2003 Nissan Altima vs 2003 Saab 9-5
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Nissan Altima | 2003 Saab 9-5 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 883 | 47 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 101 | 81 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 41 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 13 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–23 | 19–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 85,000 mi | 75,400 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Nissan Altima | Saab 9-5 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 450 | 8 |
| Structure | 126 | 2 |
| Engine | 117 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 89 | 25 |
| Power Train | 34 | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 28 | 4 |
| Air Bags | 28 | 1 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 235 | 11 |
| Check engine light | 129 | 11 |
| Rust / corrosion | 107 | 0 |
| Oil consumption | 40 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 36 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 28 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 21 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 14 | 0 |
2003 Nissan Altima
2003 Saab 9-5
Compare all Nissan Altima vs Saab 9-5 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.