KnownCarProblems2003 Saab 9-5 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 47 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Saab 9-5, most often about the electrical (53% of complaints, typically around 79,500 miles). It is 4th of 12 9-5 model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2003 Saab 9-5 problems
Electrical
25 complaints · 53%Half of these problems showed up before 79,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, instrument cluster/panel, horn.
My check engine light had been on- my mechanic said there was a recall (which I verified on your site), yet when I took it to Saab (and called), they said my particular VIN # was not covered. Amazing coincidence that the exact part that was recalled got replaced??!! Please advise me what I can/should do. Thank you for…
My 2003 9-5 linear is having many of the same electrical problems as described by others. My check engine light came on recently and I had the codes read. The codes represented a misfire problem. When doing research I learned that it is most usually the direct ignition module, failure at 80000 miles? Since then the…
Engine
9 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 81,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
I was driving on the highway when my cruise control shut off and the check engine light came on. When I came to a stop my entire car died. I was stuck at a stop light in the middle of rush hour. I had to hold my left foot on the brake and pump the gas pedal to get the car to rev, but it wouldn't continue to idle. It…
My car was built in 2002 as well as others reported, I purchased it used 3 years ago with 64k miles. My direct ignition control in 2003 9-5 linear sedan 2.3t ceased. Upon research, my dic is the original part 9197559 tk3.6 2000-2002 are recalled and 'some' 2003 VIN's. With the over abundance of dic failures with the…
Fuel system
7 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Saab 9-5. While the contact's daughter was driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle shut off and would not restart. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic and they stated that the fuel pump failed and needed to be replaced. Three weeks later, the contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign…
I was driving the car when suddenly the car when dead while I was driving it.I was lucky that I was able to restart it and there was a gas station right near by. It did not start up normally and was very sluggish. I was in the middle of traffic when this happened but fortunately not heavy traffic and in the right…
Wheels and tires
5 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: tread/belt.
While trying to get my car inspected, the technician found some very concerning uneven wear in the inside edge of one of the tires. After doing research it seems to be a known issue for my car model. If the wear is left unchecked can be a hazard for everyone on the road, fortunately it was caught on time, but the fact…
Tl contact owns a 2003 Saab 9-5 equipped with nexen n5000 tires (n/a). While having the vehicle serviced at an authorized dealer for routine maintenance, he was informed the rear driver side and front passenger side tire both had very large cracks along the sidewall. The tires had not been repaired or replaced. The…
Suspension
5 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: rear, front.
Transmission
3 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
2003 Saab 9-5 aero transmission leaking directly through pores in metal casing (not seam or gasket) at less than 51000 miles (less than 1000 miles over warranty) requiring full transmission replacement. Saab USA offers to pay one third ($1700) of $5100 estimated cost. Although car had been in a wreck when it was about…
My car was built in 2002 as well as others reported, I purchased it used 3 years ago with 64k miles. My direct ignition control in 2003 9-5 linear sedan 2.3t ceased. Upon research, my dic is the original part 9197559 tk3.6 2000-2002 are recalled and 'some' 2003 VIN's. With the over abundance of dic failures with the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Saab 9-5 recalls
Seats: head restraint
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, personal injury to occupants may occur.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Fuel system: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: Over time, this could cause the fuel lines to loosen from the pump resulting in fuel leakage. If an ignition source were present, the fuel may ignite resulting in a vehicle fire.
Fix: 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 campaigns - see 04v557 and 06v126. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump retaining tabs holding the fuel lines were damaged during production.
Electrical: module
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 1-800-955-9007. Note: this recall is an expansion of a previous campaign (please see 05v399).
Full defect summary
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.
Wheels and tires: hub
Risk: These fractures would result in wheel bolt breakage, allowing the wheel to detach from the wheel hub, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 using new improved bolts with attached washers. Owner notification began march 31, 2003. 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 1-800-955-9007.
Full defect summary
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 after the tire change service, some of this contamination could flake or grind away resulting in reduced clamping force of the wheel to the hub. Over several seasons, it is possible that this reduced force could result in fractures developing in the wheel bolts due to wheel to hub movement.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2003 Saab 9-5
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Saab 9-5?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (25 complaints, typically around 79,500 miles); engine (9 complaints, typically around 81,000 miles); fuel system (7 complaints, typically around 52,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Saab 9-5 have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 9, 2008 (seats). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Saab 9-5?
- It is 4th of 12 9-5 model years by number of complaints, with 47 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.