2008 SAAB 9-5 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
21
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
3
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2008 SAAB 9-5
The 2008 SAAB 9-5 has received a total of 21 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT. 3 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Air Bags (18 complaints), Electrical System (2 complaints), and Air Bagsfrontal (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2008 SAAB 9-5
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2008 SAAB 9-5, potentially affecting up to 171,105 vehicles.
Recall 16V063000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 113,716 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the...
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March...
View full details →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 →Owner Complaints for the 2008 SAAB 9-5
21 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 SAAB 9-5. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bagsfrontal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
I HAD MY AIRBAG REPLACED ON RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I NOW HAVE AN ERROR ALERT ON MY DASH INDICATING AN AIR BAG PROBLEM. MY SERVICE TECHNICIAN TELLS ME THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. WHAT ALTERNATIVES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ME, BESIDES DRIVE AN UNSAFE CAR OR JUNK IT (PROBABLY ILLEGAL TO SELL )
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
RECALL INITIATED IN FEB 2016, NOTIFICATION RECEIVED FROM GM IN MAY OF 2016, REPAIR IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE AFTER 10 MONTHS FROM DATE OF RECALL.
TAKATA RECALL - ALTHOUGH THE RECALL BEGAN FEBRUARY 3, 2016, IT HAS STILL NOT BEEN COMPLETED. GIVEN THE DANGER OF BEING HIT WITH SHRAPNEL, THE SITUATION SHOULD BE REMEDIED IMMEDIATELY!
Safety Rating for the 2008 SAAB 9-5
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2008 SAAB 9-5 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2008 SAAB 9-5
General Motors, LLC has issued 3 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2008 SAAB 9-5. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
PIT5652D — EQUIPMENT
This Preliminary Information document advises technicians that a condition may occur with the listed vehicles where the radio clock may not display the time. Dealer technicians are advised of a temporary proicedure to get the clock to display until Engineering has developed the permanent repair. The listed Cadillac and Corvette RPO...
SB-071511 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GM: THE WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS, AND POWER WINDOWS ARE INOPERATIVE. 1999-2009 SAAB 9-5. *RM
PIC-3885H — AIR BAGS
SAAB: SIR LIGHT ON AND B009200, B009205, OR B009205 STORED-KEYWORDS. TECHNICIAN MAY FIND A B0092XX STORED IN ACM/SD (AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE). IT IS INTERMITTENT IN NATURE. PASSENGER PRESENCE SYSTEM (PPS) IS A NEW FEATURE FOR 2006. SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH EARLIER SYSTEM USED FOR DETERMINING SEAT POSITION RELATIVE TO...
NHTSA Investigations for the 2008 SAAB 9-5
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the SAAB 9-5
- 2003 SAAB 9-5 — 69 complaints
- 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 (current)
- 2009 SAAB 9-5 — 2 complaints
- 2010 SAAB 9-5 — 2 complaints
- 2011 SAAB 9-5 — 11 complaints