2003 Saab 9-5 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 2003 Saab 9-5, and owners have filed 47 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 2003 Saab 9-5
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Head restraint (seats)
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.
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.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump retaining tabs holding the fuel lines were damaged during production.
Remedy: Dealers will develop a securing bracket that will secure the fuel lines to the fuel pump even if the plastic retaining tabs should break. The recall began on june 13, 2007. This is an expansion of previous recall…
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Electrical system: module
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with 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.
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 january 2003. The recall is expected to begin during december 2005. Owners may contact saab at…
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Hub (wheels)
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, it is possible that…
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…
47 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Saab 9-5 have filed 47 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 69,120 miles. Complaints peaked in 2009 with 8 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I had to replace fuel pump 3 times in 4 years. It smelled like fuel in my car.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 12, 2020 · Fuel/propulsion system
“Tl* the contact owns a 1993 buick regal. The contact stated that all door locks would become stuck when activated by the electronic door lock system. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The man”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 12, 2016 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Saab 9-5 (9-5 Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16–19 / 24–28 |
| Fuel | Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars, Midsize Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.3/3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Saab 9-5 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Saab 9-5 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 Saab 9-5 | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 Saab 9-5 | 2 | 118 |
| 2000 Saab 9-5 | 3 | 102 |
| 2001 Saab 9-5 | 4 | 82 |
| 2002 Saab 9-5 | 6 | 53 |
| 2003 Saab 9-5 | 4 | 47 |
| 2004 Saab 9-5 | 2 | 19 |
| 2005 Saab 9-5 | 2 | 11 |
| 2006 Saab 9-5 | 2 | 23 |
| 2007 Saab 9-5 | 2 | 17 |
| 2008 Saab 9-5 | 2 | 20 |
| 2009 Saab 9-5 | 1 | 2 |
| 2010 Saab 9-5 | 0 | 2 |
| 2011 Saab 9-5 | 0 | 9 |
Checking a specific 2003 Saab 9-5
How do I know if my 2003 Saab 9-5 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2003 Saab 9-5; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Saab dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 03V006000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Saab models
- 9-31,346 complaints
- 900360 complaints
- 9-7X171 complaints
- 9000136 complaints
- 9-2X121 complaints
- 9-3 Convertible61 complaints
- 9551 complaints
- Aero15 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.