2003 Saab 9-5 Consumer Reviews

Excellent Car

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Linear 2.3t 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

Bought this car from Valley Honda, Naperville a year back for 6500 + 2 year extended warranty... Amazing car, drive, performance, value for money from car. Saab cars are luxury which is affordable when you buy is used... An year has passed and car has only taken minor issues (I maintain it regularly)
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Engine Failure

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Aero 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

Bought this car used with about 45K on the clock. Had for 3.5 years and put about 70K miles on it. Always ran synthetic oil, maintained the car very well, and the engine has failed at just 116K miles. Very disappointed, as I really enjoyed this car, and it was my second Aero, and now have a worthless car. I don't think I'll ever buy another one. also, very frustrating is the digital display always goes out on these things.
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Electronic Nightmare

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Linear 2.3t 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

I purchased this car used and for the first few years it was fine. The last year or two have been a nightmare. Electronic issues and 'Check Engine" lights are a monthly occurrence. For instance the dashboard info display was rebuilt, the ignition switch has to be replaced and the trunk harness which controls the trunk lock and the tail lights was replaced. There is no manual key entry for the trunk. Recently the DI cassette in the engine was replaced ($550) to address the most recent 'Check Engine' light.
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Love/Hate Relationship w my Saab

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Linear 2.3t 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

I bought this car thinking it had great gas mileage which was perfect for the kind of job i have. Come to find out two weeks later my new Saab broke down on me on my way to a mini vacation. I've took it back to the selling dealer and they said "there was no problem". Took it from there dealership that same day on my way home it jerked and left me stranded in the middle of the road again! I hate this thing! It probably broke down on my more than 6-7 times before i took it into mechanics who really know foreign cars! Found out it was the fuel pump. I could not believe the dealerships could not find a problem. I guess I'm more upset with them than i am my car. i guess i love/hate this car
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Why do I still Like this car?

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Linear 2.3t 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

Bought the Linear model new but at a deep discount ($30k). Have had the typical failures -- fuel pump, heater valve, ignition cartridge, sunroof, and most recently the brake booster. Repairs are crazy expensive, and I've spent way too much on them. But then I get behind the wheel and realize I really like the driving experience. Fuel economy is great, and the turbo is there when you need some punch. It's a great travel car, and the trunk is spacious. One of my criteria was "4 men and 4 sets of golf clubs". It works.
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Tow after Tow after Tow after Tow

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Aero 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

I had purchased this vehicle not even 2 weeks and it died on me. I had bought it with about 57K miles, and two weeks later on the way to a mini vacation it leaves me stranded in the middle of the freeway. I took it back to the selling dealer and also their Saab dealer and they slapped the machine on it and "Nothing is wrong with it, it drives like a champ." Again it had just died as i was accelerating through town, and then my speed gauge gradually goes down once again! On my way back from work on the freeway it died again! DO NOT BUY THIS MODEL. By the way i failed to mention i had to waste my money towing this vehicle every single time it died on me. STAY AWAY!
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Big Surprise, Small Price

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Aero 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

I bought this used in August of 06 since I had a "price point" in mind as children were in college and cost was important. The terrible depreciation is the used car buyer's gain and I bought three years from new for about 45% of list. The car turned out to be a big surprise after 4 years and about 40K miles I have driven. Few mechanical problems, although they were either covered by the remaining factory warranty or the extended one I bought. I am very impressed with the highway cruising ability but it is not my prior 911 or 540 (nor did I expect it to be). It is generally an all around good car with lots of room and decent driving fun. Go find one with low mileage!
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You have to own a Saab to understand

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Linear 2.3t 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

We absolutely love this car. Saabs don't necessarily impress immediately, but live with the car for a good amount of time and you'll see what gems they are. The highway passing power is laugh inducing, the comfort is unsurpassed by even cars costing 9x as much. The seats are to die for. Ours has only had small issues, which can be taken care of for very little at our local independent Saab specialist. This has been one of the most reliable cars we have owned, it's just extremely important to perform preventative maintenance and not to "let things go". But that really goes for any car, especially European. The build quality is very high and materials extremely good quality.
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Huge disappointment

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Linear 2.3t 4dr Sport Wagon (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

Bought the car with 44,000 miles on it, thinking SAAB was a quality brand and would last for years. Unfortunately, I had not heard that repairs on a SAAB are extremely expensive. The car was initially fun, lots of bells and whistles. After 2 months, things started going wrong. The computer that controlled the temperature panel went out. The module controlling the high beams failed. The plastic panel under the driver's seat broke. Power locks did not work correctly. Other small items broke or stopped working. The final straw was at 96,000 miles when the throttle assembly went out. After a repair cost of over $1000, I traded in the car. I will not buy another SAAB.
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My Feeling Are HURT

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Aero 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

I once loved this car. I traded my 1999 9-5 Linear with 110k mi for this AERO. The Linear was much better. The only leg up this car has is the acceleration and body cladding. In one year, I have replaced the engine, replaced the head gasket for the replacement engine, fuel pump, injectors, turbo, DI cassette, SID display, tabs that keep the windows from rattling, an electrical junction box, and I paid for emission hose updates (not covered by warranty), and yesterday a pully broke leaving me stranded. The car has only 71k miles, and I've owned it for only a year. This is my 3rd and worst SAAB. This car was built for the service bay and not the road. My love affair with SAABs is over.
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