SAAB 9-5 Complaints (2000)

119 consumer complaints on file.

#10141656November 3, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ANOTHER VOICE: COMMON SUDDEN FAILURE OF SAAB ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY CAUSING IMMEDIATE STALL AT SPEED, IN TRAFFIC. NO CRASH. UNDRIVEABLE "LIMP HOME" MODE. NECESSITATED LONG TOW AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THIS ITEM CITED FREQUENTLY ON SAAB-RELATED WEBSITES, BUT GOT ME TODAY! NOTE THAT CURRENT RECALL IS FOR A DIFFERENT PART, EQUALLY SAFETY-RELATED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140561October 24, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
FAILURE OF DISTRIBUTOR IGNITION CASSETTE (IGNITION COILS). *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138749October 5, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS LEAVING THE MAINTENANCE SHOP. PERSONNEL DIAGNOSED IT (USING TECH 2) AS A BAD DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. LOSS OF ENGINE PERFORMANCE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138754October 5, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
FOLLOWING DASH LIGHTS CAME ON: ABS, TCS OFF, WARNING TRIANGLE AND BRAKE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BECAME PERMANENT. SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER CEASED TO OPERATE. RESEARCHED TO DISCOVER A COMMON PROBLEM WITH LIKE VEHICLES (SAABNET.COM). SERVICE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THAT ABS ECU WAS INOPERATIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MIKE SHAW SAAB ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE ISSUE WITH SAAB USA TO REPLACE $2500 PART. I WOULD PAY LABOR. SAAB USA OFFERED TO PAY HALF. I DECIDED TO REPAIR MYSELF. I REMOVED THE ABS MODULE (A BOSCH SUB-PART OF THE ABS ECU) AND SENT IT TO BE RE-BUILT FOR $249. I RENTED A CAR FOR ABOUT $200 AND PAID $120+TAX FOR THE SAAB SERVICE DIAGNOSIS. I RE-INSTALLED THE MODULE, AND THE CAR IS FINE. IT APPEARS THAT THESE BOSCH ABS MODULES ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS IN MANY BRANDS OF VEHICLES. SEARCHING EBAY, I FOUND THERE TO BE MORE INSTANCES OF THIS THAN I COULD COUNT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136623September 15, 2005
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DT: THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS IN SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON HIT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND WAS HIT SO HARD THAT THE BACK PASSENGER'S DOOR WAS STUCK TO THE VEHICLE THAT HIT IT. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE ADMITTED HE HAD BEEN GOING AT 30 MPH WHEN THE SIDE IMPACT OCCURRED. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 17, 2005. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, BUT WILL BE CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135405September 6, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I PURCHASED A SAAB 9.5 WAGON- YEAR 2000 WITH 53,000 MILES ON IT. NOW IT HAS 63,000 MILES. MY REPAIR BILLS CURRENTLY ARE OVER $7,000 EXCLUDING MAINTENANCE AND ROUTINE SERVICE (THE WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED W/ THE CAR HAS NOT COVERED ANY OF REPAIRS). ONE DAY ABOUT 5 LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME ON MY DASH. I AM TALKING ABOUT THE LIGHTS/SYMBOLS THAT COME ON WHEN A PARTICULAR PROBLEM ARISES WITH THE CAR. THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHTS CAME ON THEY ARE CALLED THE ABS, TCS AND 2 OTHER BRAKE RELATED LIGHTS ALONG W/ THE ENGINE LIGHT. I TOOK MY CAR TO SAAB IN SANTA MONICA AND THE MECHANIC, TONY, RAN A TEST AND TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO REPLACE MY ABS COMPUTER BRAKE COMPONENT. THE PRICE FOR THE PART WOULD BE 2,800 PLUS 200.00- 300.00 FOR LABOR, SO APPROX. 3,000 TO REPLACE THIS COMPUTER UNIT. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED TO ME THAT I SHOULD FILE A CLAIM WITH SAAB BECAUSE OF THE "TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FAILURES" WITH THIS COMPONENT. I DID AND I WAS DENIED BY SAAB. UNABLE TO AFFORD THE COST OF THIS REPAIR, MAINLY BECAUSE, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, I AM WELL OVER $7,000 IN REPAIR BILLS ALREADY AND I SIMPLY CANNOT COME UP WITH 3,000 RIGHT NOW. SO, I WAS DRIVING MY CAR HOME AND BY ACCIDENT THE IGNITION KEY WAS NUDGED WHICH CAUSED THE KEY TO TURN OFF THE CAR. I COMPLETELY LOST ALL BRAKE POWER AND WAS FORCED TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID HITTING PEDESTRIANS WALKING ACROSS THE STREET. THIS WAS A TERRIFYING SITUATION, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED COMPLETED BRAKE FAILURE AND NOW I AM TERRIFIED TO USE MY CAR AT ALL. SINCE I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THIS COMPUTER COMPONENT REPLACED I MAKE AN ATTEMPT NOT TO DRIVE MY CAR. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SAAB SHOULD TAKE A MORE SERIOUS LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD 3 SAAB MECHANICS TELL ME THE SAME THING ABOUT THE THIS ABS COMPUTER COMPONENT, THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OFTEN, AND THAT IT IS SOMETHING SAAB SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR. IS SAAB AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER OWNER'S OF SAABS HAVE AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC REGARDING THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132823August 15, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: THE CONTACT'S WIFE ON 4-18-05 WAS DRIVING 2000 SAAB. THE CAR WAS IN PARK WHEN SHE MOVED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO UPPER LEFT ARM AND THE BACK OF HEAD. SHE DID NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL OR SEE A DOCTOR. SHE OCCASIONALLY HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH LEFT ARM AND THE BACK OF HEAD. THEY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND HE FOUND THAT THERE WERE A CLUSTER OF WIRES UNDERNEATH THE SEAT. WHEN THE SEAT WAS MOVED BACK A WIRE WAS CHAFED AND CAUSED A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM , RESULTING IN AIR BAG TO DEPLOYMENT. THE SERVICE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ON OR 4-25-05. THE CONTACT CALLED SAAB IN ATLANTA, GAEORGIA, AND SAAB PAID FOR THE REPAIR WORK. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10122440May 30, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS MODULE ON 2000 SAAB 9-5 EXPEIENCES INTERMITTENT FAILURES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THER IS NO ABS, TRACTION CONTROL OR SPEEDOMETER. THIS PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT MECHANICS ARE RECOMMENDING AGAINST USED PARTS. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE MILEAGE RELATED, BUT AGE RELATED. SAAB HAS ISSUED GOODWILL CREDIT TO LOW MILEAGE VEHICLES BUT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT HIGHER MILEAGE CARS. A NEW REPLACEMENT PART IS $2800.00.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120559May 10, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
DI CASSETTE FAILURE ON MY 2000 SAAB 9-5 AERO. THIS PART HAS BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE PREVIOUSLY, AND THE SAAB DEALERSHIP IS RECOMMENDING A THIRD REPLACEMENT NOW AT 84K MILES. ADDITIONALLY, THEY STATE THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE DI CASSETTE FAILURE. TOTAL COST FOR THESE REPAIRS NEARS $2000, WHICH IS EGREGIOUS FOR THE TYPE OF FAILURE AND THE APPARENT FREQUENCY OF REPLACEMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116853April 13, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
MY 2000 SAAB 9-5 WITH APPROX. 30,000 MILES STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. CAR RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. IT ALSO SURGES THEN STALLS WHILE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT OR IN TRAFFIC. CAR RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY. HAVE HAD CAR IN FOR SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SURGING PROBLEM IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND HAPPENING MOST EVERY DAY. HAVE NOT BEEN IN ACCIDENT (MY DRIVING IS LOCAL AND ALOT OF STOP AND GO) BUT I WILL NOT DRIVE CAR ON PARKWAY FOR FEAR OF STALLING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116893April 13, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I USED THE CAR ONLY FOR WEEK END SKI TRIPS TWICE A MONTH OR LESS THROUGH THE WINTER. THIS OCCASIONALLY REQUIRED JUMP STARTS. THE WEEK OF THE FAILURE THE CAR STARTED OKAY TO MOVE IT TO THE GARAGE SO I COULD TAKE THE SNOW TIRES OFF, I THEN MOVED IT BACK TO ITS SPOT. THAT FRIDAY, I DROVE OVER 100 MILES FROM CT TO BRATTLEBORO, VT, WHERE I WENT TO A SUPERMARKET, THEN A RESTAURANT. IT RAN PERFECTLY, UNTIL I FINISHED DINNER, AND IT WOULD NOT START. IT WOULD CRANK, BUT THERE WAS NO COMBUSTION. AFTER A FEW LONG WALKS AND MANY PHONE CALLS, NO ONE COULD HELP WITH IT AND THERE WAS NO PLACE TO STAY FOR THE NIGHT OR CARS TO RENT. I TOOK A TAXI 20-30 MILES TO MY FAMILY SKI HOUSE IN NEWFANE. THE NEXT MORNING, I CALLED SEVERAL SHOPS AND FOUND ONE THAT COULD LOOK AT IT. (NO DEALERS IN THE AREA) THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THEM, AND I GOT A RIDE FROM MY NEIGHBOR DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AND BACK INTO TOWN. THE SHOP DETERMINED IT WAS NOT A SIMPLE FIX, AND COULD NOT GIVE IT ANY MORE TIME UNTIL LATER IN THE WEEK. I CALLED SOME DEALERS BACK IN CT, AND HAD IT TOWED THERE. I GOT MY UNCLE TO COME BRING ME AND MY DOG HOME. TUESDAY, I CALLED THE DEALER IT WAS AT, AND THEY TOLD ME THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED, AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SPARK PLUGS. THE REPAIR COST $619.01, AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116148March 31, 2005
PARKING BRAKE
EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE. IT SEEMS THE ROUTING OF THE CABLE CAUSES WEAR AND HAS ALLOWED WATER TO ENTER THE CABLE AND FREEZE, RENDERING THE E. BRAKE NON FUNCTIONAL DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. AS THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THE ISSUE SINCE IT HAD APP 62,000 MILES I HAVE TRIED TO GET SAAB TO CORRECT A SIT IS A SAFTEY ITEM, BUT TO NO AVAIL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110538February 14, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY CAR PERIODICALLY WILL NOT START. THE LIGHTS COME ON; THERE APPEARS TO BE POWER; BUT WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION, ALL I HEAR IS A CLICK. THE CAR WILL START ON A BUMP START (MANUAL TRANS) AND WILL TAKE A JUMP. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. HAPPENS MAINLY ON COLD STARTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110537February 14, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ON 8/11/03 I WAS DRIVING ON US ROUTE 9 IN HUDSON NEW YORK WHEN MY ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. HAD TO BE TOWED TO SAAB DEALER 40 MILES AWAY. REPLACE IGNITION CASSETTE. WAS ADVISED DUE TO MY ATTEMPT TO RE-START THE CAR, RAW GAS GOT INTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER. TYHAT HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL WEEKS LATER. I AM WRITING THIS SO LATE AS I WAS UNAWARE THIS MAY NOT BE AN ISOLATED INSTANCE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111062January 26, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. NO RESTART. INTERNAL FAILURE OF CAT. CONVERTER, REPLACED CAT. CONVERTER. *BF THE PROBLEM WAS THE R & R IGNITION MODULE. AFTER THE IGNITION REPAIR, THE CONSUMER FELT A LOSS OF POWER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CLOGGED. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109061January 7, 2005
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. (THE HOOD BURNED) *SC ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE FIRE WAS A RESULT IN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWED FLUID TO LEAK ON THE EXHAUST WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105653January 3, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
MY 2000 SAAB 9-5 HAS ONLY 39,500 MILES. IT HAS LOST THE ABILITY TO HEAT THE DRIVERS SIDE WHICH IS A SAFETY CONCERN WHILE DRIVING IN THE WINTER. THE SYSTEM CAN NOT GENERATE ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT THE ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED AT THE SAAB DEALER AT THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT A MOTOR SHAFT IN A HEATER BOX WAS BROKEN. LAST WEEK I FOUND THIS SHAFT ON THE FLOOR. IT HAS EXTENSIVE MECHANICAL DAMAGE. IN MY OPINION THE ONLY EXPLANATION IS THAT IT WAS DEFECTIVE WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED IN THE CAR OR THE DESIGN OF THE HEATING SYSTEM WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089074September 3, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE (DIC) FAILURE 2000 SAAB 9-5 AERO THE DIC ON MY 2000 SAAB 9-5 AERO FAILED AT 65MPH CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. NO RESTART. VIEWED OWNER FEEDBACK AT WWW.SAABNET.COM AND REALISED DIC FAILURE RATE ON 9-5 MODEL (ALL YEARS) SEEMS EXTREMELY HIGH. OWNERS HAVE COMMENTED THAT SAAB RECOGNIZES THE DEFECT AND IN SOME CASES PROVIDES SPARE DIC'S BUT HAS DECLINED TO RECALL. SAAB REFUSED TO COMMENT, TO ME, ON THE FAILURE RATE OR DEFECT TREND FOR THIS DIC. THE DIC FAILS WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL. FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED COULD BE CATOSTROPHIC. I HAVE SEEN OTHER OWNERS COMMENT THAT DIC FAILURE CAN BE ACCOMPANIED BY A GREAT DEAL OF SMOKE AND POSSIBLY FIRE. GM RECALLED SATURN IGNITION MODULES AS DID VW. WONDERING WHY SAAB HAS NOT. (1) IRRATIC ENGINE SPEED WITH INTERMITTENT HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION. (2) LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND VEHICLE CONTROL (3) REPLACED DIGITAL IGNITION CASSETTE, DEFECTIVE PART IS AVAILABLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080494July 7, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS (5), I WAS UNABLE TO START MY CAR. I WOULD TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THERE WOULD BE NO RESPONSE, NOT EVEN A CRANK. IT WOULD EVENTUALLY START AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS. I WOULD MENTION THIS TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR EACH TIME I BROUGHT MY CAR IN AND FOR THE FIRST THREE (3) TIMES THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. THE 4TH TIME THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THOUGHT THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM...AFTER TWO WEEKS, MY CAR DID NOT START AGAIN. MY 5TH TIME TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS A FAULTY SAFETY SWITCH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075278June 12, 2004
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
TEMPERATURE SETTINGS/ADJUSTMENTS ON THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM DO NOT WORK AS INTENDED. WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, A SET TEMPERATURE OF 68 DEGREES INITIALLY PROVIDES WARM AIR, THEN IT TURNS COLD AND THE TEMP HAS TO BE RAISED TO 82 DEGREES FOR WARM AIR. SOMETIMES, THE RIGHT SIDE OPERATES. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER SHOP TWICE, THE SECOND TIME FOR 3 WEEKS, AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIX IT. CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE DESIGN OF THE HEATING/VENTILATION SYSTEM, AND THAT THEY HAVE SEEN OTHER 2000-2001 YEAR MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THAT SAAB HAS REDESIGNED THE SYSTEM SINCE THEN. AFTER THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, DURING THE SUMMER THE SYSTEM PROVIDED HOT AIR INSTEAD OF AIR CONDITIONING, BUT THAT WAS FIXED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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