1999 Saab 9-5 complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AT NO SPECIFIC SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, THE DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL DETERMINED THE IDM COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKE LIGHT WARNING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 02/13/06.*JB

SLUDGE IN OIL AND FAULTY IGNITION CASSETTE MODULE. *NM

1999 SAAB 9-5 HAS A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER, AND VACUUM BOOSTER WHICH BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *TS IN THE PAST THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP. HEATER FAN MOTOR, THERMOSTAT. LEAKY SUNROOF, BATTERY, BATTERY CABLES AND NUMEROUS LIGHT BULBS. *JB

THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART DUE TO IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED SAAB DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. PER A CONVERSATION WITH THE TECHNICIAN, THE MODULE WAS REPLACED WITH AN IDENTICAL MODULE OF THE SAME PART NUMBER. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V399000 CONCERNING THE IGNITION MODULE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. *AK UPDATED 2/24/2006 - THE FAULTY IGNITION MODULE CAUSED THE VEHICLE STALL SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. *NM

DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE BURNED CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO DRIVE IN LIMP-HOME MODE. CAR TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSED AS BURNED DIC. MECHANIC STATED THAT CAR SHOULD HAVE DIED. VERY FORTUNATE TO LIMP HOME. DIC REPLACED WITH NEW UNIT AT MY COST (OUT OF WARRANTY).*JB

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ON THE 1999 SAAB 9-5 THE IGNITION MODULE, FAILED. THIS HAPPENED IN OCTOBER OF 2004. THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF OVER 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN FIXED BY THE CONSUMER. THE IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED IN THE CAR. THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE REPLACEMENT PART FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM HIMSELF. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE SINCE THE MODULE REPLACEMENT. THE CONSUMER DID CONTACT GM, AND THEY SENT THE CONSUMER AN E-MAIL REPLYING THAT SAAB WAS AN INNOVATOR AND SOME VEHICLES DO EXPERIENCE SOME PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE STALLED ONCE. *AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE 1999 MODELS HAVE AN ECU IN WHICH THE IGNITION CONTROL SOFTWARE PARAMETERS CANNOT BE UPDATED UNLIKE THE 2000 AND LATER YEAR MODELS. *JB

1. CAR WAS HESITATING AND MIS-FIRING. EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE SAAB RECALL NO. 05087. 2. WITH FAMILY, CAR COMPLETELY DIED WHILE GOING UP A HILL. SINCE IT WAS A 5 SPEED, I WAS ABLE TO ROLL BACK DOWN THE HILL AND SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE THE CAR TOWED. 3. DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE (DIC) AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. WITH DEALER ASSISTANCE, SAAB REPLACE THE PART AND RELATED REPAIR AT MINIMAL COSTS. UNLIKE THE SAAB RECALL NO. 05087, 1999 OWNERS ARE BEING EXCLUDED FROM THE REMEDY FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AND FAILURES. SAAB / GM NEED TO REMEDY THE EXACT SAME ISSUE IN SAAB RECALL NO. 05087 FOR THE 1999 OWNERS. THE FAILURE AND SAFETY CONCERNS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME. *JB

(1) NORMAL CITY DRIVING OPERATION FOR 20 MINUTES (2) WHILE IDLING AT BUSY INTERSECTION FOR LEFT TURN, CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT TURN-OVER; BURNING SMELL CAME FROM UNDER HOOD. DID NOT OPEN HOOD SO COULD NOT EVALUATE WHETHER THERE WAS FIRE. CAR TOWED BY AAA TO CLOSEST SAAB DEALER. (3) DEALER INSPECTION IDENTIFIED THE FAILURE OF THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. THIS IS THE SAME FAILURE AS IDENTIFIED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE05017 AND CAMPAIGN RECALL NUMBER 05V399000. VEHICLE - SAAB 9-5 2.3L MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAGON MAKE YEAR - 1999 CURRENT MILEAGE - 60K MILES ALL SERVICING UP TO DATE AND DONE BY DEALER. *JB

VEHICLE WAS NOT STARTING. REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS FAILURE OF DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE, WHICH IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A RECENT RECALL OF OVER 300,000 VEHICLES. PART WAS REPLACED- WILL NEED TO CHECK IF AVAILABLE. *NM

FAILURE OF DIRECT IGNITION (DI) UNIT (1) CAR BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND STALLING AT STOP LIGHTS. A PROGRESSIVE WORSENING PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE AFTER COUPLE OF MENTIONS OF PROBLEM. (2) CAR DIED IN MIDDLE OF STREET, HAD TO CALL SERVICE TO TOW TO DEALERSHIP. (3) UNIT WAS REPLACED (UNDER WARRANTY AT TIME). *NM

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND INDICATED A MISFIRE CYL. ONE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED UNTIL TOTAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE 12 MILES LATER. THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE 1999-2003 MODEL YEAR RANGE. *NM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AND SUDDENLY WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO DEALER, DIAGNOSED AS DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE. DEALER REPLACED PART. *NM

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

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

DROVE CAR (COLD) FROM HOME TO NEXT TOWN - MAYBE 10MILES APART. LET THE CAR SIT FOR @45 MINS. DROVE BACK IN THE DIRECTION OF HOME - ABOUT 8 MILES INTO DRIVE HOME, CAR STARTED TO CHUG WITH NO WARNING, WAS NOT SPEEDING, LOCAL ROAD WITH TRAFFIC, "CHECK ENGINE"LIGHT CAME ON - PULLED OFF TO NEAREST GAS STATION - ABOUT MILE DOWN THE ROAD. CHECKED OIL - CAR DID NOT NEED OIL. DROVE CAR TO MECHANIC - ANOTHER MILE FROM GAS STATION - CAR CONTINUING TO CHUG. TECHNICIAN TESTED CAR WITH COMPUTER AND SAID THE #2 CYLINDER IN THE DIRECT IGNITION, WAS NOT FIRING PROPERLY AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS, ALL THE GAUGES READ "NORMAL" CAR IS SERVICED PROPERLY. WHY SHOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED? THE CARE IS RARELY DRIVEN THROUGHOUT THE WEEK - I COMMUTE VIA FERRY SO THE CAR IS GENERALLY COLD OR DRIVEN 10-15 MILES REGULARLY. OCCASIONAL LONG TRIPS @90MILES AT MAX. PLEASE INVESTIGATE - I DO NOT THINK I SHOUDL HAVE TO PAY FOR "NEW IGNITION" ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE WAS NO WARNING FROM THE CAR'S SYSTEM AND THE CAR IS SERVICE REGUARLY. THE CAR IS 1999 SAAB 9.5SE 4 CYLINDER WITH @90K MILES. I DO NOT EXPECT THIS FROM SAAB - MY FAMILY HAS ALWAYS HAD SAABS AND EXPECT BETTER PERFORMANCE. PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP. THANK YOU. MARIA ROSE

IGNITION CASETTE FAILURE--SECOND REPLACEMENT IN 12 MONTHS!!!! EVEN THOUGH THE DEFECT WAS FOUND (AND DOCUMENTED!) IN JANUARY 2005 (LESS THAN 12 MONTHS AFTER THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT IN FEBRUARY OF 2004), SAAB WILL NOT PAY FOR REPLACEMENT AND REPAIRS AS IT IS CLAIMING THAT IT WAS NOT REPAIRED UNTIL APRIL.

TRANSMISSION DIED AT 70,000 MILES, WITH NO WARNING, CAUSING BRAKES AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE CAR TO FAIL, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. THE CAR WAS SMOKING ALL THE WAY HOME AND I BARELY MADE IT. I WAS SHAKING BY THE TIME I GOT OUT OF MY CAR.

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THREE COMPLETE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL FAILURES ON THE 1999 SAAB 9-5. *MR THERE WERE NO WARNINGS. THE DI CASSETTE AND THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. *SC THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS EXPERIENCED BULB FAILURES FAILURES ON A REGULAR BASIS AND HE TRULY BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *JB

CAR IS A SAAB 9-5 2.3L, LPT WAGON, 1999. THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED, FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS NOT TOTALLY DISABLED AND WE COULD GET TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS, WITH THE CELL ON. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE FAILURE OF THIS PART AT HIGHWAY SPEED, WHICH RISKS A CATASTROPHE. THIS VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN BADLY AND WITHIN 4 DAYS THE CELL CAME ON AND THE NEXT TIME IT WAS DRIVEN WAS TO THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE DIG AND PLUGS REPLACED. THE CAR IS 5 MONTHS OLD ON A 4 YEAR WARRANTY, BUT MILEAGE IS ON 35,900 AT THE DEALER. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH SAAB CONSUMER SERVICE, SAAB AGREED TO PAY FOR ALL PARTS BUT NOT THE LABOR. APPARENTLY THEY ARE AWARE INTERNALLY OF THIS PROBLEM ON 1999 AND LATER SAAB 9-5'S AND THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. THERE OUGHT TO BE AN ABSOLUTE RECALL FOR THIS, AND IF SO WE SHOULD ALSO BE REIMBURSED OUR LABOR CHARGE. WE ARE ALSO UNCERTAIN AS TO WHETHER THE CASSETTES NOW PRODUCED ARE EQUALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE.*AK

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF UPPER IDLER PULLEY ON '99 2.3LITER LOW PRESSURE TURBO ENGINEE ON SAAB 95SE. THE PULLEY DISINTEGRATED ON STARTUP OF THE VEHICLE. CAUSED PIECEES OF PLASTIC OUTHER RING MATERIAL TO BE SCATTERED AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMETN AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SEPENTINE BELT SLIPPED DOWN ONTO THE HUB AND CAUSED FAILURE OF ACCESSORIES SUCH AS: POWER STEERIGN PUMP, LETERNATOR ETC.*AK HAD THIS OCCURED DURIGN DRIVIGN ON THE HIGHWYA, THE IMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER AND ACCESSORIES WOUDL HAVE GENERATED MAJOR PROBLEM AND MIGHT HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR IS 1999 MODEL YEAR, WITH ~ 50,200 MILES DUING INCIDENT. PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CALL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS AT 512-301-7425. I HAV EFOLLOWE DUP ON WEB BASED OWNER AND ENTHUSIAST NETWORKS. IT APPERAS THAT THIS FAILUR EIS BECOMIGN AN COMMON COURENCE ON 99 & 2000 SAABS95 OPERATED IN SOUTHERN USA. PLEASE CHECK OR SEARCH AT WWW.SAABNET.COM : HTTP://WWW.SAABNET.COM/TSN/BB/9-5/SEARCH.HTML?QUERY=IDLER+PULLEY THIS SEARCH INDICATES 256 MESSAGES RELATED OT THE PROBLEM MOST OF THEM OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS. I HAD THE PULLEY REPLACED AT THE LOCAL DELERSHIP UNDER EXTENDED THIRD PARTY WARRANTY, HOWEVER I BELIVE THAT THIS IS A CASE OF BAD SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THIS APPLICATION. THE PULLEY BODY WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC, THAT IS CRACKIGN AND FAILURING DUE TO HEAT EXPOSURE. I HAVE PIECES OF PULLEY AVAILABLE FO RYOUR INSPECTION IF NEEDED. JERZY

COMPLETE, INSTANTANEOUS SHUTDOWN OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE AT SPEED. LOSS OF POWER, LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, HAD TO ANGLE ACROSS TWO LANES OF HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC WHILE COASTING! THANKFULLY, NO ONE HIT ME! HAD TO REPLACE THE "DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE". THIS FAILED COMPLETELY. *NM

WHILE ENTERING I-80 FROM A REST STOP AND ACCELERATING TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS ENGINE JUST QUIT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND IT RE-STARTED IMMEDIATELY. I CONTINUED WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEM. ON REACHING COLORADO SPRINGS, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL SAAB DEALER, EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM, AND THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. THEY SUGGESTED THAT PERHAPS MY WIFE HAD ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE KEY WHEN ADJUSTING HERSELF IN THE CAR, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO QUIT, AND SUGGESTED IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN TO JIGGLE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE DATES GIVEN FOR THE INCIDENT BELOW ARE A SLIDE FICTION - IT HAPPENED IN 2004, AND I THINK IN MAY, BUT DO NOT RECALL FOR SURE, NOR DO I RECALL THE EXACT DATE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE PASSING LANE IN MY 1999 SAAB 1995 ACCELERATING FROM 65 MPH TO 75 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING WHEN I REACHED ABOUT 75 MPH. IT SMELLED LIKE PLASTIC WAS BURNING AND NOTHING ON THE CAR WAS OPERATIONAL.*AK TRAFFIC WAS VERY HEAVY AND LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT GETTING HIT OR CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AT THAT HIGH SPEED. SUCH CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF A COMPONENT IS UNACCEPTABLE WHEN DRIVING AT TODAY?S SPEEDS AND TRAFFIC. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACED THE DIC (DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE) FOR $738.10. THE CAR WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY.

STATION WAGON STALLED TRAVELING AT SPEED OF 40 MPH. WAS ABLE TO START CAR AFTER ABOUT 1 HOUR. TOOK CAR TO SAAB DEALER FOLLOWING DAY, THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY PROBLEM. NEXT DAY CAR STALLED GOING UP HILL AT 20 MPH - CAR HAD TO BE PUSHED INTO SERVICE STATION. NEW IGNITION CASSETTE WAS INSTALLED BY FRITSCHS EXXON 99 S. NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA 19063 12/30/2004. THEY KEPT OLD PART. PHONE 610-353-3007. THEY OBTAINED NEW PART FROM MAINLINE SAAB IN ARDMORE, PA. I HAD TO RENT A CAR.*AK

THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THIS PART WOULD FAIL, UNTIL IT DID FAIL. I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF, ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND ROLL OFF AN OFF-RAMP, BUT DID CREATE AN UNSAFE CONDITION WHILE STILL ON THE HIGHWAY. THE PART WAS A "DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE", PART #9197559, AND IT WAS EASILY REPLACED BY MY MECHANIC AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO HIS FACILITY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, CHECK ENGINE DISPLAY CAME ON, BUT BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD THE CAR COMPLETELY STALLED. CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP (VILLAGE SAAB,ACTON, MA), AND TOLD I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. OIL ALWAYS CHANGED WITHIN SPECIFIED PARAMETERS, W/ 76K MI. SAAB NOTES DEFECT-BUT OFFERS NO HELP. *NM

I PARKED MY CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY, WENT OUT TO MOVE IT INTO THE GARAGE AND IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND LEARNED IT WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM IN THE FUEL PUMP. I HAD TO PURCHASE A FUEL PUMP. THIS HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER 2003, I OWNED THE CAR LESS THAN THREE YEARS. THE TIME BEFORE THAT IT HAD TO BE TOWED, IT JUST LOST SPEED, AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I HAD TO HAVE TORQUE SEALS & RING BLOCK REPLACED IN JANUARY 2005, THE OIL WAS RUNNING OUT OF MY TRANSMISSION. I JUST HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED FOR THE 2ND TIME, IN FIVE YEARS, IN JANUARY 4, 2005. *JB

1999 SAAB DID NOT COME WITH BRACKET ON REAR DECK TO ANCHOR CHILD SEAT</A>. OWNER MANUAL STATED UPON REQUEST WOULD INSTALL FREE. *BF VEHICLE DID NOT COME WITH BRACKET ON REAR DECK TO ANCHOR A CAR SEAT. *TC

FAILURE OF THE DIRECT IGNITION CASETTE. THE VEHICLE LEFT ME STRANDED AT THE GAS STATION AND LATER THAT NIGHT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. PLEASE INSTITUTE A RECALL. THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!!!

I HAD A FAILURE OF THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE ON MY SAAB. THIS RESULTED IN AN IMMEDIATE, UNANTICIPATED ENGINE FAILURE WITH NO WARNING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO IMMEDIATELY DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM WITH SAABS. TO ME THIS CONSTITUTES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR SAAB DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. IN MY CASE I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE 2 POLICE VEHICLES RESPOND WITHIN MINUTES TO DIVERT HIGHWAY TRAFFIC.*AK THIS PART IS NOW BEING REPLACED.

1999 SAAB 9-5 DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED. LEFT CAR STRANDED. THIS ITEM SHOULD BE RECALLED. MANY SAAB OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED DANGEROUS FAILURES OF THIS COMPONENT.*AK

THE LED FOR SID WHICH PROVIDES PERTINENT DATA FOR AUTO ENGINE FUNCTIONS AND INFORMATION FOR THE RADIO, TEMPERATURE, TRIP DATA, ETC. IS ILLIGIBLE DOES NOT FUNCTION AS I AM CERTAIN MANY OTHER SAAB OWNERS EXPERIENCE. OF GREATER CONCERN IS GM'S RESISTANCE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY REQUESTS CONCERNING THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING AND THE BRAKES. DEALERSHIP REPLACED 3 TIMES THE CASSETTE IGNITION MODULE, PART 9197559 AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $400.OO. *AK

1) SOME OIL LEAKAGE. OIL BACK-UP SLUDGE IN OIL PAN. 2) DRIVING ON HIGHWAY MY CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE, THEN SMOKE POURED OUT THE REAR OF MY CAR. I TOWED IT TO THE DEALER. THE TURBO CHARGER WENT BAD. I WAS TOLD THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD OIL CHANGE?? (OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AT EVERY 5,000 MILES, PER THE DEALERS RECOMMENDATION). I'VE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA.GOV AND SAABNET.COM. WHY IS NOTHING BEING DONE ABOUT THIS CLEARLY FAULTY SYSTEM? MY CAR NOW STILL HESITATES INTERMITTENTLY. WE ARE TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT IF DIAGNOSTICS COME BACK CLEAN AND CAR STILL HESITATES IT MIGHT CAUSE CRASH IF INSUFFICIENT SPEED IS NOT ACHIEVED DURING A FULL STOP OR WHILE TURNING IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC. *AK

I OWN A 1999 SAAB WAGON WHICH HAS HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE AND TURBO SYSTEM. THE CAR WITH 78,000 MILES NOW REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE ESTIMATED AT BETWEEN 7-10 THOUSAND DOLLARS... ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE CAR.. THE CAR HAS REQUIRED MAJOR REPAIRS INCLUDING REPLACING THE TURBO, CRANKSHAFT, HEAD GASKET AND OIL PRESSURE SWITCH, THE WATER PUMP AS WELL AS THE THROTTLE HOUSING AND DI CASSETTE. THE VEHICLE HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING, STALLING AND BUCKING UPON ACCELERATION. THESE INCIDENTS LED TO MOMENTS OF TWO FOOT DRIVING AND NUMEROUS TOWS. RECEIVING NO HELP FROM DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER VEHICLE HAD TO BE ABANDONED AT DEALERSHIP. CUSTOMER BELIEVES THERE IS AN INHERENT DEFECT IN THE ENGINE/TURBO. *JB