Makes›Saab›9-2›2005

2005 Saab 9-2

Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2005 models.

Class
Small Station Wagons
Body styles
X 4dr Wagon /Linear/Aero
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Drivetrain
4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline, Premium Gasoline
MPG (best)
23 combined · 20 city / 27 hwy
Length
176 in
Curb weight
3,071 lb
NHTSA rating
Not rated
Recalls
4 campaigns

Overview

The 2005 Saab 9-2 is a small station wagon offered with 2 engines (2.5L 4-cyl and 2.0L 4-cyl turbo) and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.

It measures about 176 inches long and 67 inches wide on a 100-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,071 lb.

EPA rates its most efficient version at 23 MPG combined (20 city / 27 highway), 2% better than the 2005 small station wagon average of 22.6 MPG, for an estimated $2,900 a year in fuel.

It has 4 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the air bags.

Dimensions & weight

BodyLengthWidthHeightWheelbaseTrack F / RCurb weightWeight F/R
X 4dr Wagon /Linear/Aero176 in66.9 in57.9 in99.6 in57.1 / 56.7 in3,071 lb56/44

Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.

Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →

Engines, MPG & running costs

VersionEngineTransmissionDriveCity / Hwy / Combvs. classFuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
9-2x Wagon AWD2.5L 4-cylAutomatic 4-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive20 / 26 / 23+2%$2,900386
9-2x Wagon AWD2.5L 4-cylManual 5-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive20 / 27 / 22-3%$3,050404
9-2x Wagon AWD2.0L 4-cyl turboManual 5-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive17 / 24 / 20-12%$4,100444
9-2x Wagon AWD2.0L 4-cyl turboAutomatic 4-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive17 / 23 / 19-16%$4,350468
Spend $2,500Fuel over 5 years vs. average new car
22.6 MPG2005 Small Station Wagons average

EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2005 EPA class average. How we calculate this →

Safety ratings & technology

NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2005 Saab 9-2 under the current (2011+) test program.

Similar 2005 small station wagons

ModelBest MPG / rangeNHTSA overallRecalls
2005 Saab 9-2 (this car)23 MPGNot rated4
2005 Scion xB29 MPGNot rated1
2005 Pontiac Vibe29 MPGNot rated5
2005 Toyota Matrix29 MPGNot rated1

Recalls (4)

Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module · Jan 2, 2020

NHTSA campaign 20V001000 · 258,813 vehicles

Problem
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.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix
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.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module · Jan 2, 2020

NHTSA campaign 20V003000 · 111,562 vehicles

Problem
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.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix
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.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module · May 28, 2015

NHTSA campaign 15V323000 · 432,016 vehicles

Problem
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.
Risk
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.
Fix
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.
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm · Sep 6, 2011

NHTSA campaign 11V464000 · 318,215 vehicles

Problem
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.
Risk
A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix
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.
Check your VIN for open recalls at NHTSA ↗

Not every 2005 Saab 9-2 is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.

Owner-reported problems

71Complaints to NHTSA since 2015
0Involved a crash
0Involved a fire
0Injuries reported
120,000 miTypical mileage at failure
Air Bags45
Suspension16
Fuel/Propulsion System9
Structure › Body6
Engine3
Service Brakes2
Unknown Or Other2
Wheels1
Complaints received per month (last 24 months with reports)
15/06: 315/08: 915/09: 715/10: 115/11: 215/12: 316/01: 616/02: 616/03: 216/04: 316/05: 216/09: 116/10: 117/01: 317/07: 117/12: 118/11: 119/01: 119/09: 120/05: 120/09: 220/10: 821/06: 125/02: 215/0615/1016/0116/0416/1017/1219/0920/10max 9

Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.

Used 2005 Saab 9-2 buyer's checklist

  1. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 4 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
  2. Air Bags — 45 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
  3. Suspension — 16 owner reports. Drive over bumps and listen for clunks; look for uneven tire wear.
  4. Fuel/Propulsion System — 9 owner reports. Smell for fuel around the car and in the cabin, check that it starts easily when warm, and look at the oil dipstick for a fuel smell or rising level.
  5. Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 120,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
  6. Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.

Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2005 Saab 9-2. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.

Other 9-2 years

Compare all years →
YearMPG (best)LengthOverallRecallsComplaints
2006 9-222176 inNot rated79

Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Saab. How we calculate this →