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2005 Saab 9-2x

The Verdict

72 Solid Pick

The 2005 Saab 9-2x has 110 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (45 complaints) and electrical (43 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 72/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Saab 9-2x, consider the 2006 model year which has 90% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2006 has 90% fewer complaints

View the 2006 Saab 9-2x dashboard →

72

Klunk Score: Solid Pick

Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 4

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

15V323000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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, ...

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 ...

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. Owner...

Reported Apr 11, 2026

20V001000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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 vehi...

Risk

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...

Reported Feb 1, 2020

20V003000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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 veh...

Risk

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 ma...

Reported Feb 1, 2020

11V464000 SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

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 OR...

Risk

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 SERVIC...

Reported Jun 9, 2011

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200519243451
200600910

By Category

Engine
45
Electrical
43
Body
19
Brakes
2
Transmission
1

By Severity

1
66
2
43
4
1

Worst Problems

Complaints

Electrical 1

The contact owns a 2005 Saab 9-2X. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 11V464000 (Suspension) and 15V323000 (Air Bags); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer and Chevrolet 112 (631) 317-2348) were contacted but referred the contact to Subaru for recall repair assistance. The Subaru manufacturer and GM manufacturer were notified of the issue, but no assistance was provided. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

17mo ago
Electrical 1

Does recall supposed to be done under the general motors they’re refusing to do this recall. And it’s the law they have to do this recall not my fault. It’s a sob that was made by Subaru, but it’s GM’s product 05-06.

17mo ago
Body 1

The contact owns a 2005 Saab 9-2x. The contact stated while attempting to park the vehicle, the control arm fractured. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer and was told rubber bushings and rubber control arm links could be worn. The control could just break apart from rust. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired in 2012 under NHTSA campaign number: 11V464000 (Suspension) however, the failure still occurred. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure but offered no additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. The consumer is still waiting to have the vehicle repaired. The consumer stated after arguing with GM, the appoint was set for July 16, 2021.The consumer stated it was determined to be damage a broken control arm, broken sway bar link, broken sway bar and axle being pulled from the differential. There was a temporary control arm replaced in order for the vehicle to move, but the repairs have not been made for this vehicle. The vehicle will need an alignment and parts replaced upon inspection to see if there is more damage. than initial inspection showed.

62mo ago
Body 1

IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN THE SAAB 9-2X COMMUNITY THAT THE REAR STRUT TOWERS RUST OUT AND FALL APART. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS IT IS SO COMMON WHETHER IN A RUST PRONE STATE OR NOT.

69mo ago
Body 1

METAL PLATE REAR STRUT TOWERS RUSTING OUT. CONSTANTLY, PRESENTS POTENTIAL FOR SUSPENSION TO FAIL AND REAR RUNNING GEAR TO PUNCTURE THE BODY

70mo ago
Body 2

BOTH REAR LEFT AND RIGHT STRUT TOWERS BEGAN RUSTING TO THE POINT THE REAR SUSPENSION ALIGNMENT WAS CONSTANTLY SHIFTING DUE TO THE LACK OF STRUCTURE REMAINING IN THE BODY

70mo ago
Body 2

MY STRUT TOWERS HAVE BEGUN TO RUST, AND IF I DON'T REPAIR AND WELD IT SOON, MY REAR STRUTS MIGHT RIP THROUGH THE TOWERS. THE REAR STRUT TOWERS OF SAAB 92X RUST OUT OVER TIME DUE TO MOISTURE GETTING THROUGH THE TOWERS AND GETTING TRAPPED UNDER SOUND DEADENING MATERIAL. THIS CAUSES VIRTUALLY EVERY NON-FAIRWEATHER 92X TO UNDERGO A RUSTED STRUT TOWER ON THE FRAME. THIS IS SUCH A PROBLEM, THE FIRST RECOMMENDED STEP WHEN BUYING USED IS TO CHECK THESE FRAMES AS THE REAR STRUTS CAN RIP THROUGH WHEN THEY ARE RUSTED AND CAUSE A POTENTIALLY FATAL ACCIDENT. THE ONLY PROPER FIX IS WELDING.

70mo ago
Body 2

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.

70mo ago
Body 2

STRUT TOWERS CORROSION

70mo ago
Body 1

THE FOUR BOLTS THAT THE REAR SEATS ATTACH TO HOLD MOISTURE WHICH THEN INFILTRATES THE STRUT TOWERS AND CAUSES THEM TO ROT OUT. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS YOU CAN BE DRIVING AND WITHOUT NOTICE, A WHEEL WILL DISCONNECT FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY BECOME A HAZARD THAT FORCES YOU TO WRECK THE CAR SINCE THE WHEEL IS NO LONGER ATTACHED. EVERY SAAB 9-2X HAS THIS ISSUE AND EVERY OWNER EITHER PARTS THE CAR OUT OR HAS TO HAVE IT REPAIRED WHICH I RECENTLY DID TO THE TUNE OF $1,075. JUST TO KEEP THE CAR SAFE TO DRIVE. THE FIX REQUIRES THE RUSTED AREA TO BE CUT OUT AND THEN NEW METAL WELDED IN SO IT CAN REGAIN STRUCTURAL RIGIDITY.

70mo ago
Body 2

SEVERE STRUT TOWER RUST WITH MANY PEOPLES COLLAPSING. THIS IS DIRECTLY DUE TO SUBARU AND GMS MANUFACTURING OF THE CAR.

70mo ago
Body 1

CAR HAS HAD THE RECALL ACTIONS PERFORMED ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE PASSENGER CONTROL ARM FAILED IN THE SAME PLACE ADDRESSED BY THE RECALL, DESPITE HAVING THE 'FIX'. IT FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A PUBLIC ROAD, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND DAMAGE OF MULTIPLE OTHER COMPONENTS.

70mo ago
Body 2

VEHICLE WAS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY WHEN RIGHT-FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER DRIVE-ABLE AS ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS LOOSE AND RUBBING AGAINST CAR BODY. LUCKILY, CAR WAS ONLY MOVING AT LOW SPEED AT THAT MOMENT AND WAS STOPPED WITHOUT INJURY TO DRIVER OR DAMAGE TO OTHER CARS OR PROPERTY. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED (TAKEN TO NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALER). CHEVY SERVICE DEPARTMENT ASSESSED ISSUE, STATING THAT RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM CORRODED AND BROKE. OTHER SUSPENSION COMPONENTS WERE DAMAGED, AS WELL, AS A RESULT OF CONTROL ARM COLLAPSE. CAR WAS SUBJECT TO SAAB RECALL NO. 15031 (11281). THIS IS ALSO NHTSA RECALL NO. 11V-464, DATED APRIL 2012. RECALL CONCERNS CORROSION OF CONTROL ARMS. THIS VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE RECALL IN SEPTEMBER 2012, WITH CONTROL ARMS BEING INSPECTED AND UNDER-COATED. (SERVICE RECEIPT AVAILABLE IF NEEDED FOR INVESTIGATION.) CHEVY AND SAAB WOULD NOT PROVIDE REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT AS RECALL WAS OFFICIALLY CLOSED OUT. CONCERN IS THAT MANY SAAB AND SUBARU CARS ARE STILL ON THE ROAD WITH POTENTIAL FOR A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.

71mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 9-2X. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V001000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE ROYAL BUICK GMC LOCATED AT 11055 AIRLINE HWY, BATON ROUGE, LA 70816, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO TOOLS NOR A QUALIFIED SAAB TECHNICIAN ON SITE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CONTACT ANOTHER GM, CHEVROLET, CADILLAC OR BUICK DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO FIND A DEALER WITH THE TOOLS NEEDED NOR A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN TO DO THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

75mo ago
Brakes 1

MY CAR WAS REPAIRED AT PATRICK CADILLAC IN SCHAUMBURG, BUT STILL THE "AIRBAG" LIGHT IS ON AT THE DASHBOARD. THE MECHANIC OLD ME THAT THE LIGHT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. SINCE THE LIGHT IS ON, THAT MEANS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SAFETY AIRBAG. ANOTHER ISSUE IS WITH THE ABS. WHENEVER I STEP ON THE BREAKS, THE ABS SHAKES AS IF IT'S BOUNCING ON THE BREAKS, AND THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SYSTEMS? I THOUGHT MY BREAKS NEEDED CHANGING, AND ALL FOUR BREAK PADS WERE CHANGED, BUT THE PROBLEMS PERSISTS.

82mo ago
Engine 2

FUEL SMELL IN COLD WEATHER. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN COLD WEATHER ONLY. WHEN I START THE CAR, I GET A SMELL OF FUEL IN THE CABIN. THE CAR IS PARKED. WHEN I HAVE THE AIR RECIRCULATION BUTTON PRESSED, THE SMELL DOES NOT ENTER THE CABIN.

91mo ago
Body 1

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 CLEAR RUST PROOFING AGENT WAS APPLIED BY A SUBCONTRACTOR.

93mo ago
Engine 2

THE SMELL OF RAW FUEL IN THE CABIN ON COLD WEATHER STARTS. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FUEL LEAK UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE AND FUEL SPRAYING AND POOLING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. SO MUCH FUEL LEAKING THAT IT RAN DOWN AND MADE A PUDDLE UNDER THE CAR.

104mo ago
Engine 2

LAST DECEMBER I TOOK MY CAR TO MIDAS ON 2625 STATE ROAD, CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH BECAUSE OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THEY FIXED MY CATAYTIC CONVERTER. MY CHECK RIGHT ENGINE LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. ON 022716 INV 0143048 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I HAD TO DO 292.69 WORTH REPAIRS.03172017 INV 0151700 1329.39 WORTH REPAIRS.41517 INV 0152375 1152.39 WORTH REPAIRS.052217 INV 0148090 1000.00 WORTH REPAIRS.ON 061017 INV 0152375 THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE REPLACED FOR FREE. THE PAIRS WERE RECALLED. TOOK THE CAR TO MAZDA OF BEDFORD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON.PHONE NUMBER 440 439 2323. THEY SCANNED THE CAR. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER STILL NOT RIGHT. TOOK THE CAR TO MECHANIC. MECHANIC CLEARS THE CODE. HE TOLD ME IT IS A HISTORY CODE. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON.

110mo ago
Electrical 2

TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A NOTICE IN THE MAIL RECENTLY FROM GM THAT SAID I NEEDED TO MAKE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT TO GET THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR REPLACED. IT SAID TO GO TO MY.GM.COM/RECALLS AND ENTER MY VIN. I DID THAT AND IT SHOWED TWO RECALLS: ONE FOR THE AIRBAG AND AN OLDER RECALL FOR THE CONTROL ARMS. I CALLED OURISMAN GMC IN ALEXANDRIA (HTTP://WWW.CHEVROLETOFALEXANDRIA.COM/) AND SPOKE WITH VON, WHO SAID HE WAS A SERVICE MANAGER. HE SAID THAT I DID NOT HAVE ANY OUTSTANDING RECALLS. I TOLD HIM I HAD GOTTEN A CARD AND THAT MY.GM.COM/RECALLS SAID I HAD A RECALL. HE SAID THAT THE FIX HAD NOT BEEN FIGURED OUT AND THAT'S WHY I WAS NOT SHOWING UP IN THEIR DATABASE. THIS IS NONSENSE - OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR HAVE HAD THIS FIX DONE. HE REFUSED TO LOOK IN MY.GM.COM/RECALLS AND KEPT REPEATING THAT HE COULD ONLY USE HIS SYSTEM. I THEN CALLED ROUTE 1 BUICK GMC (HTTP://WWW.ROUTE1BUICKGMC.COM/) AND SPOKE WITH A SERVICE PERSON NAMED DIANA. SHE GAVE ME THE SAME STORY BUT WAS AT LEAST MORE POLITE ABOUT IT. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING FOR 18 MONTHS AND THE SUSPENSION RECALL HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING FOR FIVE YEARS. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO HELP ME. I COULD GET INTO AN ACCIDENT TOMORROW AND BE KILLED BY MY CAR'S AIRBAG. NEITHER PERSON WAS INTERESTED IN RESEARCHING OR ATTEMPTING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THERE WAS A MISMATCH. THIS IS NOTHING SHORT OF NEGLIGENCE. I GOT A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL AND IT IS ALSO REFLECTED ON SAFERCAR.GOV.

115mo ago

110 total

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