SAAB 95 · model year

2001 SAAB 95

28 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001SAAB95 carries 28 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 95 is engine and engine cooling with 3 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition (3) and electrical system:ignition:switch (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2001 95. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

28
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

28 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
TIRES:SIDEWALL1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR1
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS1
WHEELS:HUB1
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS1

Recent Complaints

20180408ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TURBO MALFUNCTION AT A COST OF $455.00 AND ALSO ENGINE FILTER BOX.VEHICLE STILL NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY.WILL ONLY GO AT SPEED OF 25 MPH.REPAIRED ON 03/27/2018.STARTED OUT SMOKING ALL OVER THE PLACE FROM EXHAUST.WAS TOLD TURBO WENT BAD.I THINK A LOT OF THESE CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AS I READ ON FORUMS(SAAB,).THAT I HAVE SINCE JOINED.THE SAAB HAS 139,000 MILES..I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT SPEED AROUND 35MPH.STARTED TO SMOKE HEAVY,BUT ONCE OUT OF CITY AS LONG AS I DROVE 50 MPH ON HIGHWAY SMOKE WAS DISPERSED FROM WIND AND MADE IT HOME BUT WHEN STOPPING FOR RED LIGHT WOULD BUCK AND TRY TO SHUT OFF.SMOKE NOT GOOD FOR ENVIRONMENT......

Mileage: 139,000

20180408FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TURBO MALFUNCTION AT A COST OF $455.00 AND ALSO ENGINE FILTER BOX.VEHICLE STILL NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY.WILL ONLY GO AT SPEED OF 25 MPH.REPAIRED ON 03/27/2018.STARTED OUT SMOKING ALL OVER THE PLACE FROM EXHAUST.WAS TOLD TURBO WENT BAD.I THINK A LOT OF THESE CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AS I READ ON FORUMS(SAAB,).THAT I HAVE SINCE JOINED.THE SAAB HAS 139,000 MILES..I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT SPEED AROUND 35MPH.STARTED TO SMOKE HEAVY,BUT ONCE OUT OF CITY AS LONG AS I DROVE 50 MPH ON HIGHWAY SMOKE WAS DISPERSED FROM WIND AND MADE IT HOME BUT WHEN STOPPING FOR RED LIGHT WOULD BUCK AND TRY TO SHUT OFF.SMOKE NOT GOOD FOR ENVIRONMENT......

Mileage: 139,000

20180408UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TURBO MALFUNCTION AT A COST OF $455.00 AND ALSO ENGINE FILTER BOX.VEHICLE STILL NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY.WILL ONLY GO AT SPEED OF 25 MPH.REPAIRED ON 03/27/2018.STARTED OUT SMOKING ALL OVER THE PLACE FROM EXHAUST.WAS TOLD TURBO WENT BAD.I THINK A LOT OF THESE CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AS I READ ON FORUMS(SAAB,).THAT I HAVE SINCE JOINED.THE SAAB HAS 139,000 MILES..I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT SPEED AROUND 35MPH.STARTED TO SMOKE HEAVY,BUT ONCE OUT OF CITY AS LONG AS I DROVE 50 MPH ON HIGHWAY SMOKE WAS DISPERSED FROM WIND AND MADE IT HOME BUT WHEN STOPPING FOR RED LIGHT WOULD BUCK AND TRY TO SHUT OFF.SMOKE NOT GOOD FOR ENVIRONMENT......

Mileage: 139,000

20071029SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 95. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,980. UPDATED 11/15/07 *TR

Mileage: 96,980

20070315ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

I OWN A SAAB 2001 95 4DR SEDAN WITH 58K MILES AND THE CAR JUST SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING OR DOESN'T START UP INITIALLY. MY WIFE WAS IN TRAFFIC WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. A LOCAL REPAIR SERVICE INDICATED A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND SUGGESTED WE GET IN CONTACT WITH SAAB MOTOR CO. *JB

Mileage: 47,863

20060406POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER THE SAAB SPECIFY TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE, MY 2001 SAAB 95SE WAGON WITH 66,363 MILES HAS DEVELOPED THE BELOW PROBLEM. APPROXIMATELY A MILE TO A MILE AND HALF AFTER DRIVING 20-40 MPH, THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING FINE. TURNED THE IGNITION OFF FOR 10 MINUTES, RESTARTED THE CAR, MOVED ABOUT 100-200 FEET, THE SAME SYMPTOM HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN INDY AND THEN TO A DEALER. INDY FOUND CODE P0730 BUT THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SAME. DEALER CHARGED OVER $100 AND SAID THE CAR WAS FINE AFTER ALLEGEDLY TEST DRIVE "10 MILES". WE PICKED THE CAR. AFTER A MILE OF SLOW DRIVING, THE SAME SYMPTOM DEVELOPED. WITHOUT FINDING OUT WHAT'S THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM NOR HAD THEY OPENED THE TRANSMISSION, THE DEALER CONCLUDED THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. SAAB USA WAS INFORMED AND IT WAS SAAB USA DIRECTED ME TO THE DEALER. NOW THEY WANT TO CLOSE THE CASE, WITHOUT ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM

Mileage: 10

20060131FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

I OWN A 2001 SAAB 95 SE V6. WAS DRIVING DOWN THE NJ TPK AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND HAD A SMALL ELECTRICAL LIKE FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED FROM THE NJ TURNPIKE OFF AND THEN AGAIN TO MY PLACE IN BENSALEM PA. TOTAL COST $77 + 66. FOUND OUT THAT THE DI CASSETTE BURNED OUT, COST ME APPROX $600 TO FIX. A DAY LATER THE CAT CONVERTER FAILS (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN). THIS IS CERTAINLY DUE TO DI CASSETTE BURNING OUT. VERY FRUSTRATING FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 60K MILES ON IT. *NM

Mileage: 60,100

20060131FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

I OWN A 2001 SAAB 95 SE V6. WAS DRIVING DOWN THE NJ TPK AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND HAD A SMALL ELECTRICAL LIKE FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED FROM THE NJ TURNPIKE OFF AND THEN AGAIN TO MY PLACE IN BENSALEM PA. TOTAL COST $77 + 66. FOUND OUT THAT THE DI CASSETTE BURNED OUT, COST ME APPROX $600 TO FIX. A DAY LATER THE CAT CONVERTER FAILS (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN). THIS IS CERTAINLY DUE TO DI CASSETTE BURNING OUT. VERY FRUSTRATING FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 60K MILES ON IT. *NM

Mileage: 60,100

20051003WHEELS:HUB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 95. WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF A RECALL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE AND REPAIR. THE INVOICE STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACED LUGS: BOLTS. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THIS RECALL. *AK *JB

20051003WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 95. WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF A RECALL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE AND REPAIR. THE INVOICE STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACED LUGS: BOLTS. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THIS RECALL. *AK *JB

20050803ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DT:THE OWNER HAD PROBLEMS WITH SAAB BEGINNING IN JUNE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CAR SHUT DOWN. THE CAR HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER OR POWER STEERING. THE OWNER GOT OFF THE MAIN ROAD AND GOT ONTO SHOULDER. THE OWNER'S CAR ENDED UP AT SAAB PACIFIC, THE OWNER FOUND OUT THAT HER FRIEND HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT PARTS FAILED ON EVERY 1995 SAAB. MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT IT BUT WERE NOT DOING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FAILED PART WAS AN IGNITION DISCHARGE PROBLEM. THE PART WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS ANOTHER ELECTRIC SYSTEM PROBLEM IN JULY. WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND MIRRORS FAILED THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OWNER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE DICE CASSETTE. THE DEALERSHIP SPENT 3 DAYS FINDING A DICE CASSETTE, AND OWNER DECIDED NOT TO REPLACE THE DICE CASSETTE. THE OWNER WENT BACK TO MECHANIC WHO REPLACED A RELAY FUSE. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY SERVICED AND

Mileage: 66,654

20050803ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

DT:THE OWNER HAD PROBLEMS WITH SAAB BEGINNING IN JUNE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CAR SHUT DOWN. THE CAR HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER OR POWER STEERING. THE OWNER GOT OFF THE MAIN ROAD AND GOT ONTO SHOULDER. THE OWNER'S CAR ENDED UP AT SAAB PACIFIC, THE OWNER FOUND OUT THAT HER FRIEND HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT PARTS FAILED ON EVERY 1995 SAAB. MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT IT BUT WERE NOT DOING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FAILED PART WAS AN IGNITION DISCHARGE PROBLEM. THE PART WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS ANOTHER ELECTRIC SYSTEM PROBLEM IN JULY. WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND MIRRORS FAILED THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OWNER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE DICE CASSETTE. THE DEALERSHIP SPENT 3 DAYS FINDING A DICE CASSETTE, AND OWNER DECIDED NOT TO REPLACE THE DICE CASSETTE. THE OWNER WENT BACK TO MECHANIC WHO REPLACED A RELAY FUSE. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY SERVICED AND

Mileage: 66,654

20050412ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE DIRECT IGNITION CASETTE IN A 2001 SAAB 9-5 WAGON WITH THE 2.3 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE OF A HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT NEEDED TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE HAD FAILED AND WAS REPLACED.*AK

Mileage: 21,000

20050207ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. CURRENTLY, THE ENGINE SEIZED. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND NEITHER IS WILLING TO ASSIST THE OWNER. *AK

Mileage: 55,000

20040623ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING AT NO SET SPEED VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE 6 TIMES, AND TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

20040316ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, THEN VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD INFORMED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, A BURNING ELECTRICAL WIRE ODOR FILLED THE VEHICLE AS CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND GUESSED WITHOUT INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THAT THE CAUSE WAS DI CASSETTE. *LA

Mileage: 39,000

20030513ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLES ENGINE SHUT OFF. *NLM

Mileage: 11,000

20021203ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALL CONSUMER PULL VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE SOON AFTER ENGINE WAS ON FIRE IN RESULT OF TOTAL LOST OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

20020717CrashFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

ON HIGH SPEED SIDE IMPACK (IMPACT BY 4000+ LB CAR ON PASSENGER DOOR), THE FUEL SYSTEM LEAKED. ACCORDING TO THE WRECKER SERVICE, THE PROBLEM WAS THE FUEL PUMP "BROKE OFF". IN ADDITION, THE FUEL CUT OFF SWITCH WAS NOT ACCESSIBLE AFTER THE COLLISION.*AK

20020717CrashFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

ON HIGH SPEED SIDE IMPACK (IMPACT BY 4000+ LB CAR ON PASSENGER DOOR), THE FUEL SYSTEM LEAKED. ACCORDING TO THE WRECKER SERVICE, THE PROBLEM WAS THE FUEL PUMP "BROKE OFF". IN ADDITION, THE FUEL CUT OFF SWITCH WAS NOT ACCESSIBLE AFTER THE COLLISION.*AK

Compare 2001SAAB95 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 SAAB 95 have?
The 2001 SAAB 95 has 28 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 SAAB 95?
The most-complained component for the 2001 SAAB 95 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH.
Is the 2001 SAAB 95 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.