SAAB 9-5 Complaints

557 consumer complaints on file.

#10133832August 22, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS STARTING AROUND JUNE OR JULY 2003 AND THROUGH JULY 2005, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IN OPERATION (GOING 35 TO 40 MPH AND WITHIN TWO MILES OF STARTING) CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, BRAKES, AND STEERING. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS POSSIBLE TO COAST THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING STRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, HUNT VALLEY SAAB, ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED. ON ONE OCCASION, ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE FOR THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WAS UPLOADED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND AIR MASS METER. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS FIXED, AND EACH TIME THE CAR FAILED AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY, THE CAR WAS NOT REPAIRED.
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
#10131920August 8, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAR. CAR SPEED WAS APPX 40 MPH, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED AND I LOST ENGINE POWER. PULLED CAR OVER AND FOUND BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT OF IGNITION CASSETTE. CASSETTE WAS VERY HOT AND I WAS CONCERNED IT WOULD CATCH ON FIRE. CAR WOULD NOT START THEREAFTER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131956August 8, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
SAAB 1999 WAGON- PRIOR TO EVENT COMPUTER INDICATED REAR LIGHT FAILURE. THEN BRAKE FAILURE OCCURED, AND CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. CAR COULD NOT BE STOPPED, COLLISION WITH HIGHWAY WALL. CAR DESTROYED. NO INJURIES. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131440August 3, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
DT:THE OWNER HAD PROBLEMS WITH SAAB BEGINNING IN JUNE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CAR SHUT DOWN. THE CAR HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER OR POWER STEERING. THE OWNER GOT OFF THE MAIN ROAD AND GOT ONTO SHOULDER. THE OWNER'S CAR ENDED UP AT SAAB PACIFIC, THE OWNER FOUND OUT THAT HER FRIEND HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT PARTS FAILED ON EVERY 1995 SAAB. MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT IT BUT WERE NOT DOING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FAILED PART WAS AN IGNITION DISCHARGE PROBLEM. THE PART WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS ANOTHER ELECTRIC SYSTEM PROBLEM IN JULY. WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND MIRRORS FAILED THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OWNER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE DICE CASSETTE. THE DEALERSHIP SPENT 3 DAYS FINDING A DICE CASSETTE, AND OWNER DECIDED NOT TO REPLACE THE DICE CASSETTE. THE OWNER WENT BACK TO MECHANIC WHO REPLACED A RELAY FUSE. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY SERVICED AND THE RECORDS WERE AVAILABLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130261July 27, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I HAVE AN '01 9-5 AND HAVE HAD THE DI CASSETTES FAIL TWICE, ONCE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE FIRST DIC FAILURE WAS ON 8/19/2003 AT 62,453 MILES WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS DRIVING 45 MPH AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD ONE DI CASSETTE AND 6 SPARK PLUGS REPLACED ON 8/20/2003. ON 12/22/2003 (4 MONTHS LATER) WITH 64,080 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SUDDENLY I WAS ONLY ABLE TO TRAVEL AROUND 20-30 MPH WITH MUCH SHAKING TO THE VEHICLE. THIS DIC FAILURE CAUSED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO BURN UP. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT BOTH DI CASSETTES HAVE TO BE REPLACED WHEN ONE FAILS OR YOU RUN THE RISK OF RECURRENCE. I HAD TWO DI CASSETTE, ONE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, ONE THERMOSTAT, AND SPARK PLUGS REPLACED ON 12/23/2003 (ONE DIC WAS CREDITED BECAUSE OF THE PREVIOUS WORK ON 8/20/2003). I WAS ADVISED ON 7/22/2005 THAT I DO NOT HAVE THE LATEST SAAB 9-5 TRIONIC UPDATE THAT INCLUDES CHANGES TO PROTECT AGAINST DI CASSETTE FAILURES. PERHAPS THERE WERE ERRORS IN THE OLD CODE THAT WERE CAUSING ALL THE DIC FAILURES, OR PERHAPS THIS IS AN UPDATE TO ADD FAIL-SAFES TO MINIMIZE THE CHANGE OF DIC FAILURES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130043July 26, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
2 DIRECT IGNITION MODULES FAILED ON MY SAAB 95 SE V-6 CAR WHICH CAUSED RAW GAS TO RUIN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. REPAIR COST ~$2600. TOOK CAR IN FOR SERVICE IN APRIL COMPLAINING OF SURGING AND JERKING WHILE DRIVING. THREE DAYS LATER SAAB SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM - THEY RESET THE COMPUTER WHICH ALLEVIATED THE SITUATION FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE PROBLEM RETURNED. IN JULY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY IDENTIFIED THE DIRECT IGNITION PROBLEM. WITH THE FREQUENCY THAT SAAB'S DI'S ARE FAILING, WHY HAVEN'T THEY RECALLED THE PART? IT CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION - BOTH FROM THE CAR FAILING AT HIGHWAY SPEED TO POTENTIAL FIRE. ALSO,IF MY PROBLEM HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED PROPERLY IN APRIL, I WOULD HAVE AVOIDED THE EXPENSE OF A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER ($1400 PLUS LABOR & TAX). AFTER INVESTIGATING SAAB USER NETS, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. WHY ISN'T SAAB DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129885July 25, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, OUR 2004 SAAB 95 WOULD NOT START. LATER IT WOULD START. SAAB REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THERE HAVE BEEN 5 INSTANCES BEGINNING IN MAY OF 2004.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129693July 22, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
1999 SAAB 9-5 WITH V6 ENGINE. SUDDEN FAILURE OF BOTH IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULES (IDM) ON HIGHWAY RENDERED CAR INOPERABLE. ON A BUSINESS TRIP WITH TWO COWORKERS, DRIVING NORTH ON NEW YORK INTERSTATE 87 AT AROUND 65-70 MPH, CAR STARTED TO BUCK AND SURGE, WITH DRAMATIC LOSS IN ENGINE POWER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I MANAGED TO CROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO APPROACHING OFFRAMP. BUCKED AND WHEEZED MY WAY TO A BUSNIESS PARK, WHERE I CALLED FOR A TOW TO THE LOCAL SAAB DEALRSHIP. FAILURE WAS IMMEDIATE AND WITH NO WARNING. CONSEQUENCES WERE PUTTING THREE LIVES IN PERIL ON THE INTERSTATE BY SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND FORCED CANCELLATION OF BUSINESS TRIP DUE TO LACK OF TRANSPORTATION. DEALER DIAGNOSED CRITICAL FAILURE OF BOTH IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULES (ALSO REFERRED TO AS DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTES). BOTH MODULES REPLACED ALONG WITH 6 SPARK PLUGS, AT A TOTAL COST OF $835.33 TO ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128526July 12, 2005
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
I OWN A 2000 SAAB 9-3 AND A 2001 SAAB 9-5. I HAV HAD THE LUG NUTS REPLACED ON MY 9-5 TWICE DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUSTING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE NUTS WITH THE IDENTICAL TYPE. AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT THESE CONTINUING TO RUST THEY SAID, JUST BRING THE CAR BACK AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO REPLCE THEM. BOTH OF MY CARS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER SAAB OWNERS WHO ARE FRUSTRATED BY THE SAME ISSUE. ALL WHERE CONCERNED THAT THE LUG NUTS WOULD WEAKEN OVER TIME AND FAIL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I AM LOOKING FOR A PERMANENT FIX WITH A LUG NUT THAT WILL NOT RUST / FAIL. NONE OF MY OTHER CARS (OTHER BRANDS) HAVE EVRY HAD THIS PROBLEM. CLEARLY THEY ARE EITHER MIS-MANUFACTERED OR NOT SPECED PROPERLY. YOUR ASSISTANCE IS REQUESTED TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION, WITH A PERMANENT FIX.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127270July 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN IT SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND DECELERATED TO 3-5 MPH. VEHICLE STALLED ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM AND THE CAR SEEMED FINE IMMEDIATELY BEFORE POWER LOSS. I OBSERVED HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND DETECTED A STRONG BURNING ODOR. VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM SCENE TO LOCAL SAAB DEALER. PROBLEM WAS DIAGONOSED AS A FAULTY DIRECT IGNITION CASSETE AND REPLACED WITH A NEW PART AT A COST OF $500. DAMAGED PART IS AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126606June 26, 2005
TIRES
AFTER REPLACING ALL FOUR TIRES ON MY WIFE'S 1999 SAAB 9-5 AND ON MY 1999 SAAB 9-5 A VIBRATION SHOWED UP AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. EACH CAR UNDERWENT NUMEROUS TIRE REBALANCINGS AT DIFFERENT TIRE SHOPS AS WELL AS OUR SAAB DEALER. NOTHING HELPED. ON MY CAR, I RETURNED THE TIRES AND BOUGHT NEW, MORE EXPENSIVE ONES THINKING THAT MAYBE THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE TIRES. AFTER THE NEW SET WERE INSTALLED, THE VIBRATION WAS STILL THERE. I POSTED MY CONCERNS ON A POPULAR SAAB WEBSITE SAABNET.COM FOR ADVICE FROM OTHER SAAB OWNERS. THE RESPONSE WAS OVERWHELMING. SEEMS AS THOUGH MANY OTHER SAAB 9-5 OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS EXACT PROBLEM AFTER CHANGING TIRES. NO ONE HAS FOUND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, SOME WENT AWAY BY THEMSELVES AND OTHERS ARE JUST DEALING WITH IT. I THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE 9-5 AND NOW THAT I KNOW MANY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, I AM VERY CONCERNED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126607June 26, 2005
TIRES
VIBRATION AFTER CHANGING TIRES. HAD REBALANCED 3 TIMES AND NOTHING HELPED. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED FOR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, NOTHING WAS FOUND. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL OTHER SAAB OWNERS, I REALIZED THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO IS EXPERIENCEING THIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126613June 26, 2005
TIRES
THE CAR SUFFERS FROM VIBRATIONS WHEN THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES ARE REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT PROCESS REQUIRES MANY REBALANCING AND/OR TIRE REPLACEMENTS AND STILL RESULTS IN MORE VIBRATION THAN EXISTS WITH THE FACTORY TIRES. THE VIBRATION IS MOST PRONOUNCED AT SPEEDS AROUND 70-80 MILES PER HOUR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121309June 20, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT: THE ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THERE WAS ONLY A CLICKING NOISE. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE IGNITION CASSETTE WAS REPLACED, AND THIS SUBSEQUENTLY HAPPENED AGAIN. MORE REPAIR WORK WAS DONE AND THIS HAPPENED FOR A THIRD TIME. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN SHOP. *AK THE THROTTLE BODY HAD TRIPPED AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE ON THE THIRD INCIDENT. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETECT THE ROOT CAUSE. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125725June 19, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THIS COMPLAINT IS REPRESENTS AN ADDITIONAL EVENT UNDER NHTSA ACTION # PE05017. ON MAY 15, 2004 THE AUTOMOBILE WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE FROM MY RESIDENCE, HAVING BEEN USED TO DO LOCAL ERRANDS, WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED BUCKING AND SURGING. GIVEN THE CLOSENESS OF THE RESIDENCE TO THE START OF THE PROBLEMS, THE CAR LIMPED HOME, WAS STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE, AND THE IGNITION WAS SHUT OFF. AT THAT POINT, A BURNING SMELL PERMEATED THE AIR. AFTER THE CAR COOLED DOWN, WE TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, TO NO AVAIL. WHEN THE CAR TURNED OVER, WE COULD SEE WISPS OF SMOKE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHICH INSTALLED TWO DI CASSETTES AT A COST OF $1200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125167June 13, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 95 SAAB AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY DIED IN TRAFFIC , THIS I FOUND OUT WAS DUE TO THE DI MODULE , IT APPEARS THAT MANY SAABS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE ACCORDING TO MY DEALER, THEY HAVE HAD MANY FAILURES RECENTLY WITH NO WARNING(S) TO THE DRIVER. FORTUNATLEY I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROD TO AVOID ANY COLLISION. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS A SAFETY HAZARD AND A RECALL FOR ALL SAAB 9-5 VEHICLES BE GENERATED , AS I AM SURE MANY OF THESE INSTANCES ARE NOT REPORTED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124900June 10, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
ABS BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN DRIVING. ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. AS AN EXAMPLE, TYPICALLY BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN IN STOP AND GO HEAVY TRAFFIC, COMMONLY AT MORNING AND EVENING RUSH HOURS. DANGEROUS WHEN TRAFFIC CLEARS UP AND THERE IS SUDDENLY NEED TO ACCELERATE TO KEEP PACE WITH TRAFFIC FLOW AND THE CAR LOCKS UP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124568June 8, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ADD MY 2001 SAAB 9-5 WAGON, 6 CYL, TO THE LIST OF THOSE WITH DI CASSETTE FAILURE. TRAVELING AT ABOUT 50 MPH ON A BEAUTIFUL JUNE MORNING THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. WHEN I PULLED OFF THE ROAD, A PUFF OF SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THERE WAS A DISTINCT BURNT ELECTRICAL SMELL WHEN I RAISED THE HOOD. MY MECHANIC BELIEVES THE FAULTY DI CASSETTE MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE FOR THE 2 PREVIOUS CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURES. THE CAR HAS HAD OTHER ELECTRICAL IDIOSYNCRACIES, INCLUDING FREQUENT LIGHT BULB BURN OUTS, LOSS OF PIXELS ON THE MAIN DISPLAY SCREEN, SUDDEN EXTREME BRIGHTNESS OF ALL DISPLAY SCREENS, AND SPORADIC TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS FAILURE WARNINGS ON STARTING. THE LATTER GENERALLY GOES AWAY WHEN THE CAR IS RESTARTED. THE SAAB DEALER IN FLINT AND THE DEALER REP HAVE BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO THE POINT OF NEGLIGENCE ON THE CAT FAILURES, LUCKILY I HAVE A GOOD AND HONEST LOCAL SAAB MECHANIC AT RALLYE IMPORTS IN MIDLAND. SAAB SHOULD RECALL FOR THE DI CASSETTE AND SHOULD REIMBURSE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DISPLAY SCREEN. IN 40 YEARS OF DRIVING, THIS IS THE MOST UNRELIABLE CAR I'VE EVER OWNED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117777June 8, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AT 70 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHUT DOWN.*AK..IN SPRING OF 2004 .GENERAL SALES AUTOMOTIVE COVER DEALER OF WESTCHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO CARBON BUILDUP IN THE ENGINE. THEY CLEANED THE CYLINDER, AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT THIS WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. THIS COST CONSUMER APPROXIMATELY $500.00. DESPITE THE CYLINDER'S BEING CLEANED VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL/HESITATE AT SPEED OF 35-45 MPH. BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER IN APRIL 2005, AND WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS A FRUSTRATING SITUATION AND FEELS IT IS UNSAFE WITH THESE RECURRING PROBLEMS.*SB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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