Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Saab 9-5, and it carries 6 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 | 26 | 40% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 12% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 6% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 5% |
| Power train | 3 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 3% |
| Tires | 1 | 2% |
| Air bags | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
THE ENGINE ON MY 4 CYLINDER SAAB 9-5 (2002) HAS SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING AT LEAST 4 TIMES SINCE OWNING THE CAR, BOTH ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN SLOWER TRAFFIC. THE FIRST TIME I REPORTED OFFICIALLY (2007) TO THE DEALER,
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
IGNITION SWITCH SHUT OFF WHILE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY TWICE! ONCE IN 2006 AND ONCE LATER ANOTHER YEAR PLUS ONCE IN A DRIVEWAY (CAR PURCHASED USED IN THE FALL OF 2005). THE SAAB SWITCH IS LOCATED IN THE CENTER CONSOLE AND IF I
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SAAB 95. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
ON FEB 20, 2013, I WENT TO GILLYS, A LOCAL TIRE COMPANY, SOLD ME TWO TIRES AND WELDED A CRACKED RIM. ON MAR 2, 2013 THE TIRE BLEW OUT AND UPON INSPECTION AT WALMART AUTOMOTIVE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE TIRE WAS ILLEGALLY PL
NHTSA complaint: Tires
HELLO...I NEED TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP. I HAVE A 2002 SAAB 9-5 WHICH HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT. IT DOES NOT RETRACT AND THEREFORE THE PASSENGER IS UNPROTECTED. I KNOW THAT SAAB HAS A HISTORY O
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
HAD A HEAD-ON ACCIDENT, TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55MPH, CAR PULLED OUT GOING ACROSS INTERSECTION, HIT HEAD-ON. SLAMMED ON BRAKES NOTICING SHE WAS GOING, AND SLAMMED INTO HER CAR, HER CAR TURNED AROUND 180 DEGS. MY AIRBAGS
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT. JUST RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AND HEARD A SPRING POPPING SOUND NEAR PASSENGER DOOR. THEN PASSENGER BELT WENT LIMP WITH PERSON IN THE SEAT. THE BELT HAD NO TENSION AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. CALLED DEALE
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SAAB 9-5. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2002 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
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINES WERE DAMAGED DURING PRODUCTION.
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
THE STEERING KNUCKLE CASTINGS ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED DURING THE CASTING PROCESS.
Risk: THESE KNUCKLES CAN BREAK, RESULTING IN POSSIBLE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING KNUCKLE FOR THE CASTING NUMBER. IF THE KNUCKLE WAS IN THE DEFECTIVE BATCH, THE STEERING KNUCKLE WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JAN
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 | 83 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 79 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 55 | average |
| Efficiency | 37 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 26 of them (40%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (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 2002 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.