Most common 2006 Saab 9-5 problems
Share of the 23 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 →
2006 Saab 9-5 recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
Remedy: 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.
Seats › Front assembly › Head restraint
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2006 Saab 9-5:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2006 Saab 9-5 owners say
Air bags
Takata recall - airbag on above car was replaced under recall on 5/25/2017. Now, the airbag light keeps turning on sporadically. The garage - just Saab [phone] - who replaced the airbag claimed the first time when I took the car back to them that it was "resistance" that caused the light to come on and they fixed this problem. The airbag light is still coming on sporadically and I believe that the airbag I received as a replacement is defective. The garage insists I drive the car back to them, again, so they can check the airbag again. Here is what is happening: when the car is backed out of the garage, the airbag light and chime come on and stay on for a few seconds then the airbag light turns off. Then, the car is driving forward, again, the airbag light comes on for a few seconds and then turns off. The car is driven for many miles and the light stays off. …
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Saab 9-5. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V063000 (air bags) however, the contact was unable to get the repair completed due to lack of available dealers to service the vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact to ship the vehicle to california or takes the vehicle to the local Cadillac dealer. Honolulu Buick GMC Cadillac located at 2945 n nimitiz hwy, honolulu, hi was contacted and informed the contact that they did not perform that type of service. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Engine & cooling
Significantly delayed acceleration when ambient temps exceed 90f. Car functions normally until you encounter summer temps and heavy traffic. Then, upon pressing the accelerator pedal car hesitates severely until engine speed reaches approximately 2100 RPM. Then acceleration comes on stronger than expected. This is particularly disturbing when making left turns or entering a busy street. Car sometimes misfires when this occurs.
Engine misfiring, due to common di cassette issues that plagued other models, some of which were previously recalled. This shouldn't fail after on 60,000, regardless of age, especially given it's exorbitant cost. Thankfully it hasn't failed me on the highway (yet).
2006 Saab 9-5 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 27 / 22 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 26 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Saab 9-5 a good car?
Based on 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 9-5 rates better than average: 70% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 9-5 at the same age. It is one of the best 9-5 years by this measure. 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 2006 Saab 9-5?
The air bags — 13 complaints, 57% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (3) and brakes (2).
How many recalls does the 2006 Saab 9-5 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2006 Saab 9-5, the most recent from February 3, 2016 (inflator 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 2006 Saab 9-5 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 61,000 miles; 50% 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.