The 2000 draws 1.91 complaints per run and the 2004 1.06, a 1.8-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age, so 88.1% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 207 complaints, typically at 5.4 years.
Saab 9-5 years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 8 | 6 | yes | |
| 2008 | 18 | 13 | yes | |
| 2007 | 17 | 13 | yes | |
| 2006 | 21 | 15 | yes | |
| 2005 | 9 | 9 | yes | |
| 2004 | 17 | 16 | yes | |
| 2003 | 42 | 30 | yes | |
| 2002 | 43 | 33 | yes | |
| 2001 | 70 | 44 | yes | |
| 2000 | 84 | 44 | yes | |
| 1999 | 97 | 53 | yes |
Among the 6 Saab 9-5 years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2000, 1999, 2001; the three worth hunting are 2004, 2002, 2003.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 2.9% | covered | |
| 1 year | 5.3% | covered | |
| 2 years | 11.9% | covered | |
| 3 years | 17.4% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 31% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 46.5% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 62.3% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 77.8% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 86.2% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 91.2% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 94.5% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 97.1% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 98.3% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 99.3% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 99.8% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 11.9% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 88.1% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 12% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
What waits further out is Electrical System at 5.4 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5.4 yrs | — | 9 | |
| Air Bags | 8.1 yrs | 6 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4.7 yrs | — | 3 | |
| Fuel System | 5.8 yrs | — | 2 | |
| Gasoline | 5.8 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Service Brakes | 6.1 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 6 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Equipment | 6.1 yrs | — | 2 |
What else in this class
6 models share the 9-5's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Camry draws 5.65, the Honda Accord 4.02 and the Dodge Challenger 3.27, against 1.56 for the 9-5. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the 9-5 | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 161 | 1983–2026 | |
| Honda Accord | 415 | 1981–2026 | |
| Dodge Challenger | 77 | 1981–2026 | |
| Toyota Prius | 109 | 2001–2026 | |
| Hyundai Elantra | 117 | 1992–2026 | |
| Nissan Altima | 148 | 1993–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Saab 9-5 reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.56 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which 9-5 years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2000, 1999, 2001. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2004, 2002, 2003. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do 9-5 problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 5.4 years, followed by Air Bags.
Will the warranty cover 9-5 problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 11.9% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 12% of the complaints here.
Is the 9-5 more reliable than the Toyota Camry?
Yes: 1.56 complaints per production run for the 9-5 against 5.65 for the Toyota Camry.
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