SAAB 9-5 Complaints

557 consumer complaints on file.

#10072857May 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE 40+MPH, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE DIAGNOSIS, THROTTLE FAILURE. SAAB REPLACED THE THROTTE BODY ON 05/14/2004. THEN AGAIN ON 05/17/2004, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDST OF DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SAAB HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS PROVEN TO BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE TO OPERATE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063243May 17, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, THEN VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD INFORMED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, A BURNING ELECTRICAL WIRE ODOR FILLED THE VEHICLE AS CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND GUESSED WITHOUT INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THAT THE CAUSE WAS DI CASSETTE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072705May 16, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
1) SOME OIL LEAKAGE. OIL BACK-UP SLUDGE IN OIL PAN. 2) DRIVING ON HIGHWAY MY CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE, THEN SMOKE POURED OUT THE REAR OF MY CAR. I TOWED IT TO THE DEALER. THE TURBO CHARGER WENT BAD. I WAS TOLD THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD OIL CHANGE?? (OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AT EVERY 5,000 MILES, PER THE DEALERS RECOMMENDATION). I'VE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA.GOV AND SAABNET.COM. WHY IS NOTHING BEING DONE ABOUT THIS CLEARLY FAULTY SYSTEM? MY CAR NOW STILL HESITATES INTERMITTENTLY. WE ARE TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT IF DIAGNOSTICS COME BACK CLEAN AND CAR STILL HESITATES IT MIGHT CAUSE CRASH IF INSUFFICIENT SPEED IS NOT ACHIEVED DURING A FULL STOP OR WHILE TURNING IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068625April 21, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL, AND HIT A GUARD RAIL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065926April 11, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
I OWN A 1999 SAAB WAGON WHICH HAS HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE AND TURBO SYSTEM. THE CAR WITH 78,000 MILES NOW REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE ESTIMATED AT BETWEEN 7-10 THOUSAND DOLLARS... ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE CAR.. THE CAR HAS REQUIRED MAJOR REPAIRS INCLUDING REPLACING THE TURBO, CRANKSHAFT, HEAD GASKET AND OIL PRESSURE SWITCH, THE WATER PUMP AS WELL AS THE THROTTLE HOUSING AND DI CASSETTE. THE VEHICLE HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING, STALLING AND BUCKING UPON ACCELERATION. THESE INCIDENTS LED TO MOMENTS OF TWO FOOT DRIVING AND NUMEROUS TOWS. RECEIVING NO HELP FROM DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER VEHICLE HAD TO BE ABANDONED AT DEALERSHIP. CUSTOMER BELIEVES THERE IS AN INHERENT DEFECT IN THE ENGINE/TURBO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064569April 5, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON TWO OCCASIONS, THERE HAS BEEN A TOTAL LOST OF POWER TO THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME ON A SIDE STREET GOING ABOUT 25 OR 30. AFTER HAVING THE CAR LOOKED AT A SAAB DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND SENT ON MY WAY. OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 AT ABOUT 70 MPH IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE. NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, NO NOTHING. EVERY PERSON I HAVE TALKED TO WHO HAS OWNED A SAAB (MODEL AND YEAR DIFFERENCE DO NOT SEEM TO MATTER) HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THE MECHANICS ARE NOW SAYING THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE THROTTLE BODY, WHATEVER THAT IS. MY GENERAL IMPRESSION OF SAAB'S REPRESENTATIVES (MECHANICS, PERSONNEL, ETC.) IS THAT THIS DEFECT IS NOT A BIG DEAL. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064084March 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
I OWN A 1999 SAAB WAGON WHICH HAS HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE AND TURBO SYSTEM. THE CAR, WIH 92,000 MILES, NOW REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE. ESTIMATED COST BETWEEN 6 - 10 THOUSAND DOLLARS...ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE CAR. LAST YEAR, THE CAR REQUIRED A NEW TURBO SYSTEM (72,000 MILES) AT A COST OF $1200 PLUS. AT LEAST FOUR TIMES, THE VEHICLE FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. IT EITHER LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER OR WOULD STALL UPON ACCELERATION, REQUIRING "TWO PEDAL" DRIVING. THE CAR REQUIRED 5 TOWS BECAUSE OF MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN. CAR HAS REPEATED INTERNAL OIL LEAKS WHICH LEADS TO CLOGGED OIL PAN, A $600 REPAIR. CUSTOMER BELIEVES THERE IS AN INHERANT DEFECT WITH TURBO SEALS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063751March 23, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
CAR STARTED RUNNING BADLY (MISFIRING). BASED ON NUMBER OF FAILURES REPORTED ON THE SAABNET WEBSITE, I FIGURED THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE WAS FAILING. REMOVED IT AND FOUND A CRACKED COMPONENT IN THE CASSETTE. REPLACED THE CASSETTE WITH NEW ONE ($414 LIST PRICE) AND PROBLEM CURED. SAAB NOW WANTS FAILED CASSETTE BACK AND IS CHARGING A $250 CORE CHARGE IF IT'S NOT RETURNED. ANOTHER EXPENSIVE AND COMMON FAILURE WITH THE 9-5.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057574March 23, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ALL THE ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. A FEW SECONDS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE TCM MODULE AND THE SECOND TIME THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED A THIRD TIME. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059624February 23, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC THE ENGINE DIED VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER DETERMINED THAT FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED. DEALER REPLACED THAT PART. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059495February 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. ECM WAS REPLACED BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. (NAR) *LA *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058377February 18, 2004
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
TWICE IN THE 4 YEAR, 60K LIFE OF MY SAAB 9-5 WAGON, THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT HAS LOCKED UP, SO AS NOT TO BE USABLE. BOTH TIMES AFTER FULLY FOLDING DOWN THE REAR SEAT AND RAISING IT BACK TO ITS UPRIGHT POSITION. THE FIRST TIME, SAAB MADE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE YET TO CONTACT SAAB OR SEARCH YOUR SERVICE BULLETINS. I DOUBT I HAVE FOLDED DOWN THIS SEAT MORE THAN 20 TIMES SO THE FAILURE RATE, FOR ME, IS >10%.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057922February 11, 2004
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH POWER STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INSPECTED VEHICLE FOUR TIMES, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056368February 2, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON THREE OCCASIONS I HAVE GOTTEN A "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" WITH A "TRANSMISSION" OR "COOLANT" AMPLIFYING LIGHT. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE CAR WENT INTO A LIMP MODE AS DEFINED IN THE SAAB HANDBOOK. TWO ITEMS, A TEMP SENSOR AND THERMOSTAT WERE REPLACED WITHOUT THE PROBLEM BEING FIXED. TODAY'S FIX IS A PROGRAMMING UPDATE (ECM PROGRAMMING). DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM BUT BEGINNING TO THINK THE CAR HAS A BASIC FLAW AND DON'T WANT TO TAKE TRIPS IN IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055932January 27, 2004
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON A SNOWY. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS THEN STRUCK ON THE SIDE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED AFTER THE INCIDENT. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10068906January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT BLINKER ASSEMBLY BROKE FREE FROM THE CAR BODY. THE ELECTRICAL WIRING REMAINED CONNECTED BETWEEN THE BLINKER ASSEMBLY AND VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED A WHIPPING ACTION OF BLINKER ASSEMBLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053131January 13, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1999 SAAB 9-5 STALLING PROBLEM. SOMETIMES WHEN IN TRAFFIC. HAPPENED WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS (25-40 MPH). DEALER KEPT CAR FOR ONE WEEK THEN DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS DEFECTIVE "ECU" WHICH IT REPLACED AT A COST OF MORE THAN $900. THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 2003.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052960January 12, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
WE PURCHASED OUR 2003 9-5 ARC IN MARCH OF 2003. IMMEDIATELY, I NOTICED THE EXHAUST SMELLED OF HUMAN GAS, SERIOUSLY. SOON AFTER THE STENCH SEEPED INTO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. AT 7000 I COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE AND I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO HAVE CHECKED OUT BY THE DEALER. THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, THAT SOMETIMES NEW CARS SMELL. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT I USE ONLY PREMIUM OR BETTER FUEL TO LESSEN THE SMELL. 3000 MILES LATER, THE CAR STUNK. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE AND INFORMED THEM THAT THE CAR STILL STUNK. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT WAS REPLACED, NO CHARGE TO ME. NOW AT 14000+ MILES THE CAR STILL STINKS. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TODAY 1/12/04 AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. BASICALLY, I HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE SMELL. I'VE BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR TEN MONTHS WITH NAUSEATING FUMES SEEPING INTO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. THESE FUMES NOT ONLY UPSET MY STOMACH BUT CAUSE ME HEADACHES. I'VE BEEN WAKING UP WITH HEADACHES SINCE SPRING OF 2003. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. PLEASE RESPOND ASAP. I'M LITERALLY SICK OVER THIS SITUATION. - KIM *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052795January 10, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
2000 SAAB 9-5 SEDAN SUDDENLY STALLED OUT AT 60 MPH AS 2 TRACKER TRAILERS NEARLY COLLIDED INTO MY VEHICLE. NO SHOULDERS ON THIS HIGHWAY LEAVING MY FAMILY IN A HORRIBLY DANGEROUS PLACE. VERMONT STATE POLICE RESPONDED TO PROVIDE PROTECTION. THE CASSETTE WHICH HOUSES THE IGNITION FAILED. BOTH THE DEALER AND OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPRESSED THAT THIS OCCURS AL THE TIME WITH SAABS AND THERE IS NO WAY TO PREVENT THESE CARS FROM STALLING AT ANY TIME!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052798January 10, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A CONSTANT 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THERE WAS NO INDICATION ON AN IMPENDING FAILURE. ONE MOMENT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING NORMALLY AND THEN SUDDENLY IT STOPPED COMPLETELY. FORTUNATELY, I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED A FAILED DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN SPITE OF THE HEAVY TRAFFIC.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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