SAAB 9-5 Complaints

557 consumer complaints on file.

#10138968October 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
WHILE DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY L.A. FREEWAY ON A SATURDAY EVENING MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER WITH NO WARNING TO THE POINT OF ALMOST STALLING. LUCKY FOR ME I SAY MY PRAYERS AND WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE TO THE OFF RAMP AND COAST ON TO THE STREET WHERE I WAS PUSHED OUT OF TRAFFIC BY A GOOD SAMARITAN (I'M A SINGLE FEMALE DRIVER). I NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS ABLE TO START IT AGAIN AFTER AWHILE AND CHUGGED HOME 30 SLOW MILES TO MY HOUSE ( I WAS ALL OUT OF TOWS ON AAA AND NO MECHANICS OPEN AT THAT TIME).NEXT WEEK MY SAAB MECHANIC INDICATES THAT IT IS THE DI FAILING. ESTIMATED COST PART/LABOR IS $550.00. I JUST REPLACED THE DI 9/15/2003 AFTER A SIMILAR INCIDENT HAPPENED AND ALL POWER WAS LOST WHILE DRIVING, I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO SAAB. COST TO ME THE FIRST TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY $450.00 NOT INCLUDING CAR RENTAL. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD ON THE '99S AS ALL THESE POSTED COMPLAINTS INDICATE AND I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THE CURRENT RECALL IS NOT INCLUDING '99S. I'VE HELD OFF REPLACING THE REPLACEMENT THAT LASTED ONLY 20,000 MI/2 YEARS HOPING TO GET SOME RECOGNITION/HELP FROM SAAB WITH THIS. PART IS AVAILABLE. OBVIOUSLY THE CURRENT (FAILED) DI IN MY CAR IS A 2000 - 2002 SAAB DI - SO WILL THEY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS REPAIR? THIS IS RIDICULOUS! I ADAMANTLY BELIEVE SAAB SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE 99S AS (I HAVE FOUND OUT) IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AMONG OWNERS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138971October 7, 2005
WHEELS:HUB
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS RECALL 03V006000 ON THE WHEEL BOLTS, AND BECAUSE HE IS IN ANOTHER COUNTRY TEMPORALLY, MANUFACTURER WILL NOT SEND HIM THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. HE IS ON MILITARY DUTY. *AK UPDATED 11/19/05. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138749October 5, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS LEAVING THE MAINTENANCE SHOP. PERSONNEL DIAGNOSED IT (USING TECH 2) AS A BAD DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. LOSS OF ENGINE PERFORMANCE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138754October 5, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
FOLLOWING DASH LIGHTS CAME ON: ABS, TCS OFF, WARNING TRIANGLE AND BRAKE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BECAME PERMANENT. SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER CEASED TO OPERATE. RESEARCHED TO DISCOVER A COMMON PROBLEM WITH LIKE VEHICLES (SAABNET.COM). SERVICE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THAT ABS ECU WAS INOPERATIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MIKE SHAW SAAB ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE ISSUE WITH SAAB USA TO REPLACE $2500 PART. I WOULD PAY LABOR. SAAB USA OFFERED TO PAY HALF. I DECIDED TO REPAIR MYSELF. I REMOVED THE ABS MODULE (A BOSCH SUB-PART OF THE ABS ECU) AND SENT IT TO BE RE-BUILT FOR $249. I RENTED A CAR FOR ABOUT $200 AND PAID $120+TAX FOR THE SAAB SERVICE DIAGNOSIS. I RE-INSTALLED THE MODULE, AND THE CAR IS FINE. IT APPEARS THAT THESE BOSCH ABS MODULES ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS IN MANY BRANDS OF VEHICLES. SEARCHING EBAY, I FOUND THERE TO BE MORE INSTANCES OF THIS THAN I COULD COUNT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138343October 3, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN THE EXPRESS LANES OF 90/94 IN CHICAGO AND EXPERIENCED A DRAMATIC LOSS OF POWER. WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY TRAVEL TO EXIT AND GET OFF ONTO SURFACE STREETS. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE WAS REPLACED. THIS IS THE *SAME* COMPONENT THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR LATER MODEL YEARS OF MY VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138390October 3, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
REGARDING NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE05017 I EXPERIENCED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE (IDM)) "CASSETTE" ON MY (MY) 1999 SAAB 9-5. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT A RED LIGHT FROM APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. I DID NOT CONFIRM WHETHER CATALYTIC CONVERTER DAMAGE WAS EXPERIENCED AS WELL. MY CAR AT REST IN A BUSY INTERSECTION WAS MOST CERTAINLY A HAZARDOUS SITUATION, AT THE CORNER OF ST. ANDREWS BLVD AND GLADES ROAD IN BOCA RATON, FLORIDA 33431. I REPLACED THE IDM AND HAVE KEPT THE ORIGINAL FOR POTENTIAL STUDY OF FAILURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138201September 30, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE IGNITION CASSETTE ON MY 1999 SAAB 9-5 REQUIRED REPLACEMENT TWO YEARS AGO WHEN MY HUSBAND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE UNIT. IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND WE PURCHASED THE PART AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT OURSELVES (ONE OF THE FEW THINGS ON A SAAB THAT IS NOT DIFFICULT). I SEE NOW THAT SAAB HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR CARS BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM, BUT INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER THE 1999 MODEL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138228September 30, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I WAS SHOPPING WITH MY WIFE AND 2 LITTLE CHILDREN, WHEN WE CAME OUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START, REQUIRED TOW AND ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION, TURNED OUT TO BE THE IGNITION MODULE OR DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE, REPLACED WITH NEW ONE AT DEALER AT MY EXPENSE OF $400. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138263September 30, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1999 SAAB MODEL 95 THAT EXPERIENCED AN IGNITION PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WOULD START BUT WOULD NOT RUN PROPERLY. THE CAR WOULD LURCH OR CONVULSE WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE WOULD STALL AND THEN DIE COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART BUT CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE SAME PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE AND THE DIC WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THE REPLACEMENT THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138282September 30, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AND SUDDENLY WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO DEALER, DIAGNOSED AS DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE. DEALER REPLACED PART. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138135September 29, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR
THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE LOADED ANYWHERE NEAR IS GVWR AND MAINTAIN ITS ORIGINAL RIDE HEIGHT (OR ANYTHING CLOSE TO THE UNLOADED RIDE HEIGHT) AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN LOADED THE CAMBER SHIFTS (DUE TO THE REAR SUSPENSION TYPE) VERY NEGATIVE CAUSING POOR HANDLING AND EXTREME TIRE WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE REAR WHEELS. I HAD A BLOWOUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137639September 26, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ON A 2001 SAAB 9-5 SE (V6 ENGINE) STATIONWAGON WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. AS I PULLED THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO AN EXIT RAMP (WITHIN LESS THAN A MINUTE OF THE MALFUNCTION), THE CAR STALLED AND A BURNING SMELL WAS DETECTED INSIDE THE CAR AFTER WHICH THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND PARKED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL SAAB DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE ON THE REAR CYLINDER BANK WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE FAILED. FAILURE OF THE IDM ON ONLY 3 OUT OF 6 CYLINDERS CAUSED UNBURNED GAS TO BE DISCHARGED INTO THE EXHAUST WHERE IT REACTED IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, CLOGGING THE CONVERTER AND STALLING THE ENGINE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS RUINED WHICH CAUSED THE BURNING SMELL. NO FIRE WAS DETECTED. THE IDM AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137685September 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR STALLED WHILE CRUISING AT 75 MILES PER HOUR ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. CAR COULD NOT BE RESTARTED, EVEN AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NO PRIOR INDICATION OF IMMINENT FAILURE WAS GIVEN'THE ENGINE SIMPLY CUT OUT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS THE FAILURE OF AS A BAD THROTTLE BODY. THIS IS A KNOWN WEAKNESS IN THE CAR FOR WHICH SAAB HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR YEARS. THE SERVICING DEALER WAS SURPRISED THAT THE PART WAS NOT IN STOCK SINCE IT FAILS OFTEN. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THROTTLE BODY PROBLEMS WHICH TRIGGER LIMP HOME MODE AND REQUIRE A CLEANING AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODY. REPORTEDLY NEWER SOFTWARE TRIGGERS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE. THIS EARLY WARNING WAS NOT GIVEN THIS CASE. IT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT THIS SHOULD STILL BE AN ISSUE ON A 2003 MODEL YEAR VEHICLE WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST SHOWED ITSELF IN 1998. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE IN A REAR END COLLISION BEFORE SAAB OR THE NHTSA WILL ACT ON THIS? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137693September 26, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2001 SAAB AERO 9-5. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE INTO THE SAAB SERVICE DEPARTMENT OVER 15 TIMES TRYING TO FIX MY PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND MANY TIMES WILL NOT RESTART. I HAVE ALSO HAD MANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE ELECTRICAL MODULES FOR THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING, HEATED AND AIR CONDITIONED SEATS NOT WORKING AND MANY OTHER ELECTRICAL MODULES GOING OUT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136824September 17, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING, NO WARNING LIGHTS ,NO PRECURSOR-VERY DANGEROUS AS IS UNPREDICTABLE- MECHANIC UNABLE TO FIND CAUSE-OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AND IDLING, AM AFRAID FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY TO DRIVE CAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136623September 15, 2005
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DT: THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS IN SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON HIT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND WAS HIT SO HARD THAT THE BACK PASSENGER'S DOOR WAS STUCK TO THE VEHICLE THAT HIT IT. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE ADMITTED HE HAD BEEN GOING AT 30 MPH WHEN THE SIDE IMPACT OCCURRED. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 17, 2005. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, BUT WILL BE CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135494September 7, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE TREAD SEPARATION DUE TO SUDDEN WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGES OF BOTH REAR TIRES. NEGATIVE CAMBER ON REAR WHEELS LEADS TO CUPPING AND WEAR ALONG THE INSIDE EDGE OF BOTH BACK WHEELS. WITH CAR FULLY LOADED, TREAD CAN SEPARATE AFTER ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES. AT THE VERY LEAST THE TIRES MUST BE REPLACED AFTER A FEW THOUSAND MILES TO AVOID SUDDEN TREAD SEPARATIONS AND LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135405September 6, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I PURCHASED A SAAB 9.5 WAGON- YEAR 2000 WITH 53,000 MILES ON IT. NOW IT HAS 63,000 MILES. MY REPAIR BILLS CURRENTLY ARE OVER $7,000 EXCLUDING MAINTENANCE AND ROUTINE SERVICE (THE WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED W/ THE CAR HAS NOT COVERED ANY OF REPAIRS). ONE DAY ABOUT 5 LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME ON MY DASH. I AM TALKING ABOUT THE LIGHTS/SYMBOLS THAT COME ON WHEN A PARTICULAR PROBLEM ARISES WITH THE CAR. THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHTS CAME ON THEY ARE CALLED THE ABS, TCS AND 2 OTHER BRAKE RELATED LIGHTS ALONG W/ THE ENGINE LIGHT. I TOOK MY CAR TO SAAB IN SANTA MONICA AND THE MECHANIC, TONY, RAN A TEST AND TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO REPLACE MY ABS COMPUTER BRAKE COMPONENT. THE PRICE FOR THE PART WOULD BE 2,800 PLUS 200.00- 300.00 FOR LABOR, SO APPROX. 3,000 TO REPLACE THIS COMPUTER UNIT. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED TO ME THAT I SHOULD FILE A CLAIM WITH SAAB BECAUSE OF THE "TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FAILURES" WITH THIS COMPONENT. I DID AND I WAS DENIED BY SAAB. UNABLE TO AFFORD THE COST OF THIS REPAIR, MAINLY BECAUSE, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, I AM WELL OVER $7,000 IN REPAIR BILLS ALREADY AND I SIMPLY CANNOT COME UP WITH 3,000 RIGHT NOW. SO, I WAS DRIVING MY CAR HOME AND BY ACCIDENT THE IGNITION KEY WAS NUDGED WHICH CAUSED THE KEY TO TURN OFF THE CAR. I COMPLETELY LOST ALL BRAKE POWER AND WAS FORCED TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID HITTING PEDESTRIANS WALKING ACROSS THE STREET. THIS WAS A TERRIFYING SITUATION, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED COMPLETED BRAKE FAILURE AND NOW I AM TERRIFIED TO USE MY CAR AT ALL. SINCE I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THIS COMPUTER COMPONENT REPLACED I MAKE AN ATTEMPT NOT TO DRIVE MY CAR. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SAAB SHOULD TAKE A MORE SERIOUS LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD 3 SAAB MECHANICS TELL ME THE SAME THING ABOUT THE THIS ABS COMPUTER COMPONENT, THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OFTEN, AND THAT IT IS SOMETHING SAAB SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR. IS SAAB AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER OWNER'S OF SAABS HAVE AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC REGARDING THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135009August 31, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
2001 SAAB 9-5 FUEL PUMP CLIP FAILED SPRAYING GASOLINE UNDER PRESSURE OVER EXHAUST SYSTEM BELOW REAR PASSENGER SEAT. THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR THE 2001 SAAB 9-3 FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. NO RECALL FOR THE 2001 SAAB 9-5. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134817August 30, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, CAUSING CAR TO LOSE POWER AND STOP. VEHICLE IS A SAAB 95, 2001, V6, SE WAGON, DATE OF SECOND INCIDENT IS BELOW.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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