VehicleVerdict

2005 Saab 9-2X problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2005 Saab 9-2X carries two red flags at once: 136 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA — 1.8× the 9-2X norm — and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: Air Bag Inflator Rupture). It is one of the 9-2X years to avoid.

Airbags leads the complaint categories with 46 reports (34% of the total).

136

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

3

Investigations · 1 open

1

Crash-involved

1

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 2005 compare to other 9-2X years?

9-2X NHTSA complaints by model year, 2005 highlighted136 complaints2005: 136 complaints2006: 12 complaints
9-2X NHTSA complaints by model year, 2005 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all 9-2X years to avoid →

What are the most common 2005 Saab 9-2X problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Airbags4634%
Fuel System4130%
Suspension1713%
Engine118%
Body & Structure64%
Steering43%
Other43%
Tires & Wheels32%
Brakes21%
Transmission21%

Does the 2005 Saab 9-2X have recalls?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

20V001000AirbagsJanuary 2, 2020 · 258,813 units

Defect

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.

20V003000AirbagsJanuary 2, 2020 · 111,562 units

Defect

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.

15V323000AirbagsMay 28, 2015 · 432,016 units

Defect

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles manufactured February 18, 2003, to May 5, 2008, and 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to March 17, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.

Consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Subaru will notify their owners and General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The Subaru recall began on June 17, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. The Saab recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners of Saab vehicles may call 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is WQR-53. Note: The recall completely supersedes recall 14V-399 (WQL-48) and partially supersedes recall 14V-763 (WQP-51) in that model year 2004 through 2005 Subaru Impreza and model year 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles are now only part of this campaign. Note: On December 18, 2015 Subaru informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy and 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles.

11V464000SuspensionSeptember 6, 2011 · 318,215 units

Defect

SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2007 IMPREZA, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 FORESTER, AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 SAAB 9-2X VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 THROUGH NOVEMBER 26, 2007 ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW JERSEY, OHIO, RHODE ISLAND, WEST VIRGINIA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY BREAK AT THE HANGER BRACKETS DUE TO CORROSION IF THE HANGER BRACKET IS EXPOSED TO SALTY AND HUMID ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS ROADS CONTAINING SNOW MELTING AGENT.

Consequence

A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

SUBARU WILL HANDLE THEIR VEHICLES AND SAAB WILL HANDLE THEIRS. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DEGREE OF CORROSION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AND WILL EITHER RUSTPROOF OR REPLACE THEM. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.

Open NHTSA investigations

EA15001

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures.As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.Takata's initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida.Accordingly ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas.Takata's testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions.During PE14-016 four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.Also during PE14-016 four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina.Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls.Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity.Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing.All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.The investigation now includes all manufacturers and vehicles known to be affected at this time.ODI's investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 9-2X. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THE HIGH HUMIDITY STATES WERE BEING PRIORITIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · July 1, 2015

“IN COLD TEMPERATURES MY CAR BEGINS TO SMELL OF FUEL AND BASED ON A MECHANICS DIAGNOSIS, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE FUEL LINE CLAMPS NEEDING TO BE TIGHTENED. IT SEEMS LIKE MANY OF SAAB 9-2X AERO MODELS HAVE THIS ISSUE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY THE COMPANY. IF THIS MANY PEOPLE ARE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · November 13, 2014

“THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM FAILED, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE CONTROL ARMS WERE SUBJECT TO A RECALL IN 2012 (WHICH WAS PERFORMED BY A SAAB DEALERSHIP AT 99,992 MILES). AFTER THE FAILURE, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE CONTROL ARMS WERE NOT REPLACED, BUT RATHER A…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · October 19, 2018

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 92 AERO (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, HE NOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST. THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · September 4, 2010

“IT IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2005-2006 SAAB 9-2X'S, SUBARU WRX'S THAT THE REAR STRUT TOWERS ARE PRONE TO RUST THROUGH AND CAUSE A REAR STRUT TO COMPLETELY BREAK FREE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A GENERAL MOTORS/SUBARU ISSUE, SINCE THE 9-2X IS ALL SUBARU PARTS WITH SAAB BADGING.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · October 1, 2020

2005 Saab 9-2X — common questions

Is the 2005 Saab 9-2X reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 136 complaints put the 2005 model at #1 of 2 9-2X years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the 9-2X years to avoid.

What are the most common 2005 9-2X problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (46 complaints), fuel system (41 complaints), suspension (17 complaints).

Does the 2005 Saab 9-2X have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 2005 Saab 9-2X. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2005 Saab 9-2X under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — an investigation remains open (Air Bag Inflator Rupture). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Saab 9-2X years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the 9-2X years to avoid are 2005.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.