Saab · 9-5 · 2001
4
Recalls
82
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2001 Saab 9-5 has 4 recalls and 82 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: electrical system (40 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
The 2001 Saab 9-5 page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is electrical system with 40 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINES WERE DAMAGED DURING PRODUCTION.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE AIR BAG ALERT LABELS MAY NOT BE PERMANENTLY AFFIXED AS REQUIRED BY THIS STANDARD.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE SUNVISOR SURFACE AND APPLY A NEW AIR BAG ALERT LABEL ON BOTH SUNVISORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 30, 2001. 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.
With only 670 miles on a new set of tires, an inspection for a completely unrelated reason found that there was a bulge in 3 of the 4 NEW tires. Installed in Jun, issue found in Dec; car is driven very little. Tires were purchased from Tire Rack and installed by Discount Tire. In...
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-5. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, SLAMMED TO THE GROUND, AND CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED ...
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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 W...
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MY 2001 SAAB 9-5 HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR AWHILE ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES STALL RANDOMLY AND NOT START UNTIL ENGINE COOLS DOWN. THE CODES FOR CEL LEAD TO DIRECT IGNITION. A PREVIOUS RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES, ONE MY VEHICLE RECEIVED. I CALLED DE...
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I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAD THE ERROR CODES CHECKED. THEY ARE P1312 AND P1334. THESE CODES INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH THE "DIC" (DIRECT IGNITION CONTROLLER). EARLIER MODELS WERE SUBJECT TO RECALL. THERE IS APPARE...
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE NOTICED AN OVERPOWERING ODOR OF GASOLINE AND THE FUEL WAS BURNING MUCH FASTER THAN NORMAL. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE...
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I HAVE A 2001 SAAB 9-5. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE DIRECT IGNITION COIL TWICE IN MY CAR. I RECENTLY READ THAT THIS ITEMS HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND I WANT TO SEE IF I AM ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND FOR THE WORK DONE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED A NO START CONDITION. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. THE IDM WAS THE CAUSE OF ...
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I HAD A "DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE" FAILURE ON MY SAAB 9-5 2001. I FOUND FROM WWW.SAABSERVICES.COM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR MODEL YEARS 2000-2002. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT MY VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH IN THAT CATEGORY, DID NOT QUALIFY FOR A RECALL PART REPLACEMENT. ...
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ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2008 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:45 PM I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN VEHICLE ENGINE STOP. THIS OCCURRED ON A RESIDENTIAL 4-LANE STREET WHILE TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS A 2001 SAAB 95 ARC WAGON. . THE VEHICLE SUDDEN...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 82 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2001 Saab models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2001 Saab 9-5 has 4 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 82 owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Saab 9-5.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2001 Saab 9-5.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2001 Saab 9-5 are electrical system (40 reports), engine and engine cooling (12 reports), fuel system, gasoline (11 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 4 recalls on record for the 2001 Saab 9-5. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.