2004 Saab 9-5: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 30 complaints
30
Total Complaints
46,500mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Top Issue
1
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

11,100 25th Percentile
46,500 Median Mileage
60,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
2
TIRES
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
2
ENGINE
2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1

Severity Assessment

1
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"BACK TAILGATE MOTOR BURNED OUT, AND THE TRUNK WAS NOT ACCESSIBLE. THE SPARE TIRE AND OTHER ITEMS WERE IN THE TRUNK.*AK"
"AFTER SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION UNDER FRONT END AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS APPEARING AT LESS THAN 10,000 MILES, CAR UNDERWENT ALIGNMENT AND 3 HIGH SPEED BALANCES. ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP, "ALL 4 TIRES WERE WORN ON INSIDES AND COULD ONLY BE CAUSED BY DEFECT." DEALER STATED THAT "ROAD FORCING WILL NOT ALLOW TIRES ..."
"WHILE DRIVING OUR 2004 SAAB 9-5 ON THE HIGHWAY, AT OVER 60 MPH, THE IGNITION HAS BEEN ACCIDENTALLY TURNED OFF. THIS CAUSES AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES, MAKING THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND STOP. LUCKILY I WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE DURING BOTH INCIDENTS AND COULD PULL..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28