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 261 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Saab 9-5 across 10 model years. The 1999 model year has the most (70). The words owners use most often: “ignition cassette” (30% of reports).
- 261electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $930typical repair cost reported by owners
- 44%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition cassette: mentioned in 77 of 261 complaints (30%)
- Catalytic converter: mentioned in 19 of 261 complaints (7%)
- Discharge module: mentioned in 17 of 261 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the Saab 9-5 at $930, and half of them between $810 and $2,100.
Based on 24 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2011), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 230 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 261 complaints, 12 a fire, 2 an injury.
Saab 9-5 electrical system complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Electrical system:ignition:module
Model years: 2002, 2003
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles equipped with b308 6-cylinder gasoline engines may experience overheating and burnout of the isolated gated bipolar transistor (igbt) within the ignition discharge module (idm) due to increased susceptibility to electrical loads.
Risk: Overheating of the igbt occurs most often at engine start-up, but it may also occur while the engine is running. Engine stalling may occur, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect to see what version idm is in the vehicle and replace the idm if it is a version built prior to january 2003. The recall is expected to begin during december 2005. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007. Note: this recall is an expansion of a previous campaign (please see 05v399).
Electrical system:ignition:module
Model years: 2000, 2001, 2002
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles equipped with b205/b235 4-cylinder gasoline engines and b308 6-cylinder gasoline engines may experience overheating and burnout of the isolated gated bipolar transistor (igbt) within the ignition discharge module (idm) due to increased susceptibility to electrical loads.
Risk: Overheating of the igbt occurs most often at engine start-up, but it may also occur while the engine is running. Engine stalling may occur, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect to see what version idm is in the vehicle and replace the idm if it is a version built prior to the introduction of qp3. An interim letter will be mailed to owners in october 2005, informing them of the condition. Parts are now available and owners will be notified to bring their vehicles in to the dealers to have the idm replaced by letter dated march 13, 2006. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are 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…
Turbo malfunction at a cost of $455.00 and also engine filter box.vehicle still not running correctly.will only go at speed of 25 mph.repaired on 03/27/2018.started out smoking all over the place from exhaust.was told turbo went bad.i think a lot of these cars have this problem as i read on…
Tl* the contact owns a 1993 buick regal. The contact stated that all door locks would become stuck when activated by the electronic door lock system. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 41,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 saab 9-5. While driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was eventually able to restart. The failure occurred on numerous occasions. The vin was not included in…
While traveling on freeway, ignition suddenly shut off and car lost all power. Had to steer to the side of the road without power and then restart car to continue. *tr
Frequently asked questions
Do all Saab 9-5s have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 261 owner complaints about electrical system for the Saab 9-5. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Saab 9-5 electrical system?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the Saab 9-5?
Owners report a typical cost of $930 (half paid between $810 and $2,100), from 24 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Saab 9-5?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition cassette”, in 77 of 261 complaints, followed by “catalytic converter” (19).
See all Saab 9-5 problems.