2000 Saab 9-5 complaints

I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON ROUTE 93 NORTH OF BOSTON IN RUSH HOUR. SOMEONE STARTED FLASHING LIGHTS AND HONKING AT ME. I PULLED OVER (FORTUNATELY 150 FEET BEFORE THE BREAKDOWN LANE IS USED AS A TRAVEL LANE) AND SMELLED GAS. THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL LINE HAD POPPED OFF THE FUEL TANK UNDER THE ACCESS PLATE UNDER THE REAR SEAT. I CLEANED UP THE MESS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, PUSHED THE FUEL LINE BACK IN, LET IT SIT FOR 15 MINUTES AND THEN PROCEEDED HOME. THE WHITE RETAINING CLIP IS NOT BROKEN. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE FUEL LINE CAME OUT, BUT THIS IS NOW THE SECOND TIME, IT ALSO HAPPENED OCTOBER 29 TO MY WIFE AND WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED HOME. I ADDED STAINLESS WIRE TO KEEP THE BRACKET FROM ALLOWING THE FUEL LINE TO POP OUT AGAIN AND ORDERED THE BRACKET THAT SAAB HAS TO ADDRESS A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON THE 9-3. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO AWAIT REPAIR OF THE BODY DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

CONSUMER SAAB AERO 9-5 CLIP HOLD THE GAS TANK BROKE, SPILLING GASOLINE ALL OVER THE CAR, THE ROAD AND EXHAUST LINES. *TS ***NAR*** A CLIP THAT WAS HOLDING THE GAS HOSE IN PLACE BROKE, WHICH REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS AN ODOR OF SMOKE AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS AN NHTSA RECALL, #05V399000, REGARDING THE IGNITION MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 09/20/06. *JB

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKING, SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING IN THROUGH THE VENTS. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILLED OUT A REPORT. A POLICE REPORT WAS ALSO FILED ON THE SCENE BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. *AK

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

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

CAR ACCELERATION HESITANT AND NON RESPONSIVE PUTTING VEHICLE IN PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS AT FREEWAY ON RAMPS. IGNITION CASSETTE DIAGNOSED AS FAILED AND NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. 4 CYLINDER MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT MY 6 CYLINDER MODEL HAS NOT. SERVICE MANAGER INDICATES REPLACING 50 - 60 OF SUCH CASSETTES BETWEEN BOTH 4 AND 6 CYLINDERS AND CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY MY VEHICLE ISN'T COVERED BY RECALL. *NM

SUDDEN MULTIPLE DISPLAY OF DASH LIGHTS INDICATING FAILURE OF THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM INCLUDING DISABLEMENT OF THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED LESS THAN ONE MONTH AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD ON CAR EXPIRED. SAAB DEALER REQUESTED $3000 TO REPLACE THE ABS UNIT AS A START, TO FIND OUT WHY ABS SYSTEM IS DISABLED. DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS (TWO INDEPENDENT SHOPS) INDICATE NO COMMUNICATION WITH ABS SYSTEM COMPUTER SO DIAGNOSTIC OF ACTUAL CAUSE OF FAILURE IMPOSSIBLE. I FOUND OUT INDEPENDENTLY FROM PRIVATE CONSUMER GROUP: WWW.SAABNET.COM , THAT THIS IS COMMON FAILURE WITH SAAB 95S THAT ARE SEVERAL YEARS OLD AND THAT SEVERAL INDEPENDENT COMPANIES CAN REBUILD THE ABS CONTROLLER FOR LESS THAN $300. I REMOVED THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND SENT IT FOR REBUILD. I AM AWAITING RETURN OF PART FOR REINSTALLATION. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V399000, REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; IGNITION MODULE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE COASTED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. IT WAS RESTARTED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 35MPH AND WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE IGNITION MODULE HAD FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONLY 30 MILES MORE WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD FAILED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, 05V399000, REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION MODULE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

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

CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. *JB

ON 4/15/06, MY HUSBAND MERLE WAS DRIVING MY MOTHER AND DAUGHTER TO A GROCERY STORE. MY MOM STEPPED OUT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT; AS SOON AS SHE DID, THE SIDE AIR BAG LODGED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. IT DID NOT DEPLOY UPON ANY KIND OF COLLISION OR IMPACT; HOWEVER, THE CAR HAD BEEN IN A PASSENGER SIDE COLLISION ON FEBRUARY 21, 2006, WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER HIT OUR CAR BROADSIDE. THE REPAIR WORK WAS COMPLETED IN MID-MARCH. ON APRIL 18, 2006, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE AUTO BODY SHOP THAT COMPLETED THE REPAIRS FROM THE 2/21/06 INCIDENT. THEY TOOK THE CAR TO SAAB INTL MOTORS (703.534.7222), WHICH PERFORMED DIAGNOSTICS ON THE CAR'S "BLACK BOX". MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE DIAGNOSTICS DID NOT REVEAL ANY HELPFUL INFORMATION TO EXPLAIN THE DEPLOYMENT. THE SIDE AIR BAG IS NOW BEING REPAIRED BY INTERNATIONAL MOTORS, AT THE EXPENSE OF STATE FARM (PHONE 1.888.613.3966), THE INSURER FOR THE DRIVER WHO ORIGINALLY COLLIDED WITH OUR CAR ON 2/21/06. THE STATE FARM CLAIM # IS 206103504-02. *JB

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

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.

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 DRIVING MY 2000 SAAB 9-5 LPT, THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND THE SPEEDOMETER GOES TO ZERO. THE MECHANIC STATES THAT THE ABS COMPUTER HAS FAILED DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE ELECTRONICS. *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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

ANOTHER VOICE: COMMON SUDDEN FAILURE OF SAAB ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY CAUSING IMMEDIATE STALL AT SPEED, IN TRAFFIC. NO CRASH. UNDRIVEABLE "LIMP HOME" MODE. NECESSITATED LONG TOW AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THIS ITEM CITED FREQUENTLY ON SAAB-RELATED WEBSITES, BUT GOT ME TODAY! NOTE THAT CURRENT RECALL IS FOR A DIFFERENT PART, EQUALLY SAFETY-RELATED. *NM

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

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

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

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

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

DT: THE CONTACT'S WIFE ON 4-18-05 WAS DRIVING 2000 SAAB. THE CAR WAS IN PARK WHEN SHE MOVED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO UPPER LEFT ARM AND THE BACK OF HEAD. SHE DID NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL OR SEE A DOCTOR. SHE OCCASIONALLY HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH LEFT ARM AND THE BACK OF HEAD. THEY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND HE FOUND THAT THERE WERE A CLUSTER OF WIRES UNDERNEATH THE SEAT. WHEN THE SEAT WAS MOVED BACK A WIRE WAS CHAFED AND CAUSED A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM , RESULTING IN AIR BAG TO DEPLOYMENT. THE SERVICE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ON OR 4-25-05. THE CONTACT CALLED SAAB IN ATLANTA, GAEORGIA, AND SAAB PAID FOR THE REPAIR WORK. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS. *AK

THE ABS MODULE ON 2000 SAAB 9-5 EXPEIENCES INTERMITTENT FAILURES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THER IS NO ABS, TRACTION CONTROL OR SPEEDOMETER. THIS PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT MECHANICS ARE RECOMMENDING AGAINST USED PARTS. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE MILEAGE RELATED, BUT AGE RELATED. SAAB HAS ISSUED GOODWILL CREDIT TO LOW MILEAGE VEHICLES BUT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT HIGHER MILEAGE CARS. A NEW REPLACEMENT PART IS $2800.00.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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