Saab Cars USA, Inc.: Wheels › Hub
Saab Cars USA, Inc. reported this defect to federal regulators on Jan 13, 2003 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 70,726. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IF AN OWNER CHANGES THEIR WHEELS/TIRES BETWEEN SUMMER AND WINTER USING A STEEL WHEEL IN THE WINTER AND AN ALLOY WHEEL IN THE SUMMER, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR RUST AND CONTAMINATION TO BUILD UP ON THE WHEEL HUB DURING THE STEEL WHEEL USAGE. IF THIS OCCURS AND THE CONTAMINATION IS NOT REMOVED, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT AFTER THE TIRE CHANGE SERVICE, SOME OF THIS CONTAMINATION COULD FLAKE OR GRIND AWAY RESULTING IN REDUCED CLAMPING FORCE OF THE WHEEL TO THE HUB. OVER SEVERAL SEASONS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS REDUCED FORCE COULD RESULT IN FRACTURES DEVELOPING IN THE WHEEL BOLTS DUE TO WHEEL TO HUB MOVEMENT.
The risk
THESE FRACTURES WOULD RESULT IN WHEEL BOLT BREAKAGE, ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO DETACH FROM THE WHEEL HUB, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
OWNERS WILL BE CONTACTED BY MAIL AND ASKED WHETHER THEY CHANGE BETWEEN STEEL AND ALLOY WHEELS. IF THEY DO ENGAGE IN THIS PRACTICE, THEY WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO BRING THEIR CARS TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER WILL REMOVE THE WHEELS, CLEAN ANY CONTAMINATION FROM THE WHEEL AND WHEEL HUB, AND REPLACE THE WHEELS USING NEW IMPROVED BOLTS WITH ATTACHED WASHERS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 31, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
5 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Saab 9-5 | 47 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 Saab 9-5 | 65 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| 2001 Saab 9-5 | 104 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| 2000 Saab 9-5 | 119 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| 1999 Saab 9-5 | 118 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 03V006000.
Full record for the 2003 Saab 9-5 → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →