SAAB 9-5 Complaints

557 consumer complaints on file.

#10160629June 23, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHEN MY ENGINE STARTED TO STALL AND LOST POWER. I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND COULD NOT RE-START IT. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED A FAILED IGNITION MODULE. MY CAR IS A 2002 SAAB 9-5 AND HAD BEEN RE-CALLED BECAUSE OF FAILURES OF THIS COMPONENT. HOWEVER, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE CAR ENGINE WAS OF THE TYPE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE RECALL, WHEN SAAB NOTIFIED ITS' DEALERS IT LIMITED THE MODULES TO BE REPLACED TO ONLY CERTAIN SERIAL NUMBERS. THIS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT ACCORDING TO NHTSA ALL ENGINES NOT HAVING THE QP3 MODIFICATION, WHICH MY CAR DOES NOT, SHOULD HAVE BEEN RE-CALLED. THUS, SAAB REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE PART EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME PART THAT WAS FAILING AND PROMPTED THE RECALL INITIALLY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A HAZARD DUE TO THE OVERHEATING OF THE PART WHICH LED TO STALLING AND COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE. SAAB SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO LIMIT THE SERIAL NUMBERS REPLACED BECAUSE OTHER SERIAL NUMBERS APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. *JB CONSUMER CALLED ON 9/12/06 TO REPORT A SECOND IDM FAILURE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON 8/18/06. THE FOLLOWING IS PER A CONVERSATION W/ MRS. ALDER ON 9/14/06: DURING THIS INCIDENT, HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. AS SHE WAS PULLING OFF THE HWY, SHE SMELT A BURNING SMELL AND SAW SMOKE COMING INTO THE CAR. PULLED OVER AND STARTED TO CALL HUSBAND WHEN SHE SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT FIRE AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED. SHE REPORTED THAT THE DEALER SAID HER CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD BURNED. *CAR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159962June 15, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BOTH CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. VEHICLE WENT INTO "LIMP MODE", WHERE POWER IS MINIMIZED MAKING FOR A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. TOOK VEHICLE TO KACHINA SAAB DEALERSHIP IN SCOTTSDALE, AZ AND WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING WITH ONLY 50K MILES OF ALL HIGHWAY DRIVING. ALSO WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP THIS IS COMMON OCCURRENCE ON ALL SAABS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, ALTHOUGH I HAD A FULL VEHICLE SERVICE AND INSPECTION DONE JUST 2 WEEKS AGO, AT THIS SAME DEALERSHIP, AND ALL CHECKED OUT "GREAT". *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159170June 7, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS CONTROL MODULE DIED INSTANTLY WHEN THE CAR HAD DONE LESS THAN 100,000 KM. THE INITIAL COST WAS $2500 BUT THE DEALER AGREED TO SUPPLY THE ECU SEPARATELY SINCE THE ABS HYDRAULIC SYSTEM WAS INTACT. ECU COST IS ABT $1000 AND CONTROL TURBO, ODOMETER, CRUISE CONTROL, SPEEDOMETER, TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS. DID NOT BUY THE PART BECAUSE IT MAY FAIL AGAIN SINCE THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION OR REASON FOR THE FAILURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158850June 2, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
LEAKING FUEL TANKS. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL TANK ON THIS VEHICLE TWICE. THE TANK IS NOW LEAKING AGAIN. THE LEAKS CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON (SMALL EVAPORATE LEAK CODE) AND OCCASIONALLY CAUSE FUEL VAPORS IN THE CABIN. THE TANK IS MADE OF PLASTIC, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REPAIR - MUST BE REPLACED. WITHOUT REPLACEMENT, VEHICLE WILL FAIL EMISSIONS TESTING AND I FEAR FIRE HAZARD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158875June 2, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THE CHECK ENGINE CAME ON RECENTLY AND I TOOK MY 1999 SAAB 9-5 TO THE DEALER. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM , IT WAS FOUND TO BE A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK. THE CAR WAS STORED OUTSIDE WITH LITTLE GAS IN THE TANK WHILE WAITING FOR SAAB TO LOCATE A NEW TANK. IT HAS TAKEN OVER 5 WEEKS AND SAAB CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. MY QUESTION IS: HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER REPORTS OF CRACKED FUEL TANKS MADE FOR SAAB CARS FROM 1999 TO 2005 WHICH ALL USE THE SAME TANK? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158203May 24, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE COASTED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. IT WAS RESTARTED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 35MPH AND WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE IGNITION MODULE HAD FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONLY 30 MILES MORE WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD FAILED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, 05V399000, REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION MODULE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157741May 17, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
IDM (IGNITION CASSETTE) FAILURE 1ST OCCURRENCE: 10/11/2005 (48,000 MILES) 2ND OCCURRENCE: 4/10/2006 (54,000 MILES). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157441May 12, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTION IN 2000 SAAB 95 CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156779May 4, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK 28 APRIL 2006 MY 2002 SAAB 9-6 B308 V6 ENGINE CAR BEGAN SPUTTERING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I MADE IT INTO THE PARKING LOT WHERE I WORK THEN PROCEEDED TO CALL A SAAB DEALERSHIP. SAAB DEALERSHIP MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CAR'S COMPUTER PUT ITSELF INTO "LAME" MODE AND THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE TO DEALERSHIP (15 MILES AWAY)AND THAT IT WAS PROBABLY AN IGNITION MODULE. I SIMPLY PULLED CAR ONTO THE PARKING LOT AND IT SPUTTERED TO A STOP/STALL, SMOKE CAME FROM THE HOOD AND IT WOULDN'T RESTART. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER THE CAR HAD ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS AN IGNITION MODULE. AFTER LOOKING THIS INFORMATION UP I FIND THAT THIS PART WAS DEFECTIVE IN AND RECALLED IN OVER 100,000 SAAB'S FROM 2000-2002 HOWEVER AFTER CALLING SAAB CORPORATE THEY DENY THAT THIS PART IS RECALLED IN MY PARTICULAR MAKE AND YEAR. MY MAKE, MODEL, ENGINE TYPE AND YEAR HOWEVER ARE LISTED AS RECALLED ON SEVERAL WEB SITES INCLUDING YOUR DOT.GOV WEB SITE. I HAD TO PAY $600 + DOLLARS TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED AND HAVE THE IGNITION MODULE REPLACED AS I NEED THIS CAR. AFTER HAVING THE PART REPLACED 2 DAYS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON; I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND THAT THEY STATE THE CAR NOW NEEDS A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER (AS STATED BY THE SAAB DEALERSHIP) THE CAT CONVERTER WAS WARRANTED FOR 8 YEARS OR 80,000 MILES BUT HAS BROKEN AFTER THE 90,000 MILE MARK. I FEEL THAT DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE IGNITION MODULE HAS GONE BAD MAY HAVE DAMAGED THE CAT CONVERTER (AS STATED CAN HAPPEN IF DRIVING CAR WITH BAD IGNITION MODULE) *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156620May 2, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 TO 65 MPH THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FOR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, UPON INSPECTION THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V399000, REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION CONTROL MODULE. THE MODEL YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THERE WAS ALSO AN NHTSA INVESTIGATION, # PE5017, REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION CONTROL MODULE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156385April 28, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157342April 27, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2001 SAAB 9-5 IDM IS DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT ALL THE SPARK PLUGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TS *NM***NAR***
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156128April 26, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I WOULD LIKE TO CITE NHTSA CAMPAIGN #05V399000. WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 SAAB 9-5 6 CYLINDER ON 4/20/2006 I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ROUGH OPERATION AND REDUCED POWER OF THE ENGINE. I WAS A SHORT DISTANCE FROM MY DESTINATION WHERE I PARKED THINKING I WOULD NEED TO BE TOWED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS OVERHEATING BECAUSE THERE SEEMED TO BE STEAM COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD BUT THERE WAS AN ODD SMELL. I WENT INTO THE COFFEE SHOP I WAS VISITING AND WITHIN A MINUTE OR TWO I TURNED TO CHECK ON MY CAR AND I SAW THAT THE INTERIOR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. I WENT OUTSIDE AND NOTICED SPARKS AND FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE IN THE AREA OF THE BACK SEAT AND I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE UNDER THE CAR AND IN THE BACK SEAT WHERE THE FLAMES HAD BURNED THROUGH THE CARPET. I CALLED A TOW SERVICE AND WENT BACK INTO THE STORE TO FINISH MY COFFEE AND WAIT FOR THE TOW TRUCK. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS STILL SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD SO I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AGAIN TO PUT OUT THE REMNANTS OF THE FIRE. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO THE NEAREST SAAB DEALER WHICH IS IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, ABOUT 40 MILES AWAY. LATER THAT DAY I CALLED THE DEALER TO ASK ABOUT THE ABOVE REFERENCED RECALL WHICH I HAD DISCOVERED ON THE INTERNET, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY PARTICULAR CAR WAS NOT COVERED. IN THE LETTER OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT DATED SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 FROM GM TO THE NTHSA, GM STATES THAT "A SUSTAINED VEHICLE FIRE IS UNLIKELY AND GM KNOWS OF NONE." DUE TO THE EXACTNESS OF MY SITUATION AND THE RECALL, I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT GM NOW HAS AT LEAST ONE FIRE ON RECORD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157292April 26, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SAAB STATING THAT PROBLEMS WITH THE IDM COULD CAUSE REDUCED POWER AND ROUGH OPERATION. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WITH HIS 2001 SAAB 9/5. *NM THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE STALLING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155933April 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155965April 24, 2006
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
ON 4/15/06, MY HUSBAND MERLE WAS DRIVING MY MOTHER AND DAUGHTER TO A GROCERY STORE. MY MOM STEPPED OUT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT; AS SOON AS SHE DID, THE SIDE AIR BAG LODGED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. IT DID NOT DEPLOY UPON ANY KIND OF COLLISION OR IMPACT; HOWEVER, THE CAR HAD BEEN IN A PASSENGER SIDE COLLISION ON FEBRUARY 21, 2006, WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER HIT OUR CAR BROADSIDE. THE REPAIR WORK WAS COMPLETED IN MID-MARCH. ON APRIL 18, 2006, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE AUTO BODY SHOP THAT COMPLETED THE REPAIRS FROM THE 2/21/06 INCIDENT. THEY TOOK THE CAR TO SAAB INTL MOTORS (703.534.7222), WHICH PERFORMED DIAGNOSTICS ON THE CAR'S "BLACK BOX". MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE DIAGNOSTICS DID NOT REVEAL ANY HELPFUL INFORMATION TO EXPLAIN THE DEPLOYMENT. THE SIDE AIR BAG IS NOW BEING REPAIRED BY INTERNATIONAL MOTORS, AT THE EXPENSE OF STATE FARM (PHONE 1.888.613.3966), THE INSURER FOR THE DRIVER WHO ORIGINALLY COLLIDED WITH OUR CAR ON 2/21/06. THE STATE FARM CLAIM # IS 206103504-02. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155966April 24, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I HAVE A 1999 SAAB 9-5, V6 AND HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CASSETTE MODULE. THE 2000 9-5 HAS HAD A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PART. WHY HASN'T THE 1999 BEEN RECALLED? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156286April 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE 2000 SAAB 95 SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. *NM THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED. AFTER REPAIR THE CONSUMER LEARNED THAT THE IGNITION MODULE FOR HER VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AFTER THE IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DECIDED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155668April 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V399000, REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 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
#10155713April 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
MY 1999 SAAB 9-5 SUSTAINED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OF THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE DESCRIBED IN THE 2000-2003 RECALL. REPAIRED BY LOCAL MECHANIC. WAS UNAWARE OF RECALL (AS DID NOT INCLUDE 1999) BUT MY COLLEAGUE POINTED IT OUT TO ME. I CONTACTED SAAB, SENT THEM RELEVANT DOCUMENTATION, AND THEY REFUSED TO CONSIDER MY VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL. CLEARLY AN IGNITION MODULE SMOKING AND BURNING WHEN ENGINE STARTED IS A VERY UNUSUAL EVENT. I SUSPECT THIS MODULE ALSO BEGAN TO FAIL IN 1999 BUT THAT TOO FEW OF THESE EVENTS WAS REPORTED TO MAKE YOUR RECALL THRESHOLD, BUT I WOULD MAINTAIN THAT SUCH AN ARBITRARY CUTOFF IS INEQUITABLE. SAME PART; SAME UNUSUAL FAILURE. NOT SURE WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THIS MANUFACTURER (USUALLY GOOD FOLK) IS MANAGING THIS WELL. HENCE MY FORMAL COMPLAINT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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