SAAB 9-5 Complaints (1999)
118 consumer complaints on file.
- #10154512April 4, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. IT WAS PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V399000, REGARDING THE IGNITION MODULE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10154271March 31, 2006SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
BRAKES FAILED ON 1999 SAAB 9-5. PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A VACUUM FAILURE IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. APPARENTLY THE VACUMM PUMPED OIL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER THUS CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. FUEL STORAGE TANK HAS HAD A LEAK IN THE UPPER SEAM WHICH EMITS GAS FUMES WHEN THE TANK IS FILLED. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE SAAB FUEL TANKS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10153692March 25, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 99 9-5 TURBO. OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST WEEK, MY VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON ME THREE TIMES. THE FIRST, I WAS TRAVELING ALONE AT 20 MPH AND THE CAR STALLED WHEN I MADE A LEFT TURN INTO A GAS STATION, LEAVING ME VULNERABLE TO ONGOING TRAFFIC. AN HOUR LATER, I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND WE PROCEEDED TO GET ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR STALLED AS I WAS GOING INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. THANKS TO THE SKILLFUL MANEUVERING OF THE OTHER DRIVERS, OUR LIVES WERE SPARED. THE OTHER OCCURRED WHEN WE REACHED OUR DESTINATION. THE CAR STALLED AS WE PULLED INTO THE PARKING SPACE. THIS LED TO THE INABILITY TO TURN SUFFICIENTLY AND ALMOST HITTING THE NEIGHBORING CARS. I HAVE READ VARIOUS FORUMS OF FELLOW SAAB OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE SAME LIFE THREATENING INCIDENTS. IT SEEMS TO ME AND MANY OTHERS THAT SAAB DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR DEDICATED CONSUMERS. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR HAND OUTS, JUST THE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY ANY ONE SHOULD HAVE FROM A COMPANY THAT "ALLEGEDLY" PRIDES THEMSELVES ON THOSE THINGS. I JUST HOPE THAT THE NEXT TIME I SUBMIT A REPORT IT DOESN'T INCLUDE A DEATH OR DISMEMBERMENT OF MYSELF, CHILD, OR ANOTHER LOVED ONE BECAUSE OF SAAB'S LACK OF INTEGRITY. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10152937March 17, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE SPEED DROPPED TO 10 MPH. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME AND ONCE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE DEALER, WHERE THE IGNITION CASSETTES AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE SPARK PLUGS WERE DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #05V399000, REGARDING THE IGNITION MODULE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THIS HAPPENED ON THE ROAD WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 30 MPH. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT ONE OF THE HIGHWAYS WHERE PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FATALITY. THIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT DO OVER 15 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THE SMALL OF THE CAR WAS VERY BAD SO THE CONTACT WAITED 20 MINUTES BEFORE LEAVING. THERE WAS NO FIRE. BOTH IGNITION CASSETTES WERE REPLACED, AS WELL AS SPARK PLUGS. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10152686March 14, 2006FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
(1) DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE CAR, A HOLE HAS DEVELOPED IN THE TOP OF THE PLASTIC GAS TANK OF 1999 SAAB 9-5 SEDAN. (2) A "SMOKE TEST" HAS REVEALED THE HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE TANK. THE CAR HAS DEVELOPED A GAS EVAPORATION LEAK. THERE ARE PROMINENT GAS FUMES AND SMELLS IN THE CAR'S CABIN, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON. (3) THIS IS THE SECOND GAS TANK ON THE CAR, THE FIRST TANK WAS REPLACED BY A SAAB DEALERSHIP AFTER IT FAILED TO PRESSURIZE PROPERLY, A RELATED ISSUE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10152418March 10, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ON FEBRUARY 15, 2006 AS I WAS EXITING MY CAR (1999 SAAB 9-5 SE), I WAS JOLTED BY FIVE "SHOCKS" WHEN I REACHED FOR THE DOOR (JUST BELOW THE WINDOW) AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND REMOVING THE KEYS. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO EAST OF SWEDED (SAAB SPECIALISTS) IN BOULDER, CO FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR. THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE WAS REPLACED, AND THE PROBLEM SOLVED. I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT SAAB USA HAS RECALLED THIS PART ON THE 2000, 2001, AND 2002 SAAB 9-3 AND 9-5S. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE WHICH WAS REMOVED FROM MY CAR IS THE EXACT SAME PART THAT WAS RECALLED ON THE OTHER MODEL YEARS, BUT THAT THE 1999 HAD NOT BEEN RECALLED. I STILL HAVE THE PART IN MY POSSESSION. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10151120February 24, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE CAR DEVELOPED AN ODD BURNING SMELL WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AND THE ENGINE QUIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTES. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10150538February 17, 2006EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
SAAB SAFETY ISSUE: MY THIRD NEW SAAB IS A 1999 9-5 SE V6. ON A RECENT TRIP TO JACKSONVILLE, FL, I HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THE SMALL JACK SUPPLIED WITH THE CAR WAS INADEQUATE TO SUPPLY SUFFICIENT LEVERAGE TO LIFT THE CAR. IN A COMPLAINT TO SAAB, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS TOO OLD; HOWEVER, THE JACK WAS NEW (NEVER USED). FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. AT THE LEAST, THIS IS A MATTER OF GREAT INCONVENIENCE AND AT THE WORST A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT PRESENT AND FUTURE SAAB OWNERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10150223February 14, 2006WHEELS:HUB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE SNOW TIRES CHANGED. ALL OF THE LUG NUTS ON THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE COULD NOT BE REMOVED DUE TO CORROSION. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUR TIRES COULD NOT BE REMOVED DUE TO CORROSION AND RUST. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN MOVED FROM A SALT BELT STATE. PRIOR TO PURCHASE, THERE WAS A RECALL, #03V006000 REGARDING THE WHEEL, CAPS, HUB AND COVER, PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10149236February 1, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
MY 1999 SAAB 9-5 SE TURBO V-6 HAS NOW HAD BOTH DIRECT IGNITION MODULES FAIL. THE FIRST ONE FAILED AS THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT CITY SPEEDS, THE CAR STALLED ONCE WAS RESTARTED AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND A STRONG ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. FOUR MONTHS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE OTHER IGNITION MODULE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10148758January 26, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AT NO SPECIFIC SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, THE DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL DETERMINED THE IDM COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKE LIGHT WARNING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 02/13/06.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10147698January 13, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SLUDGE IN OIL AND FAULTY IGNITION CASSETTE MODULE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10148678January 10, 2006SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, VISIBILITY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1999 SAAB 9-5 HAS A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER, AND VACUUM BOOSTER WHICH BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *TS IN THE PAST THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP. HEATER FAN MOTOR, THERMOSTAT. LEAKY SUNROOF, BATTERY, BATTERY CABLES AND NUMEROUS LIGHT BULBS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10147018January 5, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART DUE TO IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED SAAB DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. PER A CONVERSATION WITH THE TECHNICIAN, THE MODULE WAS REPLACED WITH AN IDENTICAL MODULE OF THE SAME PART NUMBER. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10144668December 7, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V399000 CONCERNING THE IGNITION MODULE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. *AK UPDATED 2/24/2006 - THE FAULTY IGNITION MODULE CAUSED THE VEHICLE STALL SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10142230November 9, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE BURNED CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO DRIVE IN LIMP-HOME MODE. CAR TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSED AS BURNED DIC. MECHANIC STATED THAT CAR SHOULD HAVE DIED. VERY FORTUNATE TO LIMP HOME. DIC REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT AT MY COST (OUT OF WARRANTY).*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10141405November 1, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
1. CAR WAS HESITATING AND MIS-FIRING. EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE SAAB RECALL NO. 05087. 2. WITH FAMILY, CAR COMPLETELY DIED WHILE GOING UP A HILL. SINCE IT WAS A 5 SPEED, I WAS ABLE TO ROLL BACK DOWN THE HILL AND SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE THE CAR TOWED. 3. DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE (DIC) AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. WITH DEALER ASSISTANCE, SAAB REPLACE THE PART AND RELATED REPAIR AT MINIMAL COSTS. UNLIKE THE SAAB RECALL NO. 05087, 1999 OWNERS ARE BEING EXCLUDED FROM THE REMEDY FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AND FAILURES. SAAB / GM NEED TO REMEDY THE EXACT SAME ISSUE IN SAAB RECALL NO. 05087 FOR THE 1999 OWNERS. THE FAILURE AND SAFETY CONCERNS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10138105November 1, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ON THE 1999 SAAB 9-5 THE IGNITION MODULE, FAILED. THIS HAPPENED IN OCTOBER OF 2004. THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF OVER 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN FIXED BY THE CONSUMER. THE IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED IN THE CAR. THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE REPLACEMENT PART FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM HIMSELF. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE SINCE THE MODULE REPLACEMENT. THE CONSUMER DID CONTACT GM, AND THEY SENT THE CONSUMER AN E-MAIL REPLYING THAT SAAB WAS AN INNOVATOR AND SOME VEHICLES DO EXPERIENCE SOME PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE STALLED ONCE. *AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE 1999 MODELS HAVE AN ECU IN WHICH THE IGNITION CONTROL SOFTWARE PARAMETERS CANNOT BE UPDATED UNLIKE THE 2000 AND LATER YEAR MODELS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10141097October 27, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
(1) NORMAL CITY DRIVING OPERATION FOR 20 MINUTES (2) WHILE IDLING AT BUSY INTERSECTION FOR LEFT TURN, CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT TURN-OVER; BURNING SMELL CAME FROM UNDER HOOD. DID NOT OPEN HOOD SO COULD NOT EVALUATE WHETHER THERE WAS FIRE. CAR TOWED BY AAA TO CLOSEST SAAB DEALER. (3) DEALER INSPECTION IDENTIFIED THE FAILURE OF THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. THIS IS THE SAME FAILURE AS IDENTIFIED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE05017 AND CAMPAIGN RECALL NUMBER 05V399000. VEHICLE - SAAB 9-5 2.3L MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAGON MAKE YEAR - 1999 CURRENT MILEAGE - 60K MILES ALL SERVICING UP TO DATE AND DONE BY DEALER. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10140395October 20, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE WAS NOT STARTING. REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS FAILURE OF DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE, WHICH IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A RECENT RECALL OF OVER 300,000 VEHICLES. PART WAS REPLACED- WILL NEED TO CHECK IF AVAILABLE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0