"How reliable is the 2008 Saab 9-5?"

"Based on 21 NHTSA complaints, the 2008 Saab 9-5 has a median complaint mileage of 30000 miles. The most common issue is AIR BAGS."

"What are common problems with the 2008 Saab 9-5?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Saab 9-5 is AIR BAGS, accounting for a significant portion of the 21 total complaints filed."

2008 Saab 9-5: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 21 complaints

Total Complaints

30,000mi

Median Mileage

AIR BAGS

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

15,050 25th Percentile

30,000 Median Mileage

66,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THE 2008 SAAB 95 PASSENGER AIR BAG TURNS ITSELF ON AND OFF WHILE A PASSENGER IS SITTING ON THE SEAT WHILE DRIVING. IT SUPPOSEDLY IS SET FOR 90 LBS PRESSURE BUT MY WIFE AND CHILDREN ARE OVER 120LBS. YOU MUST PULL YOURSELF DOWN WHILE SITTING IN THE SEAT TO KEEP AIR BAG FUNCTIONING. MY WIFE SAT IN O..."

"I HAVE A 2008 9-5 SAAB AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNS ITSELF ON AND OFF WHILE SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND THE CAR IS MOVING. THE SENSOR IS SUPPOSED TO BE SET TO TURN AIRBAG ON FOR 90 LBS BUT MY WIFE AND KIDS WEIGH ABOUT 120 LBS AND THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE AIRBAG SENSOR ON IS TO PULL YOURSEL..."

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE WOULD REMOVED THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LA..."

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