2000 Saab 9-5 Complaint Log

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

IN MARCH 2006 MY 2000 SAAB 9-5 WAGON BURST INTO FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR BURNED. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *NM

WHILE ROUTINE DRIVING THE ABS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, BRAKE (INDICATING EMERGENCY BRAKE BEING ENGAGED) AND TCS OFF WILL ILLUMINATE. THE SPEEDOMETER WILL GO TO ZERO. UPON INSPECTION AT THE DEALER, THEIR WORDS, NOT MINE. IS THAT "YOUR ABS CONTROL MODULE IS FRIED". ONCE THIS WAS DIAGNOSED, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE, IF WE DO NOT NEED ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL (TCS OFF). THE PART IS $2800. NOW UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE MANUFACTURER OF THE PRODUCT, BOSCH. SUPPOSEDLY THIS HAS OCCURRED QUITE FREQUENTLY ON SAAB'S , MULTIPLE GM AND FORD VEHICLES AS WELL. THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE ISSUE IS THE CAR SOMETIMES AT USUALLY THE WORSE TIMES IT GOES INTO LIMP HOME MODE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DEFROSTER NO LONGER DEFROSTS THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED WHO DETERMINED THERE IS A CURRENT TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUE. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE DEALER AS AN ONGOING ISSUE. *AK 08/01/06 UPDATED. *TT

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.

ON 2/21/06 MY SAAB 9-5 SE V6 WAS STARTED, WAS RUNNING ROUGH AS CYLINDERS WERE OBVIOUSLY MISFIRING. BROUGHT IN TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY. TOLD IGNITION CASSETTE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TOLD TO CALL SAAB FOR REIMBURSEMENT AS MANY OF THESE CASSETTES WERE FAILING AND SHOULD NOT BE. *NM

DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTES FAILED ON MY SAAB, YEAR 2000 95 WAGON WHILE DRIVING IN SARASOTA. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO A SIDE ROAD TO PARK THE CAR AND THEN (UNFORTUNATELY) WALK 3 MILES HOME. I HAD A $50 TOW CHARGE ALONG WITH THE BILL TO REPLACE THE DIC, PLUS I LOST THE USE OF MY CAR FROM MONDAY UNTIL FRIDAY. *JB

WHEN EXITING THE INTERSTATE, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WAS THEN A SMELL LIKE AN OVERLOADED OR BURNING ELECTRICAL OR ELECTRONIC PART. WE DROVE TO THE FIRST SAFE PLACE TO STOP THE CAR, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND NO FIRE BUT THE SMELL WAS VERY STRONG. WE CALLED THE NEAREST SAAB DEALER AND HAD THEM MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO TOW THE CAR IN. AFTER CHECKING THE CAR, THEY FOUND THAT THE IGNITION MODULE HAD BURNED-OUT WHICH IN TURN ALLOWED RAW GAS IN THE EXHAUST TO DAMAGE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V399000) WHICH SEEMS TO DESCRIBE THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED, BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SAAB THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL. I FEEL THAT THIS INCIDENT AND FAILURE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. *JB

IDM CASSETTE FAILURE ON A 2000 SAAB 9-5 SE (6-CYLINDER). THE CAR HAD REDUCED POWER AND ROUGH OPERATION, LURCHING WITH ACCELERATION, AND NEARLY STALLING. I WAS AFRAID THIS PREGNANT WOMAN WAS GOING TO BE LEFT STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A DARK, COUNTRY HIGHWAY ON A COLD WINTER NIGHT! THE NEXT DAY, POWER WAS REDUCED EVEN FURTHER AND EVENTUALLY, THE CAR STALLED AND WILL NOT START UP. IT WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO THOUGHT THE RECALL ON THE PART (RECALL 05V-399) WOULD REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE IDM CASSETTE. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT. THIS PART IS NOT COVERED IN A 2000 9-5 SE. THE RECALL ONLY APPLIES TO 2000-2002 SAAB 9-5'S WHICH ARE 4-CYLINDER AND 2001 9-5'S WITH THE 6 CYLINDER. THIS IS THE SAME PART AS IN THOSE RECALLED VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AND INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS WELL. *NM

I WAS TRAVELING TO SAN DIEGO WHEN MY ENGINE PROBLEM LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH TCS, ABS AND SPEEDOMETER LIGHTS CAME ON. I HAVE LEARNED FROM PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT THE ENGINE PROBLEM LIGHT MEANS THAT THIS VEHICLE ENGINE COULD BLOW UP. AFTER SPENDING THE NIGHT (NOT INTENDED) IN SAN DIEGO, I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS A $2500 FIX. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND NOT WORRY ABOUT MY TRACTION CONTROL OR ABS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE PURCHASED A NEW VEHICLE AND AM NOW WORKING ON FIXING THIS PROBLEM VIA RESOURCES ON THE WEB FOR 1/4TH THE DEALER COST. *JB

THE BREAK BOOSTER GAVE OUT ON MY '00 SAAB WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE BREAKS TO STOP WORKING.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V399000, REGARDING THE IGNITION MODULE. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND RECEIVED PRE-APPROVAL TO HAVE THE RECALL REMEDY PERFORMED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, THE SERVICE MANAGER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER FOR APPROVAL. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER THEY RECONSIDERED AND WOULD NOT BE INCLUDING THE VEHICLE IN THE RECALL REMEDY. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *NM

WHEN I BOUGHT CAR I COMPLAINED THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE SALES PERSON TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT, AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TODAY. AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON BECAUSE OF AN EVAPORATIVE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR A MONTH AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIX IT. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #05V399000 ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

ENGINE MISFIRING WOULD HESITATE AND STOP OTHER TIMES DRIVABLE BUT NOT WITHOUT CONCERN FOR SAFETY. DETERMINED TO BE ID MODULE WHICH WAS REPLACED. SAAB REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL STATING VIN NOT INCLUDED. *TR

WHILE ROUTINE DRIVING THE ABS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, BRAKE (INDICATING EMERGENCY BRAKE BEING ENGAGED) AND TCS OFF WILL ILLUMINATE. THE SPEEDOMETER WILL GO TO ZERO. UPON INSPECTION AT THE DEALER, THEIR WORDS, NOT MINE. IS THAT "YOUR ABS CONTROL MODULE IS FRIED". ONCE THIS WAS DIAGNOSED, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE, IF WE DO NOT NEED ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL (TCS OFF). THE PART IS $2800. NOW UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE MANUFACTURER OF THE PRODUCT, BOSCH. SUPPOSEDLY THIS HAS OCCURRED QUITE FREQUENTLY ON SAAB'S , MULTIPLE GM AND FORD VEHICLES AS WELL AS AUDI'S, AND VW'S. THIS PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. IT WILL COME ON AND THEN AFTER 10-15 MIN OF DRIVING WILL EXTINGUISH AGAIN. *JB

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC MY ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. ONCE TOWED, THE SERVICE CENTER DETERMINED THE FAILURE WAS IN A SMALL CHEAP (TO MANUFACTURE) HALL EFFECT SENSOR FOR CRANKSHAFT POSITION. THIS FAILURE OF THIS LITTLE SWITCH STOPPED ME DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. GIVE THE SAFETY ISSUE OF THIS FAILURE MODE AND THE FACT IT IS SMALL AND CHEAP, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A REDUNDANT SENSOR IN THE DESIGN. THIS REDUNDANT SENSOR CAN SERVE AS A FAIL OVER MECHANISM.

FAILURE OF DISTRIBUTOR IGNITION CASSETTE (IGNITION COILS). *JB

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

BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTION IN 2000 SAAB 95 CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. *JB

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V399000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: MODULE) HOWEVER, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE YEAR THE ENGINE WAS MANUFACTURED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.

DI CASSETTE FAILURE ON MY 2000 SAAB 9-5 AERO. THIS PART HAS BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE PREVIOUSLY, AND THE SAAB DEALERSHIP IS RECOMMENDING A THIRD REPLACEMENT NOW AT 84K MILES. ADDITIONALLY, THEY STATE THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE DI CASSETTE FAILURE. TOTAL COST FOR THESE REPAIRS NEARS $2000, WHICH IS EGREGIOUS FOR THE TYPE OF FAILURE AND THE APPARENT FREQUENCY OF REPLACEMENT.

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

MY 2000 SAAB 9-5 WITH APPROX. 30,000 MILES STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. CAR RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. IT ALSO SURGES THEN STALLS WHILE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT OR IN TRAFFIC. CAR RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY. HAVE HAD CAR IN FOR SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SURGING PROBLEM IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND HAPPENING MOST EVERY DAY. HAVE NOT BEEN IN ACCIDENT (MY DRIVING IS LOCAL AND ALOT OF STOP AND GO) BUT I WILL NOT DRIVE CAR ON PARKWAY FOR FEAR OF STALLING. *AK

I USED THE CAR ONLY FOR WEEK END SKI TRIPS TWICE A MONTH OR LESS THROUGH THE WINTER. THIS OCCASIONALLY REQUIRED JUMP STARTS. THE WEEK OF THE FAILURE THE CAR STARTED OKAY TO MOVE IT TO THE GARAGE SO I COULD TAKE THE SNOW TIRES OFF, I THEN MOVED IT BACK TO ITS SPOT. THAT FRIDAY, I DROVE OVER 100 MILES FROM CT TO BRATTLEBORO, VT, WHERE I WENT TO A SUPERMARKET, THEN A RESTAURANT. IT RAN PERFECTLY, UNTIL I FINISHED DINNER, AND IT WOULD NOT START. IT WOULD CRANK, BUT THERE WAS NO COMBUSTION. AFTER A FEW LONG WALKS AND MANY PHONE CALLS, NO ONE COULD HELP WITH IT AND THERE WAS NO PLACE TO STAY FOR THE NIGHT OR CARS TO RENT. I TOOK A TAXI 20-30 MILES TO MY FAMILY SKI HOUSE IN NEWFANE. THE NEXT MORNING, I CALLED SEVERAL SHOPS AND FOUND ONE THAT COULD LOOK AT IT. (NO DEALERS IN THE AREA) THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THEM, AND I GOT A RIDE FROM MY NEIGHBOR DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AND BACK INTO TOWN. THE SHOP DETERMINED IT WAS NOT A SIMPLE FIX, AND COULD NOT GIVE IT ANY MORE TIME UNTIL LATER IN THE WEEK. I CALLED SOME DEALERS BACK IN CT, AND HAD IT TOWED THERE. I GOT MY UNCLE TO COME BRING ME AND MY DOG HOME. TUESDAY, I CALLED THE DEALER IT WAS AT, AND THEY TOLD ME THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED, AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SPARK PLUGS. THE REPAIR COST $619.01, AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. *AK

EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE. IT SEEMS THE ROUTING OF THE CABLE CAUSES WEAR AND HAS ALLOWED WATER TO ENTER THE CABLE AND FREEZE, RENDERING THE E. BRAKE NON FUNCTIONAL DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. AS THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THE ISSUE SINCE IT HAD APP 62,000 MILES I HAVE TRIED TO GET SAAB TO CORRECT A SIT IS A SAFTEY ITEM, BUT TO NO AVAIL.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ONE YEAR AGO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS REPLACED AND LATER THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V399000, REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: MODULE. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. NO RESTART. INTERNAL FAILURE OF CAT. CONVERTER, REPLACED CAT. CONVERTER. *BF THE PROBLEM WAS THE R & R IGNITION MODULE. AFTER THE IGNITION REPAIR, THE CONSUMER FELT A LOSS OF POWER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CLOGGED. *SC *JB

MY 2000 SAAB 9-5 HAS ONLY 39,500 MILES. IT HAS LOST THE ABILITY TO HEAT THE DRIVERS SIDE WHICH IS A SAFETY CONCERN WHILE DRIVING IN THE WINTER. THE SYSTEM CAN NOT GENERATE ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT THE ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED AT THE SAAB DEALER AT THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT A MOTOR SHAFT IN A HEATER BOX WAS BROKEN. LAST WEEK I FOUND THIS SHAFT ON THE FLOOR. IT HAS EXTENSIVE MECHANICAL DAMAGE. IN MY OPINION THE ONLY EXPLANATION IS THAT IT WAS DEFECTIVE WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED IN THE CAR OR THE DESIGN OF THE HEATING SYSTEM WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. *AK

MY CAR PERIODICALLY WILL NOT START. THE LIGHTS COME ON; THERE APPEARS TO BE POWER; BUT WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION, ALL I HEAR IS A CLICK. THE CAR WILL START ON A BUMP START (MANUAL TRANS) AND WILL TAKE A JUMP. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. HAPPENS MAINLY ON COLD STARTS.*AK

CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL REPAIRS DONE ON A 2000 SAAB 9-5. *KB WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC. IN SEPT 2004 THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE (IDM) WAS REPLACED AT A CHARGE OF OVER $500. IN APRIL 2006 THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM SAAB FOR THE IDM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO EXPLAINED THAT THE IDM HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. THE RECORDS DID NOT INDICATE WHERE THE WORK HAD BEEN DONE. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT BUT CANNOT FIND THE INVOICE. *NM

DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE (DIC) FAILURE 2000 SAAB 9-5 AERO THE DIC ON MY 2000 SAAB 9-5 AERO FAILED AT 65MPH CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. NO RESTART. VIEWED OWNER FEEDBACK AT WWW.SAABNET.COM AND REALISED DIC FAILURE RATE ON 9-5 MODEL (ALL YEARS) SEEMS EXTREMELY HIGH. OWNERS HAVE COMMENTED THAT SAAB RECOGNIZES THE DEFECT AND IN SOME CASES PROVIDES SPARE DIC'S BUT HAS DECLINED TO RECALL. SAAB REFUSED TO COMMENT, TO ME, ON THE FAILURE RATE OR DEFECT TREND FOR THIS DIC. THE DIC FAILS WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL. FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED COULD BE CATOSTROPHIC. I HAVE SEEN OTHER OWNERS COMMENT THAT DIC FAILURE CAN BE ACCOMPANIED BY A GREAT DEAL OF SMOKE AND POSSIBLY FIRE. GM RECALLED SATURN IGNITION MODULES AS DID VW. WONDERING WHY SAAB HAS NOT. (1) IRRATIC ENGINE SPEED WITH INTERMITTENT HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION. (2) LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND VEHICLE CONTROL (3) REPLACED DIGITAL IGNITION CASSETTE, DEFECTIVE PART IS AVAILABLE. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 95. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE MINUTES WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE VEHICLE OPERATED PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS (5), I WAS UNABLE TO START MY CAR. I WOULD TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THERE WOULD BE NO RESPONSE, NOT EVEN A CRANK. IT WOULD EVENTUALLY START AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS. I WOULD MENTION THIS TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR EACH TIME I BROUGHT MY CAR IN AND FOR THE FIRST THREE (3) TIMES THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. THE 4TH TIME THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THOUGHT THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM...AFTER TWO WEEKS, MY CAR DID NOT START AGAIN. MY 5TH TIME TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS A FAULTY SAFETY SWITCH. *AK

ON TWO OCCASIONS, THERE HAS BEEN A TOTAL LOST OF POWER TO THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME ON A SIDE STREET GOING ABOUT 25 OR 30. AFTER HAVING THE CAR LOOKED AT A SAAB DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND SENT ON MY WAY. OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 AT ABOUT 70 MPH IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE. NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, NO NOTHING. EVERY PERSON I HAVE TALKED TO WHO HAS OWNED A SAAB (MODEL AND YEAR DIFFERENCE DO NOT SEEM TO MATTER) HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THE MECHANICS ARE NOW SAYING THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE THROTTLE BODY, WHATEVER THAT IS. MY GENERAL IMPRESSION OF SAAB'S REPRESENTATIVES (MECHANICS, PERSONNEL, ETC.) IS THAT THIS DEFECT IS NOT A BIG DEAL. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *JB

ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. (THE HOOD BURNED) *SC ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE FIRE WAS A RESULT IN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWED FLUID TO LEAK ON THE EXHAUST WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. *JB

MY CAR ENGINE STOPPED, TWICE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT ONCE, AND A THIRD TIME COMING DOWN THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN LEAVING ME WITH NO ABILITY TO STEER. THE THIRD TIME I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR PLACE OTHER THAN THE SAAB DEALER. THE REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAULTY IGNITION CASSETTE. I HAD IT REPAIRED BY THE SHOP AT A CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THERE WOULD BE A SAAB RECALL FOR MY YEAR CAR. I CALLED SAAB CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL WOULD BE IN MARCH 2006, BUT THAT I SHOULD SUBMIT MY EXPENSES FOR REIMBURSEMENT REVIEW WHICH I DID IN JANUARY 2006. TODAY I WAS ADVISED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND I WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT. SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN #05V399000 FOR SUMMARY. *JB

TWICE IN THE 4 YEAR, 60K LIFE OF MY SAAB 9-5 WAGON, THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT HAS LOCKED UP, SO AS NOT TO BE USABLE. BOTH TIMES AFTER FULLY FOLDING DOWN THE REAR SEAT AND RAISING IT BACK TO ITS UPRIGHT POSITION. THE FIRST TIME, SAAB MADE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE YET TO CONTACT SAAB OR SEARCH YOUR SERVICE BULLETINS. I DOUBT I HAVE FOLDED DOWN THIS SEAT MORE THAN 20 TIMES SO THE FAILURE RATE, FOR ME, IS >10%.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH POWER STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INSPECTED VEHICLE FOUR TIMES, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. ECM WAS REPLACED BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. (NAR) *LA *CB

2000 SAAB 9-5 SEDAN SUDDENLY STALLED OUT AT 60 MPH AS 2 TRACKER TRAILERS NEARLY COLLIDED INTO MY VEHICLE. NO SHOULDERS ON THIS HIGHWAY LEAVING MY FAMILY IN A HORRIBLY DANGEROUS PLACE. VERMONT STATE POLICE RESPONDED TO PROVIDE PROTECTION. THE CASSETTE WHICH HOUSES THE IGNITION FAILED. BOTH THE DEALER AND OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPRESSED THAT THIS OCCURS AL THE TIME WITH SAABS AND THERE IS NO WAY TO PREVENT THESE CARS FROM STALLING AT ANY TIME!*AK

TEMPERATURE SETTINGS/ADJUSTMENTS ON THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM DO NOT WORK AS INTENDED. WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, A SET TEMPERATURE OF 68 DEGREES INITIALLY PROVIDES WARM AIR, THEN IT TURNS COLD AND THE TEMP HAS TO BE RAISED TO 82 DEGREES FOR WARM AIR. SOMETIMES, THE RIGHT SIDE OPERATES. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER SHOP TWICE, THE SECOND TIME FOR 3 WEEKS, AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIX IT. CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE DESIGN OF THE HEATING/VENTILATION SYSTEM, AND THAT THEY HAVE SEEN OTHER 2000-2001 YEAR MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THAT SAAB HAS REDESIGNED THE SYSTEM SINCE THEN. AFTER THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, DURING THE SUMMER THE SYSTEM PROVIDED HOT AIR INSTEAD OF AIR CONDITIONING, BUT THAT WAS FIXED. *AK

ON 8/11/03 I WAS DRIVING ON US ROUTE 9 IN HUDSON NEW YORK WHEN MY ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. HAD TO BE TOWED TO SAAB DEALER 40 MILES AWAY. REPLACE IGNITION CASSETTE. WAS ADVISED DUE TO MY ATTEMPT TO RE-START THE CAR, RAW GAS GOT INTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER. TYHAT HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL WEEKS LATER. I AM WRITING THIS SO LATE AS I WAS UNAWARE THIS MAY NOT BE AN ISOLATED INSTANCE.*AK

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

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A CONSTANT 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THERE WAS NO INDICATION ON AN IMPENDING FAILURE. ONE MOMENT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING NORMALLY AND THEN SUDDENLY IT STOPPED COMPLETELY. FORTUNATELY, I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED A FAILED DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN SPITE OF THE HEAVY TRAFFIC.*AK

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

2000 9.5 IGNITION DISCHARGE CASSETTE HAD FAILED AND WAS FORCED TO BE REPLACED. *TS 04/12/07 ADD TO CUSTOMER WANTS MORE INFO IN THE LETTER**CC THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT AT HIS EXPENSE EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. *JB UPDATED 05/08/07. THE CONSUMER STATES THE DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE RECALL ITEM BECAUSE HE IS ONLY ENTITLED TO ONE FREE RECALL REPAIR , BUT THE CONSUMER JUST WANTS TO REIMBURSED FOR THE DEFECTIVE ITEM HE HAS REPAIRED. UPDATE 05/08/07*TR

A LOUD NOISE IS COMING FROM THE GAS TANK AS GAS MOVES IN THE TANK. *MJS