Model year guide

2008 Saab 9-5

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2008 Saab 9-5 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 14 on record.

2008 Saab 9-5 — representative photo
Representative photo

2008 Saab 9-5 at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints20

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2008 Saab 9-5 recalls 2

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #16V063000 · manufacturer #28810 and 28811 · 03/02/2016

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.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2017. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9…

Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint NHTSA Campaign #08V160000 · manufacturer #E080101/15204 · 09/04/2008

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.

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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2008 Saab 9-5 common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

2008 Saab 9-5 safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★
Side — front seat★★★★★
Side — rear seat★★★★★
Frontal crash test — 2008 Saab 9-5 4-DR. w/SABFrontal crash test
Side barrier test — 2008 Saab 9-5 4-DR. w/SABSide barrier test · ▶ watch video

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2008 Saab 9-5 4-DR. w/SAB. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

Dimensions & weight

Length
190.6 in
Width
70.5 in
Height
57.1–57.9 in
Wheelbase
106.3 in
Curb weight
2,855–2,978 lb
Front track
59.4 in
Rear track
59.8–60.2 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2008 Saab 9-5 — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Canadian recalls 1

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2008 Saab 9-5. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Airbag

On certain vehicles, the driver frontal airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the inflator to rupture, which could allow fragments to be propelled toward vehicle occupants, increasing the risk of injury. This could also damage the airbag module, which could prevent proper deployment. Failure of the airba…

Transport Canada #2016052 · Feb 2016

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Saab 9-5

The Saab 9-5 is an executive car, manufactured and marketed by Saab from 1997 to 2012, across two generations.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2008 Saab 9-5 vehicles on record

2008 Saab 9-5 2008 Saab 9-5YS3EF49W783514515 2008 Saab 9-5 2008 Saab 9-5YS3EF49W593500081 2008 Saab 9-5 2008 Saab 9-5YS3EF55W693500327 2008 Saab 9-5 2008 Saab 9-5YS3EF45W783513368 2008 Saab 9-5 2008 Saab 9-5YS3EB59W383513816 2008 Saab 9-5 2008 Saab 9-5YS3EF55E793503776 2008 Saab 9-5YS3EB59C683513590 2008 Saab 9-5 2008 Saab 9-5YS3EF59W783510289 2008 Saab 9-5 2008 Saab 9-5YS3EH59G883517321 2008 Saab 9-5 2008 Saab 9-5YS3EF59C283514126 2008 Saab 9-5 2008 Saab 9-5YS3ED59G073504282 2008 Saab 9-5 2008 Saab 9-5YS3EB59C083512077 2008 Saab 9-5 2008 Saab 9-5YS3EB59E983512516 2008 Saab 9-5 2008 Saab 9-5YS3EB49CX83516003

Other Saab 9-5 model years

2011 2010 2009 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997

2008 Saab 9-5 — frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Saab 9-5 have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2008 Saab 9-5. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Saab 9-5?

Across all 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, electrical system.

What is the 2008 Saab 9-5 safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2008 Saab 9-5 crash-test ratings of frontal 5★, side 5★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.