2003 SAAB 9-5 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
69
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
7
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 SAAB 9-5
The 2003 SAAB 9-5 has received a total of 69 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, WHEELS:HUB. 7 technical service bulletins have been issued by SAAB CARS USA, INC. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (20 complaints), Electrical Systemignitionmodule (5 complaints), and Engine And Engine Cooling (4 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 SAAB 9-5
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 2003 SAAB 9-5, potentially affecting up to 227,570 vehicles.
Recall 08V160000 — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
| 57,389 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY TO OCCUPANTS MAY OCCUR.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Recall 07V087000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
| 94,377 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINES WERE DAMAGED DURING PRODUCTION.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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 -...
View full details →Recall 03V006000 — WHEELS:HUB
| 70,726 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: THESE FRACTURES WOULD RESULT IN WHEEL BOLT BREAKAGE, ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO DETACH FROM THE WHEEL HUB, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 06V410000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
| 5,078 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 SAAB 9-5
69 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 SAAB 9-5. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
I HAD TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP 3 TIMES IN 4 YEARS. IT SMELLED LIKE FUEL IN MY CAR.
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.
AFTER DRIVING MY CAR TO MY DESTINATION, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK BUT THE CAR WON'T STAY IN PARK. THE CAR POPS OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE, THEN IT WON'T START WHEN I GET BACK INTO MY CAR. *TR
AFTER DRIVING MY CAR TO MY DESTINATION, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK BUT THE CAR WON'T STAY IN PARK. THE CAR POPS OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE, THEN IT WON'T START WHEN I GET BACK INTO MY CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Safety Rating for the 2003 SAAB 9-5
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 SAAB 9-5 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 SAAB 9-5
SAAB CARS USA, INC. has issued 7 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 SAAB 9-5. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
12-00-89-003B — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
This service bulletin provides policy information on warranty administration guidelines for multiple repairs with independent causes (GM Canada Dealers Only).
8312451 — STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
LUBRICATION REPLACEMENT OF DOOR HANDLE. *EH
0304831 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PRODUCT CHANGES TO MY03 SPORTWAGON - MKT-03-003. *TT
311 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
2003 RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT BATTERIES. *TT
03001 — WHEELS
A SAFETY DEFECT MAY EXIST WHERE CHANGING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN ALLOY AND STEEL WHEELS, MAY CAUSE RUST AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS TO BUILD UP ON THE MATING SURFACE OF THE WHEEL HUB AND CAUSE THE WHEEL BOLTS TO FATIGUE AND POSSIBLY BREAK. *TT
371843 — VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
THE OUTSIDE AUTOMATIC DIMMING MIRRORS STAY A VERY DARK COLOR. *TT
100 — EQUIPMENT
GARAGE DOOR OPENER PROGRAMMING. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. *TT
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 SAAB 9-5
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the SAAB 9-5
- 1998 SAAB 9-5 — 1 complaint
- 1999 SAAB 9-5 — 157 complaints
- 2000 SAAB 9-5 — 121 complaints
- 2001 SAAB 9-5 — 113 complaints
- 2002 SAAB 9-5 — 74 complaints
- 2003 SAAB 9-5 (current)
- 2004 SAAB 9-5 — 30 complaints
- 2005 SAAB 9-5 — 15 complaints
- 2006 SAAB 9-5 — 29 complaints
- 2007 SAAB 9-5 — 17 complaints
- 2008 SAAB 9-5 — 21 complaints