Most common 2000 Saab 9-5 problems
Share of the 102 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Saab 9-5 complaints by model year
Best 9-5 years: 2006, 2007, 2011. Years to avoid: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003. Compare all years →
2000 Saab 9-5 recalls (3)
Electrical system › Ignition › Module
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.
Remedy: 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.
Wheels › Hub
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.
Remedy: 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.
Air bags
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.
Remedy: Dealers will clean the sunvisor surface and apply a new air bag alert label on both sunvisors. Owner notification began July 30, 2001.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2000 Saab 9-5:
Engine stall/ engine compartment fires
Odi opened pe05-017 based on 35 reports of alleged engine stalling due to the failure of the idm cassette on the subject vehicles.all complainants reported that the engine shut down suddenly without warning and most reported that the vehicle would not restart.in 3 incidents, the complainants reported smoke and/or fire resulted from the idm failure.during pe05-017, additional failure data was identified as noted in…
What 2000 Saab 9-5 owners say
Electrical system all 53 →
Tl contact owns a 2000 Saab 9-5. While approaching a stop light at 10 MPH, the vehicle began vibrating excessively and the engine light illuminated on the instrument control panel. Minutes later, the interior lighting dimmed, the vehicle dramatically decelerated, and a burning smell was present. The vehicle lost power, but was restarted 15 minutes later. The vehicle was driven to a local dealer and they stated that the vehicle was experiencing the same failure as stated in NHTSA campaign id number 05V399000 (electrical system:ignition:module). The contact would have to pay for the repair. The vehicle is currently being repaired. He filed a formal complaint with the manufacturer. The VIN and engine size were unknown. The failure and current mileages were 59,000.
Dt*: the contact stated while parking, smoke was noticed coming in through the vents. After exiting the vehicle, it caught on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and filled out a report. A police report was also filed on the scene before the vehicle was towed. One passenger sustained minor injuries. The dealer has not been alerted.
Brakes
Following dash lights came on: ABS, TCS off, warning triangle and brake. Check engine light came on after intermittent problem became permanent. Speedometer and odometer ceased to operate. Researched to discover a common problem with like vehicles (saabnet.com). Service technician confirmed that ABS ECU was inoperative and needed to be replaced. Mike shaw Saab attempted to resolve issue with Saab USA to replace $2500 part. I would pay labor. Saab USA offered to pay half. I decided to repair myself. I removed the ABS module (a Bosch sub-part of the ABS ECU) and sent it to be re-built for $249. I rented a car for about $200 and paid $120+tax for the Saab service diagnosis. I re-installed the module, and the car is fine. It appears that these Bosch ABS modules are causing problems in many brands of vehicles. Searching ebay, I found there to be more instances of this than I could count.
Sudden multiple display of dash lights indicating failure of the anti lock braking system including disablement of the speedometer and odometer. This failure occurred less than one month after warranty period on car expired. Saab dealer requested $3000 to replace the ABS unit as a start, to find out why ABS system is disabled. Diagnostic checks (two independent shops) indicate no communication with ABS system computer so diagnostic of actual cause of failure impossible. I found out independently from private consumer group: www.saabnet.com , that this is common failure with Saab 95s that are several years old and that several independent companies can rebuild the ABS controller for less than $300. I removed the ABS electronic control module and sent it for rebuild. I am awaiting return of part for reinstallation.
Engine & cooling
Tl contact owns a 2000 Saab 9-5. The contact believes that the ignition discharge module was the cause of her vehicle catching fire. The contact stated that before the fire occurred, the check engine light flashed. The contact's husband was driving when he noticed smoke rising from under the hood. He pulled over and exited the vehicle as it caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and the vehicle was towed. A police report was filed. The purchase date and speed were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 92,000.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Saab 9-5. On nov 18, 2008, the contact was informed that the vehicle had a faulty head gasket, which was replaced at that time. Six months later, the vehicle began jerking while driving 55 MPH on the highway. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who stated that the ignition cassette was causing the vehicle to jerk. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign id number 05V399000. The contact feels that the manufacturer should be responsible for the repairs since the failures were identical to those listed in the recall. The current mileage was 125,000 and failure mileage was 115,000. Updated 05/13/09. The consumer stated when she started the vehicle, it lunged forward and then stall. Updated 05/13/09.
2000 Saab 9-5 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2000 Saab 9-5 a good car?
Based on 102 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2000 9-5 rates avoid: 5.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the 9-5 at the same age. It is one of the 9-5 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2000 Saab 9-5?
The electrical system — 53 complaints, 52% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition › module. Next are the brakes (16) and engine & cooling (12).
How many recalls does the 2000 Saab 9-5 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2000 Saab 9-5, the most recent from September 14, 2005 (module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Saab 9-5?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006, 2007 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. See the full Saab 9-5 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2000 Saab 9-5 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 78,000 miles; 12% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.