RecallRepo

2000 Saab 9-5 Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2000 Saab 9-5 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 217,001 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 121 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 05V399000 2005-09-14 103,202 affected
Defect

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH B205/B235 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND 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 THE INTRODUCTION OF QP3. AN INTERIM LETTER WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS IN OCTOBER 2005, INFORMING THEM OF THE CONDITION. PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AND OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN TO…

WHEELS 03V006000 2003-01-13 70,726 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,…

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 WHEELS, CLEAN ANY CONTAMINATION FROM THE WHEEL AND WHEEL HUB, AND REPLACE THE WHEELS…

AIR BAGS 01V168000 2001-05-18 43,073 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE AIR BAG ALERT LABELS MAY NOT BE PERMANENTLY AFFIXED AS REQUIRED BY THIS STANDARD.

Consequence

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE SUNVISOR SURFACE AND APPLY A NEW AIR BAG ALERT LABEL ON BOTH SUNVISORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 30, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT…

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
41
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
10
2fires1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
4
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
3
Total complaints121

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Complaint about automobile paint.I purchased car recently and the hood and top on car is flaky and faded.the color description is gray.I am wondering if this is a problem with cars that were made in the year 2000.the hood and top would have to be painted.it doesn't look like tree sap or any…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2016-11-01

“Driving in heavy traffic after leaving work, I noticed no loss of power until I attempted to merge with freeway traffic. Soon enough, though I did notice that the gas gauge needle was dropping quicker than normal, and the gasoline fumes became apparent after cracking the windows. The engine…”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · reported 2011-07-13

“Driving slowly in heavy traffic, I noticed a loss of power when I attempted to merge with freeway traffic. The gas gauge needle was dropping quicker than normal, and the gasoline fumes became apparent after cracking a window. The engine stalled for the third and last time as I exited the freeway.…”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · reported 2011-07-13

“Direct ignition cassette failure...this causes the car to sputter like the engine is going to die and burns the electrical inside of the direct ignition cassette. We had the car hooked up to the machine and tested and got a misfire code (p0325) and once the check engine was cleared it worked again…”

EQUIPMENT · reported 2011-04-29

“Tl*the contact owns a 2000 saab 9-5. The contact was driving approximately 30 mph when the temperature gauge indicated that the vehicle was overheating. The vehicle was safely driven to the side of the road and the engine was shut off. After waiting for the engine to cool, the contact dispensed…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE · reported 2010-09-21

“Tl*the contact owns a 2000 saab 9-5. There was a strong fuel odor leaking from the vehicle. The contact observed that fuel was leaking from the gas tank. The vehicle was towed to a repair facility the following day since all of the fuel leaked out of the vehicle. A mechanic advised him that recall…”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · reported 2009-11-22

“During driving, I experienced intermittent failures of the abs system. Over time it became constant. Apparently, the abs control module has failed, as seems to be common with this vehicle. The problem causes the speedometer to shut off, the odometer to stop clocking miles, the abs system to…”

SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC · reported 2009-03-01

“Vehicle quit on highway would not restart mechanic informed me ignition coil n/g and there was a recall from saab but the serial #on mine is not entitled. *tr”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2009-01-03

Defect investigations

Investigation PE05017 Opened 2005-04-07 · closed 2005-09-23

ENGINE STALL/ ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

ODI OPENED PE05-017 BASED ON 35 REPORTS OF ALLEGED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IDM CASSETTE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MOST REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.IN 3 INCIDENTS, THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED SMOKE AND/OR…

Investigation PE05017 Opened 2005-04-07 · closed 2005-09-23

ENGINE STALL/ ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

ODI OPENED PE05-017 BASED ON 35 REPORTS OF ALLEGED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IDM CASSETTE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MOST REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.IN 3 INCIDENTS, THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED SMOKE AND/OR…

Investigation PE05017 Opened 2005-04-07 · closed 2005-09-23

ENGINE STALL/ ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

ODI OPENED PE05-017 BASED ON 35 REPORTS OF ALLEGED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IDM CASSETTE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MOST REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.IN 3 INCIDENTS, THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED SMOKE AND/OR…

Investigation PE05017 Opened 2005-04-07 · closed 2005-09-23

ENGINE STALL/ ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

ODI OPENED PE05-017 BASED ON 35 REPORTS OF ALLEGED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IDM CASSETTE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MOST REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.IN 3 INCIDENTS, THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED SMOKE AND/OR…

Investigation PE05017 Opened 2005-04-07 · closed 2005-09-23

ENGINE STALL/ ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

ODI OPENED PE05-017 BASED ON 35 REPORTS OF ALLEGED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IDM CASSETTE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MOST REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.IN 3 INCIDENTS, THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED SMOKE AND/OR…

Investigation PE05017 Opened 2005-04-07 · closed 2005-09-23

ENGINE STALL/ ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

ODI OPENED PE05-017 BASED ON 35 REPORTS OF ALLEGED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IDM CASSETTE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MOST REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.IN 3 INCIDENTS, THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED SMOKE AND/OR…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2000 Saab 9-5 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.