Saab›9-5›2010›Overview/saab/9-5/2010/base/

2010 Saab 9-5

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2010 9-5.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2010 Saab 9-5 is a passenger car equipped with an S6 automatic transmission and an EPA-rated 16/27/20 mpg, utilizing 6.0 quarts of 0W-30, 0W-40, or 5W-30 API engine oil. This model year falls within a 1998-2011 history that peaked with 121 complaints in 1999, yet it remains a low-incident entry with zero recalls. With only two owner complaints specifically targeting air bags, the 2010 model represents a stable point in the vehicle's overall reliability history.

Model year2011 2010 2009 2007 2006

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type0W-30 / 0W-40 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque110 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy16/27/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 700 CCA battery, OE oil filter 93186310. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 700 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	93186310
Engine air filter	32019927
Spark plug	55564748
Battery	95519153 alt 93197903
Front wiper blades	32019201
Thermostat	12681140 alt 12638186
Cabin air filter	95527473

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	190.6 in
Overall width	70.5 in
Overall height	57.1 in
Wheelbase	106.3 in
Curb weight	2855 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.4 / 59.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	16 / 27 / 20 mpg
Drivetrain	All-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	100 cu ft
Cargo volume	14 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Premium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 0W-30 / 0W-40 / 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 110 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Coolant	DEXCOOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	SYNTHETIC · 0W-30 · 0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6.0 qt
Power Steering Fluid	SPECIFICATION NOT SUPPLIED BY MANUFACTURER

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	6 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	15 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	17 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	110 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	37.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	37.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.43 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	4.05 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	700 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	20-22 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	20-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	180 °F
Injector Primary Resistance	11-14 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance	1.25-1.75 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH HEAVY DUTY / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket	20 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.080; Rear: 0.080 in
Brake Application	WITH HEAVY DUTY / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	1.102 in / 0.787 in / 0.984 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	0.925 in / 0.728 in / 0.335 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Torque to Knuckle — tightening sequence 1 stages

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

22 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 360 degrees, Step 3: 18 ft. lbs., Step 4: 110

22 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

74 ft. lbs., step 2: 150

74 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Right cylinder head:

1	33 ft. lbs.; Right Cylinder Head:	33 ft. lbs
2	120 degrees.; Left Cylinder Head:	120 degrees
1	22 ft. lbs.; Left Cylinder Head:	22 ft. lbs
2	120 degrees.; Use new fasteners, tighten evenly.	120 degrees

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

22 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45

22 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 80,000 mi.

Every 10,000 mi	Air Bag System (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect)
At 20,000 mi	Air Bag System (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Linings (inspect)
Every 20,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Tie Rod (inspect) · Tire Repair Kit Sealant (inspect)
Every 40,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 80,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Drive Belt (replace) · Drive Belt Tensioner (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2010 Saab 9-5 sits at a distinctive inflection point in the model's federal record: complaints had plummeted from 121 in 1999 to just 2 by 2009 and remained at 2 in 2010, while recalls dropped from 6 in 2002 to zero by 2010, and NHTSA investigations ended after 2009. However, TSBs (technical service bulletins) surged dramatically from 189 in 2008 to 454 in 2009 and 522 in 2010—the highest volume in the entire generation—which indicates the manufacturer was addressing a wide range of issues through dealer service guidance rather than formal recalls. The 2010 model year recorded only two complaints total (air bags and visibility, one each), with zero crash complaints and zero fire complaints. By 2011, complaints ticked up slightly to 9 while TSBs dropped to 123, suggesting the 2010 model may represent a brief window of relative stability before minor complaint activity resumed. The concrete takeaway is that 2010 appears to be a favorable year within this generation: it has the lowest complaint count alongside zero recalls or investigations, and while the high TSB volume reflects active dealer-level service attention, the absence of safety-related complaints suggests the vehicle itself is not inherently problematic—making it a reasonable purchase provided a comprehensive pre-purchase inspection verifies that the high TSB count has been addressed.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

522

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09’10’11

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Air Bags1

Visibility1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 522 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIT3271Q	2026-04-01	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP6104	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U	2026-01-08	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT5214G	2025-11-20	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific 9-5. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 48 battery Vehicles taking 6.0 qt Engine oil filter 93186310 Engine air filter 32019927 Spark plug 55564748 Battery 95519153

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2010 9-5 take?

6.0 qt of SYNTHETIC 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30 OR 5W-40 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2010 9-5 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 9-5 get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 27 highway / 20 combined mpg.