2008 Saab 9-5 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (17) · Electrical System (2) · Air Bags:frontal (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Saab 9-5 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2016-02-03 · campaign 16V063000 · 113,716 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2017. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 28810.
Service bulletins (189)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-09-09 · 13598 · Other
new vehicle monitoring programs section in ivh
Unknown Or Other 2025-08-07 · PIC5650M · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. technician may find diagnostic trouble codes b3055, b3060, b3935, c0750, c0755, c0760, c0765, and/o
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-30 · PIT5074R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about the use of j-35616-64b and mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Showing the 6 most recent of 189 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2020-01-28 · Air Bags · 83,000 mi“i had my airbag replaced on recall several years ago. i now have an error alert on my dash indicating an air bag problem. my service technician tells me there are no parts available. what alternatives are available for me, besides drive an unsafe car or junk it (probably illegal to sell )…”
2017-03-22 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2008 saab 9-5. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v063000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the contact had …”
2017-01-03 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2008 saab 9-5. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v063000 (air bags); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact had not experienced a failure. the manufacturer was made awa…”
2016-12-19 · Air Bags“recall initiated in feb 2016, notification received from gm in may of 2016, repair is still not available after 10 months from date of recall.…”
2016-12-12 · Air Bags“takata recall - although the recall began february 3, 2016, it has still not been completed. given the danger of being hit with shrapnel, the situation should be remedied immediately!…”
2016-12-09 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2008 saab 9-5. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 16v063000 (air bags) and stated that the part needed was unavailable to perform the recall repair. the manufacturer was notified of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure. parts distribution disconnect. updated 03/03/17*lj *…”
2016-12-06 · Air Bags“i received this recall notice in may of 2016. the recall was actually in february of 2016. i am being told now that the parts will not be available until some time in the first quarter of 2017. the recall states the issue may "result in injury or death to vehicle occupants". because of this i will not have anyone in my family drive this car. i…”
2016-11-25 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2008 saab 9-5. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v063000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. the vi…”
2016-10-24 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2008 saab 9-5. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v063000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was not notified of the issue. the contact had not experienced a fa…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.