2004 Saab 9-5 Saab 9-5 2004

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2004 Saab 9-5 repairs by problem area

Engine (47%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (3%)

Brakes and Traction Control (2%)

Suspension and Steering (14%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (20%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (5%)

Other (9%)

Chart based on 187 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2004 Saab 9-5.

2004 Saab 9-5 engine repair cost distribution

$2500+ (3%)

$1000 - $2499 (4%)

$500 - $999 (20%)

$100 - $499 (48%)

< $100 (26%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 80 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2004 Saab 9-5

Engine not specified

117000 mi

US $900
Water pump replaced proactively. Coolant leak at gasket repaired. Also replaced timing belt proactively. 
91300 mi Warning light. Saab dealer inspection. Sensor error between SID and Sentronic transmission computer. Advised that replacing the SID would fix the issue and would cost $450. Declined the repair. 
93000 mi Coolant temp gauge was in the red but the engine was not overly hot. I added some coolant and the problem hasn't returned. 
93800 mi

US $150
Oil/filter change and rear engine mount brackets replaced. 

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2004 Saab 9-5 4dr Wagon

turbocharged 250hp 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

130000 mi

US $400
engine coolant by-pass valve. 
138000 mi

US $350
Ignition Coil Cassette  
170000 mi

US $150
PCV Hose 
162300 mi

US $264
Plastic radiator end tank cracked on the driver's side. Replaced radiator and driver's side cooling fan which had a broken blade. 
164000 mi

US $6
Factory vacuum lines rotted, replaced with silicone hoses. 
164300 mi

US $24
Replaced coolant bypass hose and coolant bypass valve due to leaking. 
123780 mi Turbocharger failed at around 200 000 km, replaced with a used one.. October 2016: I recently bought an OEM Mitsubishi turbocharger and fitted it as both a preventive measure,and as a tuning component.. :) 
146320 mi

$120
Water damage to Twice-ecu, replaced Ecu,reprogrammed car keys 
147400 mi

US $900
throttle body needed to be replaced 

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2004 Saab 9-5 4dr Wagon

turbocharged 250hp 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

71000 mi

US $140
Replacement of failed turbo compressor bypass valve with upgraded Forge Motorsport valve. 

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2004 Saab 9-5 4dr Wagon

turbocharged 220hp 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

57660 mi

C $100
All gaskets except oil pan gasket replaced due to leakage under warranty. ECU replaced under warranty Throttle body replaced under warranty. 
137500 mi

US $650
Ignition casette and sparkplugs 
140000 mi

US $100
PCV hose replacement.  New valve cover gaskets. 
147000 mi One of the hoses for the cooling system sprung a small leak by a clamp. Cut off the leak point and reattached hose. Will consider replacing all cooling system hoses. 
157000 mi The same heater core hose that was cut shorter sprung another leak. A new hose has been ordered. 
157000 mi

US $29
Replaced leaking heater core hose. 
160200 mi

US $50
Got code P1110. Replaced vacuum hose to turbo bypass valve, turbo bypass valve, and throttle body O ring. 
161700 mi

US $500
These problem cropped within weeks of each other. Mass Air flow sensor replaced, crank position sensor replaced. oil pressure switch leaking, and replaced. Now runs like new! Got boost? 
165000 mi

US $3000
Head gasket was leaking oil. Head gasket, timing chain, balance shaft chains, chain guides, chain tensioner, and top engine mount were replaced. She now runs real smooth, and powerful without any oil leaks! 
165000 mi Number 2 rod bearing was spun. Sold the car to the shop. They have an engine to replace it. 
115000 mi

US $560
Exhaust was rusting out. Muffler was getting loud. Ordered aftermarket system and had indie install. 
135000 mi

US $300
Coolant temp sensor, Thermostat. Replaced this month for $300 before I sold it. 
66000 mi

US $700
Oil leak; had to replace oil pressure sensor to stop leak 
67900 mi

US $150
PCV hoses needed to be replaced; several check valves had broken. 
70900 mi

US $300
replaced direct ignition cassette to troubleshoot low mileage issue and to eliminate spark misfire error code. 
71000 mi

US $100
Replaced crankshaft position sensor to troubleshoot rough idle that turned out in the end to be incorrectly gapped spark plugs. 
39000 mi Throttle body replaced 
45000 mi

US $169
V belt (not warranty) and belt tensioner (warranty) 
47500 mi Heater bypass valve failed (warranty) 
48900 mi Oil pan/timing cover leak. (warranty) 
76000 mi

US $500
Intermediate exhaust pipe replaced.  

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2004 Saab 9-5 4dr Wagon

turbocharged 220hp 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

120000 mi

US $285
Direct Ignition Cassette needed replacement -- CEL codes P1312 and P1334. This was actually a long interval to replacement of original DIC (6 1/2 years); normally fail earlier than this, and mine was not total failure (yet!) 
126000 mi

US $90
Replaced coolant manifold by firewall. 

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2004 Saab 9-5 4dr Wagon

turbocharged 185hp 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

51000 mi

US $400
replaced oil separator box 
51700 mi

US $250
replaced vacuum hoses, bypass valve, crank oil seal, coolant temp sensor, oil pressure sensor. 
68000 mi

US $1000
Serpentine belt tensioner was not functioning adequately. 
117000 mi

US $680
CEL and rough idling. Replaced direct ignition module and induction cleaned the fuel system.  
128000 mi

US $300
Car not warming up properly, suspected a bad thermostat stuck in open position. Thermostat was replaced and car runs normally. 
158000 mi

US $450
CEL came on, some stumbling after a cold start. 

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2004 Saab 9-5 4dr Wagon

turbocharged 185hp 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

70000 mi

US $525
awful Lencore Group in Paterson,NJ sold me this car knowing of faulty Direct Ignition Cassette, head gasket, belts. So far I paid for D.I.C. and will address head gasket when $$ are avail. 
160000 mi

US $150
New water pump & gaskets. 
233700 mi

US $200
Replaced water pump and serpentine belt. 

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2004 Saab 9-5 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 250hp 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

193700 mi

US $600
Radiator replaced after developing a leak at the seams. 
137000 mi

US $1000
Engine mount and transmission mount replaced.  Belt tensioner and pulley replaced. Drive belt replaced. 
73140 mi

A $300
Car was losing power and overrevving, very erratic. Drained transmission oil changed x2 drove short trips and changed again. Good mechanic figured out that intercooler vacuum leak was cause. 
96700 mi

US $280
Car experienced a crank/no start condition. Replaced crankshaft position sensor. 
45000 mi

US $150
Oil seepage remedied with a new seal. 
56000 mi

US $250
Replaced failed hot water valve. 
68000 mi

US $35
replaced cracked PCV and hose 
82000 mi

US $60
replaced coolant bypass valve 
88200 mi

US $300
car not starting when hot. replaced crankshaft position sensor. 
92000 mi

US $250
fuel pump replacement 
99400 mi

A $950
Engine and transmission mount 
101060 mi

A $100
Ignition barrel required cleaning and lubrication as it was not popping up when key removed. 
104780 mi

A $900
Direct ignition cassette 
101440 mi

A $800
Throttle body 
112840 mi Radiator cracked. 
109000 mi

US $955
R&R Timing chain seal & gasket to correct oil leak.  R&R 3 separate broken engine and trannie mounts. 
117000 mi

US $475
major electronic/electrical issues: ACC faults, no cruise, parking sensors randomly chime, turbo power loss Power loss on accel & turbo whine. Diagnosed high engine knocking and replaced mass air flow meter. Warned to use only premium gas. Still getting rough power, parking chimes & whine on medium hard accel! 

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2004 Saab 9-5 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 250hp 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

123500 mi

US $377
D.I. Cassette replaced. 
76260 mi

C $380
replaced all 4 engine and transmission mounts due to sagging. This fixed engine lurching under acceleration, improved gear shift accuracy and eliminated extra engine noise and vibration. 

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2004 Saab 9-5 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 220hp 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

42679 mi Replace engine module circuit boards - warranty 
50225 mi

US $387
Heater by-pass valve leaking - replace 
53800 mi

US $780
Ignition module failed - plugs fouled 
60500 mi

US $397
heater water supply hose leaking 
69940 mi

C $300
Crankshaft position indicator defective 
84500 mi

C $475
Exhaust - Muffler 
123700 mi Replaced spark plugs replaced valve cover gasket 
64000 mi

US $1100
Replaced exhaust manifold leak. Replaced water pump. 
70000 mi

US $250
Heater valve leaking - replaced. 
76000 mi

US $400
Serpentine belt tensioner making noise and replaced 

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2004 Saab 9-5 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 220hp 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD

172000 mi

US $5
Exhaust rotted out behind front silencer. Spliced in a short pipe and clamped it down to hold until spring when I can replace the whole cat-back system. 
205000 mi

US $10
Brittle old vacuum hoses replaced. Thought they were causing MIL, but it came back on a few miles later. 
215000 mi CEL lit, code P1110. Replaced turbo bypass valve, condition cleared, issue resolved. 

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2004 Saab 9-5 4-door

turbocharged 4-cylinder automatic 2WD

97340 mi

$3500
Thermostat needed replacement, when the engine temperature never got up to normal when the car was driven. The car also could overheat when driving in city traffic. The repair also included oil change and lubing the handbrake rear drums. 

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2004 Saab 9-5 4-door

turbocharged 4-cylinder automated manual 2WD

116000 mi

US $500
The engine light was on. I am sorry. I am traveling and don't have the details but wanted to answer your survey 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Saab models.

2004 Saab 9-5 Engine Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2004 Saab 9-5 problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.