AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
2008 Saab 9-5
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 20 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Saab 9-5, most frequently naming the airbags and electrical categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 188 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2008 | 2 | 2 |
| Mar 2014 | 1 | 3 |
| Jul 2014 | 1 | 4 |
| Jun 2016 | 2 | 6 |
| Aug 2016 | 2 | 8 |
| Sep 2016 | 1 | 9 |
| Oct 2016 | 2 | 11 |
| Nov 2016 | 1 | 12 |
| Dec 2016 | 5 | 17 |
| Jan 2017 | 1 | 18 |
| Mar 2017 | 1 | 19 |
| Jan 2020 | 1 | 20 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Airbags1990.5%
- Electrical29.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
2 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
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. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I HAD MY AIRBAG REPLACED ON RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I NOW HAVE AN ERROR ALERT ON MY DASH INDICATING AN AIR BAG PROBLEM. MY SERVICE TECHNICIAN TELLS ME THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. WHAT ALTERNATIVES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ME, BESIDES DRIVE AN UNSAFE CAR OR JUNK IT (PROBABLY ILLEGAL TO SELL )
- NHTSA ID
- 11302603
- Incident
- Jan 6, 2020
- Mileage
- 83,000 mi
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
- NHTSA ID
- 10967765
- Incident
- May 11, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10939233
- Incident
- Jan 3, 2017
RECALL INITIATED IN FEB 2016, NOTIFICATION RECEIVED FROM GM IN MAY OF 2016, REPAIR IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE AFTER 10 MONTHS FROM DATE OF RECALL.
- NHTSA ID
- 10936359
- Incident
- Feb 3, 2016
TAKATA RECALL - ALTHOUGH THE RECALL BEGAN FEBRUARY 3, 2016, IT HAS STILL NOT BEEN COMPLETED. GIVEN THE DANGER OF BEING HIT WITH SHRAPNEL, THE SITUATION SHOULD BE REMEDIED IMMEDIATELY!
- NHTSA ID
- 10934851
- Incident
- Feb 3, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 03/03/17*LJ *CN
- NHTSA ID
- 10934141
- Incident
- Feb 15, 2016
I RECEIVED THIS RECALL NOTICE IN MAY OF 2016. THE RECALL WAS ACTUALLY IN FEBRUARY OF 2016. I AM BEING TOLD NOW THAT THE PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL SOME TIME IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2017. THE RECALL STATES THE ISSUE MAY "RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS". BECAUSE OF THIS I WILL NOT HAVE ANYONE IN MY FAMILY DRIVE THIS CAR. I CAN NO LONGER BE WITHOUT THIS CAR AND FEEL IT IS ONLY RIGHT THAT WE ARE PROVIDED A FULLY PAID RENTAL CAR UNTIL OURS CAN BE PROPERLY REPAIRED. THIS RECALL IS #15041.
- NHTSA ID
- 10930222
- Incident
- Feb 1, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10930052
- Incident
- Feb 3, 2016
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, B3935, C0750, C0755, C0760, C0765, and/or C0775.
This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2008Viewing | 20 | 2 | 1 | 47.9 |
| 2007 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 45.1 |
| 2006 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 43.2 |
| 2005 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 48.6 |
| 2004 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 46.3 |
| 2003 | 47 | 4 | 0 | 43.8 |
| 2002 | 65 | 6 | 1 | 58.9 |
| 2001 | 104 | 4 | 1 | 53.5 |
| 2000 | 119 | 3 | 1 | 54.1 |
| 1999 | 118 | 2 | 1 | 51.3 |
| 1998 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.