2008 Saab 9-5 Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Saab 9-5.

20072009
Complaints
21
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1

Worst 2008 Saab 9-5 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#118 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:52,525 mi
#22 complaints

Electrical Faults

#31 complaints

Air Bags:Frontal

Considering a 2008 Saab 9-5?

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Saab 9-5.

Airbags
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
52,525
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Saab 9-5. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2008 Saab 9-5

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~113,716 vehicles.

16V063000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~113,716 affected

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.

Other Saab 9-5 Years

19981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011

2008 Saab 9-5 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2008 Saab 9-5 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2008 Saab 9-5 has 21 NHTSA complaints, 0 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Airbags with 18 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2008 Saab 9-5?
Top reported problems: Airbags (18 complaints, avg 52,525 mi); Electrical Faults (2 complaints); Air Bags:Frontal (1 complaints). 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 2008 Saab 9-5?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 52,525 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
Does the 2008 Saab 9-5 have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 113,716 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2008 Saab 9-5?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

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 2008 Saab 9-5

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