Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Saab 9-7X, and it carries 2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 24% |
| Fuel system | 6 | 24% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 16% |
| Suspension | 1 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 4% |
| Air bags | 1 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 4% |
| Suspension | 1 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2005 Saab 9-7X. The contact stated that the fog lights independently turned on and failed to turn off. Upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was re
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
MANUFACTURER: GENERAL MOTORS LLC MFR'S REPORT DATE: AUG 15, 2012 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V406000 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA12004 COMPONENT: VISIBILITY, POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS WAS ADVISED IN 2015 THAT
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE HEADLIGHTS JUST WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE HIGHBEAMS, FOG LIGHTS AND SIDE MARKERS WILL GO ON. THE HEADLIGHTSL TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING AS I WAS THANKFULLY JUST PULLING OUT OF MY STREET. HOWEVER IT IS A MAIN
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING OUT OF MY GYM PARKING LOT AT 10PM. ON A ICY NIGHT. THEY WILL NOT TURN BACK ON. HOWEVER THE HIGHBEAMS, FOG LIGHTS SIDE MARKERS WORK. VERY DANGEROUS AND SAFETY IS DEF
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
MY FAMILY AND I WERE OUT ON A SATURDAY EVENING ON 6/11/16. WE STOPPED TO GRAB A SLICE OF PIZZA FROM ONE OF OUR FAMOUS DOWNTOWN PIZZA PLACES. AS WE SAT IN THE CAR EATING OUR PIZZA, WE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE RIGHT
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE SET ON AUTOMATIC MODE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WENT OUT AND I TRIED TO TURN THEM TO THE REGULAR ON POSITION AND THEY DID NOT COME ON, THE HIGH BEAMS DID NOT WORK EITHER. THIS
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
AS I WAS DRIVING MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF. THEY WILL NOT RESET OR COME BACK ON. FOG LAMPS AND HIGH BEAMS WORK FINE. I HAVE SEEN RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE IN THE 2006 MODEL. BUT IT SEEMS AS IF THE 2005 MODEL HAS
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
THERE'S A RECALL ON LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I CALLED SAAB DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I WAS PULLED OVER BY STATE TROOPER BC LIGHTS SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND ISSUED A WARNING. DEALERSHIP SAID
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2005 Saab 9-7X. 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.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 SAAB 9-7x; 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL; and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier and Isuzu Ascender vehicles. Fluid may enter the driver's door master power window switch module, causing corro
Risk: A short in the circuit board could lead to a fire, increasing the risk of personal injury. A fire could occur even while the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outsid
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the part number on the door module, and install a new door module if necessary, free of charge. Parts for the remedy are not currently available. An i
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 SAAB 9-7x; 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL; and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier and Isuzu Ascender vehicles. Fluid may enter the driver's door module, causing corrosion that could result in a sho
Risk: A short in the circuit board could lead to a fire, increasing the risk of personal injury. A fire could occur even while the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outsid
Fix: Owners will be contacted and dealers will test the driver's door module. If the module is functioning properly, a protective coating will be applied. If the module is not functioning properly, it wil
| Reliability raw | 87 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 81 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 65 | good |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 72 | good |
| Efficiency | 31 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and exterior lighting is the most reported area with 6 of them (24%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (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 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2005 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 71/100. 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.