Complaints
157
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Injuries
4
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1999 Saab 9-5 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#142 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
Avg mileage:75,982 mi
Fires:1
#223 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:83,592 mi
#322 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition
Avg mileage:66,538 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1999 Saab 9-5.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 42 | — | 1 | 75,982 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 23 | — | — | 83,592 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 22 | — | — | 66,538 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 5 | — | — | 79,872 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wheels:Hub | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Other | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage | 1 | — | — | — |
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
42
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
75,982
Electrical Faults
23
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
83,592
Electrical System:Ignition
22
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
66,538
Engine & Cooling
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
79,872
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheels:Hub
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Side/Window
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Child Seat
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1999 Saab 9-5. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Saab 9-5 Years
1999 Saab 9-5 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1999 Saab 9-5 reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 1999 Saab 9-5 has 157 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical System:Ignition:Module with 42 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1999 Saab 9-5?
Top reported problems: Electrical System:Ignition:Module (42 complaints, avg 75,982 mi); Electrical Faults (23 complaints, avg 83,592 mi); Electrical System:Ignition (22 complaints, avg 66,538 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1999 Saab 9-5?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 75,838 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1999 Saab 9-5?
NHTSA complaints for the 1999 Saab 9-5 include 5 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1999 Saab 9-5 have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1999 Saab 9-5 as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1999 Saab 9-5?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 1999 Saab 9-5 shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Saab 9-5 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1999 Saab 9-5
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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