Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Saab 9-5, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 47 | 46% |
| Service brakes | 12 | 12% |
| Fuel system | 8 | 8% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 8% |
| Visibility | 5 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 3% |
| Air bags | 2 | 2% |
| Steering | 2 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 1% |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
COMPLAINT ABOUT AUTOMOBILE PAINT.I PURCHASED CAR RECENTLY AND THE HOOD AND TOP ON CAR IS FLAKY AND FADED.THE COLOR DESCRIPTION IS GRAY.I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH CARS THAT WERE MADE IN THE YEAR 2000.THE HO
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
DRIVING SLOWLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, I NOTICED A LOSS OF POWER WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE WITH FREEWAY TRAFFIC. THE GAS GAUGE NEEDLE WAS DROPPING QUICKER THAN NORMAL, AND THE GASOLINE FUMES BECAME APPARENT AFTER CRACKING A WI
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AFTER LEAVING WORK, I NOTICED NO LOSS OF POWER UNTIL I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE WITH FREEWAY TRAFFIC. SOON ENOUGH, THOUGH I DID NOTICE THAT THE GAS GAUGE NEEDLE WAS DROPPING QUICKER THAN NORMAL, AND TH
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE...THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO SPUTTER LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING TO DIE AND BURNS THE ELECTRICAL INSIDE OF THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. WE HAD THE CAR HOOKED UP TO THE MACHINE AND TESTED AND G
NHTSA complaint: Equipment
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS SAFELY DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGI
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 95. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING FOR A
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
2000 SAAB 9-5 FAILED IGNITION CASSETTE. SAAB SAID THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE PART HAD BEEN RECALLED. RECALL # 05V399000. *DT ALSO THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2000 Saab 9-5. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH B205/B235 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND 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.
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 THE INTRODUCTION OF QP3. AN INTERIM LETTER WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS IN OCTOBER 200
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE AIR BAG ALERT LABELS MAY NOT BE PERMANENTLY AFFIXED AS REQUIRED BY THIS STANDARD.
Risk: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE SUNVISOR SURFACE AND APPLY A NEW AIR BAG ALERT LABEL ON BOTH SUNVISORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 30, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AG
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 CONTAMINATI
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.
| Reliability raw | 82 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 79 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 55 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 47 of them (46%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.