SAAB 9-5 Complaints (2003)

47 consumer complaints on file.

#10273099June 8, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2003 9-5 LINEAR IS HAVING MANY OF THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED BY OTHERS. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON RECENTLY AND I HAD THE CODES READ. THE CODES REPRESENTED A MISFIRE PROBLEM. WHEN DOING RESEARCH I LEARNED THAT IT IS MOST USUALLY THE DIRECT IGNITION MODULE, FAILURE AT 80000 MILES? SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY (ONE TIME), FORCING ME TO WEAVE THROUGH TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER TO GET TO THE SIDE. THE CAR RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STOPPING. NOW THE CAR SEEMS TO BUCK WHEN DRIVING AND AT IDLE, WHICH IS ALSO REPRESENTATIVE OF A DIM FAILURE. I WILL BE BRINGING IT TO THE SHOP TO GET REPAIRED UNDER MY AFTERMARKET WARRANTY, BUT I FEEL THAT SAAB SHOULD BE PAYING SINCE THE FAILURE IS THE SAME AS THE 2000-2002 MODEL YEAR RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266334April 22, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
FAILURE OF 2003 SAAB 95 DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263023March 25, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2003 SAAB 9-5 ARC V6 3.0TURBO HAS BEGUN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION. IT FREQUENTLY WILL NOT START. IT TURNS OVER BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT COMPLETELY FIRE. IN ADDITION, ONCE IT DOES START IT WILL OFTEN STALL OUT. THIS GENERALLY HAPPENS WHEN SWITCHING FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE OR WHEN AT A STOPLIGHT/STOP SIGN. ONCE THE CAR STALLS IT DOES NOT JUST RESTART. THE SPARK PLUGS ARE ALL NEW AND NO LINES ARE BROKEN/DAMAGED. I HAVE EXAMINED RECALLS ON THIS CAR AND RECALL05087/15021B DESCRIBES MY PROBLEM AND MY MODEL OF CAR IS LISTED YET I AM TOLD THAT THIS RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VIN NUMBER. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR A FEW MONTHS. I AM LISTING THE INCIDENT DATE AS TODAY'S DATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257023January 31, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR RUNS PERFECTLY AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WILL RANDOMLY STALL. IF YOU CAN MANAGE TO NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT THE CAR WILL START RIGHT BACK UP AFTER YOU TURN OFF THE KEY AND RESTART. SOMETIMES EVERY COUPLE OF MILES, AND CAN GO SEVERAL MILES WITHOUT THE STALL. SEEMS TO ONLY HAPPEN AT CONSTANT SPEEDS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. DIAGNOSTIC CODES ARE P1230 AND P1261, BUT I THINK THESE ARE RESULTS OF THE SUDDEN STALL, AND NOT THE PROBLEM. *TR UPDATED 03/10/09. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249750November 24, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ON- MY MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A RECALL (WHICH I VERIFIED ON YOUR SITE), YET WHEN I TOOK IT TO SAAB (AND CALLED), THEY SAID MY PARTICULAR VIN # WAS NOT COVERED. AMAZING COINCIDENCE THAT THE EXACT PART THAT WAS RECALLED GOT REPLACED??!! PLEASE ADVISE ME WHAT I CAN/SHOULD DO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247639November 4, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-5. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THREE WEEKS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V087000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234670July 17, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP MY ENTIRE CAR DIED. I WAS STUCK AT A STOP LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR. I HAD TO HOLD MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUMP THE GAS PEDAL TO GET THE CAR TO REV, BUT IT WOULDN'T CONTINUE TO IDLE. IT KEPT DYING. I HAD TO USE BOTH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL TO GET IT OFF THE HIGHWAY TO A SIDE STREET, WHICH WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. SEVERAL TIMES THE CAR DIED. I TOOK IT TO A GM CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP WHO AFTER THREE DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS DETERMINED THE IGNITION MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SPARK PLUGS BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS MISFIRING. I WANT SAAB TO RECALL THIS PART AND PAY FOR THE REPAIR. IT IS THE EXACT SAME PART AND PROBLEM THAT THEY RECALLED FOR 2000-2002 VEHICLES. IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE THAT THE 2003 PART HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX IT AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232246June 25, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON AND I HAD A MECHANIC CHECKED AND THE DI CASSETTE WAS FAILING, AND CAUSING ENGINE MISFIRE. MY SAAB 9-5 IS YEAR 2003 MODEL AND ONLY HAS ABOUT 70K MILES. FROM WHAT I READ ONLINE, THE PART DOES HAVE A LIMITED AND LESS THAN REASONABLE LIFE. IT WAS RECALLED FOR MODEL YEAR 2000 THROUGH 2002. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227957May 15, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ON MY 2003 9-5 WAGON HAS BEEN COMING ON PERIODICALLY FOR THE LAST YEAR. WE HAD IT SERVICED BY AN INDY AND TWO ERROR CODES CAME UP, P1312 AND P1334, BOTH HAVING TO DO WITH THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. WE JUST HAD THE PART REPLACED. ONLY ONCE DID THE CAR "DIE" WHILE DRIVING AND LUCKILY IT WAS AT LOW SPEED AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO RESTART. THE IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ON THE ORIGINAL PART IS 9197559 (TK3.6). MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN 2002. CONSIDER EXPANDING THE RECALL IN PLACE FOR 2000-2002 MODEL YEARS (NHTSA #05V399000) TO INCLUDE 2003 VEHICLES, PARTICULARLY THOSE BUILT IN 2002. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217749February 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I HAVE BEEN GETTING CONSTANT CHECK ENGINE CODES THAT RELATE TO THE DI CASSETTE. THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE RECALL THAT SAAB HAS INITIALLY CONDUCTED FOR 2000-2002 MODEL 4 CYL CARS NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE 2003, AS I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DI CASSETTE AS SAAB HAS EXPRESSED HAPPENING IN THE 2002 MODELS. I WISH TO HAVE MY DI CASSETTE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE AND TO BE INCLUDED IN THE PRE EXISTING RECALL FOR 2002 DRIVERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197250July 23, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SAAB INFORMATION DISPLAY PIXEL FAILURE. THE PIXELS ON THE INFORMATION DISPLAY HAVE BEEN FAILING, AND NOW ARE TO THE POINT WHERE ALMOST UNUSABLE DISPLAY. SAAB SERVICE SAID IT IS A COMMON ISSUE, BUT SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS PASSED, WOULD HAVE TO BUY A NEW DISPLAY UNIT(APPROX. $500) SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THERE ARE EVEN SITES SET-UP TO SEND UNIT IN FOR REPAIR.(EX. WWW.SIDREPAIR.COM) *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195511July 6, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-5. ON JULY 6, 2007, THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE # 07V087000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY LOCATED IN SPAIN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE BECAUSE IT IS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE CONTACT WITH A COPY OF THE RECALL NOTICE IN SPANISH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,063 AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184720March 10, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE - EXITED ONTO AN INTERCHANGE RAMP AT 50 MPH - AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE AT REAR NEARLY REAR-ENDED MINE - BUT MISSED BY A HAIRS WHISKER. ANOTHER PIECE OF LUCK WAS THAT I WAS AT THE CREST OF THE RAMP SO MANAGED TO "COAST" TOWARDS THE SHOULDER. WAITED FOR A BIT - THE CAR WOULDN'T RESTART. HAD TO SPEND PERILOUS TIME ON THE LEFT SHOULDER BEFORE GETTING MY CAR TOWED. AT THE TIME OF WRITING - THE CAR IS SITTING IN THE DEALERS LOT. NOTHING SPECIAL HAPPENED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. PREVIOUSLY A SIMILAR INCIDENT HAD OCCURRED JUST OUTSIDE MY RESIDENCE - AND THE DEALER CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID IT MIGHT JUST BE "BAD GAS". SAAB'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WAS USELESS. BASED ON THE OTHER INCIDENTS REPORTED - REFER TO ODI #S: 10162804, 10137685, 10097342 - THERE IS SOMETHING DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE TAKE ACTION BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180923January 28, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
PURCHASED A "CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED" 2003 SAAB 9.5 AERO IN LATE AUGUST 2006 BEGAN HEARING HORRIBLE (AND WORSENING) GRINDING NOISE SOON AFTER PURCHASE. WE WERE THINKING IT WAS THE BRAKES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED...TOOK IT TO A WELL RESPECTED NATIONAL BRAKE SHOP WHO TOLD US WE NEEDED NEW RIGHT SIDE WHEEL BEARING AND THE COST WOULD BE OVER $700.00 THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 60000 MILE ON IT AND I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH TO FIND THAT I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL THINK IT IS A DEFECT THAT COULD PROVE FATAL IF NOT ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170532October 11, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 SAAB 9-5 AERO TRANSMISSION LEAKING DIRECTLY THROUGH PORES IN METAL CASING (NOT SEAM OR GASKET) AT LESS THAN 51000 MILES (LESS THAN 1000 MILES OVER WARRANTY) REQUIRING FULL TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. SAAB USA OFFERS TO PAY ONE THIRD ($1700) OF $5100 ESTIMATED COST. ALTHOUGH CAR HAD BEEN IN A WRECK WHEN IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR OLD, THIS COULD NOT BE RELATED. ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALER AT OR BEFORE THE PRESCRIBED MILEAGE WAS REACHED.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162804July 18, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND I HAD TO QUICKLY COAST TO THE SHOULDER. I WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO SAAB DEALER. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A FAULT IN DI CASSETTE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152438March 10, 2006
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SUSPENSION:REAR
SOME OR ALL SAAB 9-5'S WERE MANUFACTURED WITH DEFECTIVE REAR AXLE SUBFRAMES. THESE SUBFRAMES FATIGUE AND DEFORM RESULTING IN TIRE FAILURES, UNSAFE HANDLING, PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, AND/OR OTHER POTENTIALLY FATAL PROBLEMS. I EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED, PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, EXCESSIVE TIRE NOISE, AND UNSETTLED VEHICLE DYNAMICS FOR OVER 6 MONTHS WHILE SAAB FOUGHT NOT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. ONLINE BULLETIN BOARDS SUCH AS WWW.SAABNET.COM INDICATE THAT NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS OF 9-5 SEDANS AND WAGONS, MY 1999-PRESENT HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS, ALMOST ALWAYS RELATED TO USING THE VEHICLE AT OR NEAR ITS GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING, WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY OVERSTATED BY SAAB. THE 9-5'S SUSPENSION CANNOT WITHSTAND A FULLY OR NEAR FULLY LOADED VEHICLE FOR ANY SIGNIFICANT LENGTH OF TIME AND/OR MILEAGE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151234February 26, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON 2003 SAAB 9-5 AERO DIAGNOSED AS FAILING IGNITION CASSETTE WHICH IS THE SAME FAULTY PART FOR RECALL ON THE 2000-2002 CARS ONLY. A COMPLETE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO TOTALLY SHUTDOWN. THIS PART WAS REPLACED AT MY COST, BUT THE ORIGINAL PART NUMBER WAS INSTALLED VS. THE NEWER UPGRADED VERSION TO HOPEFULLY PREVENT FUTURE FAILURES. RE: CAMPAIGN ID# 05V399000. SHOULDN'T THE FAULTY "ORIGINAL" PART BE PULLED FROM DEALER STOCK AND WHY HAS THE 2003 MODEL YEAR AND OTHER YEARS BEEN EXCLUDED SINCE THE FAULTY PART IS EXACTLY THE SAME? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150835February 9, 2006
SUSPENSION
2003 9-5 AERO SPORT SUSPENSION FAILED RESULTING IN TIRE BLOW OUTS AND EXCESSIVE WEAR TO FRONT AND REAR TIRES. CONSUMER HAD SHOCKS AND SPRINGS REPLACED. *TS *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147112January 6, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE VEHICLES GVWR IS OVERSTATED. THIS IS BASED UPON MY OWN AND OTHER OBSERVATIONS OF PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND TIRES WHEN USING THE VEHICLE NEAR THE STATED GVWR. I PERSONALLY HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT ON ME AND HAVE HAD PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE TIRES AND/OR THE VEHICLE AND/OR THE VEHICLES SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS TO DATE NOT BE ABLE TO FIX MY VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY, DESPITE REPLACING THE ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE SQUATS DANGEROUSLY WHEN LOADED RESULTING IN UNSAFE HANDLING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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