SAAB 9-5 Complaints

557 consumer complaints on file.

#10052747January 9, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DRIVING AT STEADY 65 MPH, CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, AND ENGINE STOPPED AFTER I PULLED TO SIDE OF INTERSTATE.DIAGNOSED AS FAILED DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE AND REPLACED BY DEALER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052759January 9, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER DEVELOPED AN INTERNAL LEAK, CAUSING MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION WHEN FIRST STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL DURING AN EMERGENCY STOP. DURING "NORMAL" BRAKING THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. IMPORTANT!...THE BIG DANGER HERE IS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BOOSTER TILL YOU HAVE TO MAKE A QUICK STOP WHERE YOU NEED TO JAM ON THE BRAKES QUICKLY!! YOU SUDDENLY FINE THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO BRAKES FOR A SECOND OR TWO!! IN NORMAL BRAKING THEY WORK FINE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044496December 3, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. INTERMITTENTLY, THE ELECTRICAL MECHANISM TO OPEN THE TRUNK WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *AK WHEN EXPOSED TO PROLONGED INTENSE SUNLIGHT/HEAT, THE INTERIOR CHILD RELEASE FEATURE WOULDN'T WORK EITHER. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048199November 5, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PROBLEMS WITH DELAY IN REPORT OF WARRANTY CLAIM AND THE AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE.*MR THE VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC POSING A SAFETY HAZARD. UPON CONTACTING HIS LOCAL DEALER, THE CONSUMER WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIRS TWO WEEKS AFTER THE CALL. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE, AND THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT SHOULDN'T WAIT AS LONG. CONSUMER IS HOLDING SAAB RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING THAT MAY HAPPEN BETWEEN THE DATE OF THE PHONE CALL AND THE APPOINTMENT. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10036842August 29, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
FAILURE OF DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. VEHICLE (1999 SAAB 9-5 SE) STOPS RUNNING IN TRAFFIC AND CANNOT BE RESTARTED. BASED ON REPORTS IN SAABNET.COM, THIS IS A RELATIVELY COMMON FAILURE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10036863August 29, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SUDDEN COMPLETE POWER FAILURE ON HIGHWAY! RELATIVLY NEW CAR 2001 WITH LOW MILES.TRACED TO BAD DIRECT IGNITION (DI) MODULE. IS A SAFETY HAZARD. NO INJURIES THANKFULLY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10036606August 26, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, LOSING BRAKES, STEERING, POWER, ETC. THE 1ST AT 70 MPH ON FREEWAY, THE 2ND ON CITY ST. ABOUT 35 MPH AND THE 3RD IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AT 20 MPH. SAAB HAS REPLACED 3 DIFFERENT THINGS. THE CAR IS TOO UNPREDICTABLE AND UNSAFE FOR DRIVING. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033346August 23, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2ND TIME THE SID DISPLAY HAS FAILED, AFTER RESEARCHING, THIS IS A KNOWN AND WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH SAAB SID DISPLAYS FOR MANY YEARS. HAVE CONTACTED SAAB AND SO FAR WILL NOT REPLACE. CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRENTY, BUT CAN'T GET ANY INFORMATION FROM CAR ABOUT WARNINGS, ERRORS, TIME, DATE, RADIO STATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032942August 16, 2003
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
FAILURE OF CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM PREVENTS HEATED AIR FROM REACHING THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSCREEN -- NO DEFROST. REPLACEMENT PART SOLD ONLY AS ENTIRE ASSEMBLY ($2,000) PLUS 14-18 HOURS LABOR=$3,000+. NO OTHER OPTION FOR PROPER OPERATION OF DEFROSTER SYSTEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10028525July 17, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND BEGAN EXITING WHEN THE SAAB COMPLETELY DIED. NO WARNING..ALL LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER. I COASTED DOWN THE RAMP. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN IN THE LEFT LANE? SAAB QUICKLY DIAGNOSED THIS AS A SHORTED OUT DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. THEY REPAIRED IT RETURNED THE CAR. IT NEEDED TO GO BACK AS IT HAD NO POWER. THE CASSETTE'S FAILURE DESTROYED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AS WELL. I HAVE NOW HEARD OF THIS INCIDENT THREE TIMES ON 2001 SAAB 9-5'S. WHERE IS THE RECALL?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10025942July 12, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE ENGINE ON OUR 2001 SAAB 9.5 WAGON COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AS WE EXITED I-10 NORTH OF SAN ANTONIO TEXAS. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH AND THE ENGINE JUST QUIT. WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AT THE EXITS INTERSECTION BECAUSE OF ITS LENGTH OF ABOUT 1/4 MILE. THERE WAS NO WARNING, JUST NO ENGINE AND NO RESTART. THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE WAS REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10023520June 21, 2003
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
A BROKEN PLASTIC ARMATURE THAT CONTROLS THE VENTS FOR MY DRIVER SIDE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING AIR FLOW HAS BROKEN. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH SAAB 9-5 OWNERS AND THE DEALERSHIPS AND REPAIR PLACES ARE WELL AWARE OF IT AS WELL. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE FROM SAAB FOR THE 10 CENT PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT BREAKS SO COMMONLY. THE DEALERSHIPS (AND THE REPAIR PLACES THAT GET THEIR PARTS FROM THEM) ARE ONLY ABLE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEATER BOX ASSEMBLY, AT A COST OF OVER $2500 USD FOR PARTS AND ABOUT 20 HOURS OF LABOR!!! IN CHECKING THE FREQUENCY OF THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER SAAB OWNERS ON SAABNET.COM, I FIND IT IS ALTOGETHER TOO COMMON. YET, WHEN I CONTACTED SAAB USA, THEY TOLD ME SINCE MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY (1999, 86K MILES) AND SINCE I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. THIS IS LUDICROUS. AT THE VERY LEAST AN INVESTIGATION AND TSB SHOULD BE ISSUED...POSSIBLY A RECALL. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10019170May 23, 2003
CHILD SEAT, CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING
MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2000 SAAB 9.5 SEDAN. WHEN I CALLED SAAB TO GET A TETHER TO INSTALL OUR CHILD SAFETY SEAT, THEY TOLD ME THAT DUE TO A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, TETHERS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR AN INDEFINTE TIME. THIS PUTS OUR CHILD AT AN UNECESSARY SERIOUS RISK IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. ALICE FRADIN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10019072May 21, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED ON THE BRONX RIVER PKWY AND MY PASSENGER REACHED INTO THE BACK SEAT. HER LEG HIT THE KEY AND TURNED THE CAR OFF WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS HURT. THE CAR LOCKED UP AND I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. IT TOOK A FEW ANXIOUS MOMENTS/MINUTE OR TWO BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THIS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES WHEN I DECIDED TO CONTACT SAAB. THEIR RESPONSE IN A LETTER IS AS FOLLOWS " WE HAVE REVIEWED YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE PLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH GARDEN CITY SAAB, CORPORATE TECHNICIANS, AND FIELD REPRESENTATIVES. SAAB CARS USA, INC. HAS DETERMINED YOUR VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED." !!!!! SO, THEY HAVE DESIGNED A CAR TO SWITCH OFF WHILE DRIVING. ALL I ASKED WAS TO BE LET OUT OF MY LEASE AS THIS IS A DANGEROUS CAR AND I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING IN IT. THEY, BY MEANS OF THIS LETTER, ARE REFUSING AND TELLING ME THEY HAVE NO ISSUE. FYI THE 9.3 KEY IS BELOW THE SEAT, IN THE 9.5 THEY DECIDED TO RAISE IT ABOVE THE SEAT. THIS IS PROBABLY WHY THEY HAVEN'T ADDRESSED IT YET. I GUESS THEY ARE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET REALLY HURT OR KILLED. CAN ANY ONE HELP???? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10019765May 13, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLES ENGINE SHUT OFF. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017099May 6, 2003
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK WITH UNLOCK SWITCH WHEN DOOR IS LOCKED MANUALLY. IF YOU LOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY -- BY RESTING YOUR ELBOW ON THE LOCKING BUTTON -- THE UNLOCK SWITCH DOES NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE UNLOCK SWITCH MAKES A NOISE LIKE IT IS TRYING TO UNLOCK THE DOOR BUT IT DOES NOT ACTUALLY UNLOCK IT. THE DEALER VERIFIED THAT THIS OCCURS ON OTHER MODELS OF THIS SAME CAR. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10013922April 3, 2003
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CHROME PLATING ON SEAT BELT BUCKLE SUBJECT TO FLAKING OFF RESULTING IN POSSIBLE LACERATION POINT TO PASSENGERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011398March 11, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED. *JB SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010313March 11, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
KEY WAS TOUCHED BY A BABY BOTTLE (VERY GENTLY). THE CAR SHUT OFF ON A BUSY EXPRESSWAY. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS KILLED. I WENT TO THE CAR SERVICE AND GENTLY TAPPED THE KEY AND REPRODUCED THE KEY TURNING. THE SERVICE PERSON SAID THAT WAS NORMAL! PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOME ONE IS KILLED.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10002491January 10, 2003
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE SHUT DOWN ,CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB..*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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