2002 SAAB 9-5 Complaints

LETTER FROM INSURANCE COMPANY REGARDING LOSS OF SAAB DUE TO FIRE WITH REQUEST FOR PAYMENT**CC THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD HAD ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACT STRANGELY. THE CONSUMER ARRIVED HOME PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE AND THEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB UPDATED

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, PRESSURE LINE FROM FUEL TANK CAME LOOSE AND STARTED SPRAYING GAS ALL OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. STREAM OF DRIPS ON HIGHWAY ALERTED A PASSING MOTORIST WHO FLAGGED US DOWN. LOST 5 GALLONS OF GAS IN JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES. HAD TO PULL OVER AND CALL FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. EVACUATED CAR DUE TO LARGE POOLS OF GAS UNDER VEHICLE AND DRIPS NEAR HOT EXHAUST PIPES. TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED FUEL LINE LOOSE AFTER LOOKING INSIDE PORT FROM UNDER BACK SEAT. NO EVIDENCE OF ANY BREAKAGE OR OTHER ISSUES -- THE LINE SIMPLY CAME LOOSE AND WAS EASILY RE-ATTACHED. CAR IS BEING TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INVESTIGATION AND HOPEFULLY A FIX. CONSULTATION ON INTERNET CHAT ROOM SAABNET.COM FINDS THAT AT LEAST 3 OTHER OWNERS OF SIMILAR VINTAGE SAAB 9-5 VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. JB

BOLT CAME OFF ON TURBO-CHARGER AND BLASTED A HOLE THROUGH THE TURBO-CHARGER. MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING DURING A MERGE AND I ALMOST CRASHED. THIS RESULTING IN $2000 WORTH OF REPAIRS. *NM

LEAVING THE I-287 IN NJ FRIDAY AROUND 3.30 PM THE CAR STARTED TO LOOSE POWER BY NOT RESPONDING TO ANY THROTTLE PRESSURE. I PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE AS SOON AS I COULD AND CAME TO A FALTERING HALT ON THE EXIT RAMP. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND ON AGAIN TO SEE IF ANY WARNING DISPLAY INFORMATION WAS GIVEN. I LOOKED UNDER THE BONNET BUT COULD SEE NO SIGN OF ANY LEAKAGE OR EXCESS HEAT. I GOT BACK IN AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT FIRED UP BUT ONLY WITH LITTLE POWER AND WOULD HARDLY REV UP. I WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD OFF OF THE EXIT RAMP AS I WAS IN A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION ON A FAST UPHILL GRADUAL 90 DEGREE TWO LANE RAMP WITH NO SHOULDER, THERE WAS TRAFFIC COMING CONSTANTLY, IT WAS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND POURING WITH RAIN. WHEN EVER I PUT IT INTO GEAR IT WOULD START TO MOVE BUT AS IT WAS UPHILL IT WAS NOT VERY PRODUCTIVE. I GAVE UP AFTER THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN, BUT DID MANAGE TO GET THE CAR AS CLOSE TO THE RIGHT HAND BARRIERS AS POSSIBLE SO THAT TRAFFIC COULD PASS ME WITHOUT STRADDLING LANES. I CALLED MY LOCAL GARAGE WHO ARRANGED FOR A BREAKDOWN TRUCK TO COME AND GET ME. IN THE 45 MINS IT TOOK TO FOR THEM TO GET ME I WAS EXTREMELY NERVOUS THAT A TRUCK OR FAST CAR WOULD HIT INTO THE REAR OF MY CAR, SO I HAD THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO ILLUMINATE THE BRAKE LIGHTS. IT WAS A DANGEROUS POSITION TO BE IN AND THE TRAFFIC WAS BUILDING QUICKLY FOR THE EVENING RUSH. THE TOW TRUCK GOT TO ME AT AROUND 4.30 PM AND TOOK ME AND THE CAR TO MY LOCAL GARAGE. THE GARAGE DIAGNOSED THE IDM UNITS AS FAILED, AND REPLACED THEM. ONCE I HAD THE CAR BACK, THE VERY NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THIS HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS BEING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BEING FAULTY, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS A RESULT OF THE IGNITION UNITS FAILING AND UNBURNED FUEL BEING PUMPED IN TO THE UNIT. *JB

WE HAVE A 2002 SAAB 9.5 (6 CYLINDER ENGINE) WHICH HAD A DI CASSETTE FAILURE-LEAD TO CAR LOSING ACCELERATION ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND ULTIMATELY REQUIRING POLICE ASSISTANCE. DI CASSETTE FAILURE LEAD TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILING AS WELL. CAR IS NOT PART OF RECALL AND SAAB WON'T PAY AS A RESULT. *JB

AUGUST 12, 2006 OUR 2002 SAAB 9-5 SPORTWAGON CAUGHT FIRE. RETURNING HOME FROM VACATION THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DISPLAYED. INFORMATION IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND A PHONE CALL TO OUR SAAB DEALER LEAD US TO BELIEVE THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. AS WE APPROACHED THE TOLL PLAZA IN MAYS LANDING, NJ THE CAR STALLED AND BEGAN TO SMOKE. WE EVACUATED THE CAR. TOLL PERSONNEL EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND SUMMONED THE LAURELDALE FIRE COMPANY AND THE NJ STATE POLICE. THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE TOLL PERSONNEL PREVENTED A POTENTIAL DISASTER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT IN EGG HARBOR CTIY, NJ . AFTER A FEW HOURS WE WERE ABLE TO ARRANGE FORA RENTAL TO TRANSPORT US AND OUR VACATION BAGGAGE HOME. AT THIS TIME WE DID NOT KNOW THE EXTEND OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR OTHER THAN IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN TO OUR HOME AND IT WAS A SATURDAY. THE CLOSEST SAAB DEALER IN CHERRY HILL, NJ WAS NOT OPEN FOR SERVICE CALLS. WE ARRIVED HOME 5 HOURS LATER THAN EXPECTED WITH A RENTAL CAR THAT COST $125/DAY AND $0.20 A MILE + GAS. WE DROVEBACK TO NJ IN THE MORNING TO RETURN THE RENTAL BECAUSE WE DID NOT WANT TO INCUR ANY UNNECESSARY EXPENSES. SUNDAY AUGUST 13 WE TRAVELED BACK TO GALLOWAY, NJ TO RETURN THE RENTAL VEHICLE. THIS FIRE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED AND SAAB SHOULD PICK UP ANY EXPENSES RELATING TO A CAR FIRE OF A 2002 VEHICLE WITH 59,518 MILES. THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED, WE PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALER IN CHERRY HILL, NJ AUGUST 19, 2006. REPAIRSR WERE COVERED BY SAAB ALONG WITH THE TOWING TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE FAILURE OF TWO IGNITION CASSETTES CAUSED A FIRE IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, DAMAGING THE CONVERTER, EXHAUST PIPE, AND MOUNTS. SAAB HAS NOT EXPLAINED WHY THE MECHANICAL FAILURE CAUSED THE FIRE AND HAS GIVEN US NO ASSURANCE THAT IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. SAAB HAS DECLINED TO PAY THE ADDITIONAL COST WE INCURRED WHICH TOTAL LESS THAN $500.00 WE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH SAAB CUSTOMER SERVICE AND A CLAIM WITH OUR INSURANCE CARRIER.

2002 SAAB 9-5 WITH 54000 MILES. THE THROTTLE BODY ON THE CAR STARTED TO SURGE BADLY. IF IT IS NOT REPLACED AT THIS POINT IT CAN GO OUT COMPLETELY AND THE CAR STOPS IMMEDIATELY IN TRAFFIC. *NM

I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHEN MY ENGINE STARTED TO STALL AND LOST POWER. I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND COULD NOT RE-START IT. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED A FAILED IGNITION MODULE. MY CAR IS A 2002 SAAB 9-5 AND HAD BEEN RE-CALLED BECAUSE OF FAILURES OF THIS COMPONENT. HOWEVER, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE CAR ENGINE WAS OF THE TYPE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE RECALL, WHEN SAAB NOTIFIED ITS' DEALERS IT LIMITED THE MODULES TO BE REPLACED TO ONLY CERTAIN SERIAL NUMBERS. THIS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT ACCORDING TO NHTSA ALL ENGINES NOT HAVING THE QP3 MODIFICATION, WHICH MY CAR DOES NOT, SHOULD HAVE BEEN RE-CALLED. THUS, SAAB REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE PART EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME PART THAT WAS FAILING AND PROMPTED THE RECALL INITIALLY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A HAZARD DUE TO THE OVERHEATING OF THE PART WHICH LED TO STALLING AND COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE. SAAB SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO LIMIT THE SERIAL NUMBERS REPLACED BECAUSE OTHER SERIAL NUMBERS APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. *JB CONSUMER CALLED ON 9/12/06 TO REPORT A SECOND IDM FAILURE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON 8/18/06. THE FOLLOWING IS PER A CONVERSATION W/ MRS. ALDER ON 9/14/06: DURING THIS INCIDENT, HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. AS SHE WAS PULLING OFF THE HWY, SHE SMELT A BURNING SMELL AND SAW SMOKE COMING INTO THE CAR. PULLED OVER AND STARTED TO CALL HUSBAND WHEN SHE SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT FIRE AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED. SHE REPORTED THAT THE DEALER SAID HER CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD BURNED. *CAR

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BOTH CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. VEHICLE WENT INTO "LIMP MODE", WHERE POWER IS MINIMIZED MAKING FOR A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. TOOK VEHICLE TO KACHINA SAAB DEALERSHIP IN SCOTTSDALE, AZ AND WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING WITH ONLY 50K MILES OF ALL HIGHWAY DRIVING. ALSO WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP THIS IS COMMON OCCURRENCE ON ALL SAABS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, ALTHOUGH I HAD A FULL VEHICLE SERVICE AND INSPECTION DONE JUST 2 WEEKS AGO, AT THIS SAME DEALERSHIP, AND ALL CHECKED OUT "GREAT". *JB

I WOULD LIKE TO CITE NHTSA CAMPAIGN #05V399000. WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 SAAB 9-5 6 CYLINDER ON 4/20/2006 I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ROUGH OPERATION AND REDUCED POWER OF THE ENGINE. I WAS A SHORT DISTANCE FROM MY DESTINATION WHERE I PARKED THINKING I WOULD NEED TO BE TOWED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS OVERHEATING BECAUSE THERE SEEMED TO BE STEAM COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD BUT THERE WAS AN ODD SMELL. I WENT INTO THE COFFEE SHOP I WAS VISITING AND WITHIN A MINUTE OR TWO I TURNED TO CHECK ON MY CAR AND I SAW THAT THE INTERIOR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. I WENT OUTSIDE AND NOTICED SPARKS AND FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE IN THE AREA OF THE BACK SEAT AND I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE UNDER THE CAR AND IN THE BACK SEAT WHERE THE FLAMES HAD BURNED THROUGH THE CARPET. I CALLED A TOW SERVICE AND WENT BACK INTO THE STORE TO FINISH MY COFFEE AND WAIT FOR THE TOW TRUCK. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS STILL SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD SO I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AGAIN TO PUT OUT THE REMNANTS OF THE FIRE. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO THE NEAREST SAAB DEALER WHICH IS IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, ABOUT 40 MILES AWAY. LATER THAT DAY I CALLED THE DEALER TO ASK ABOUT THE ABOVE REFERENCED RECALL WHICH I HAD DISCOVERED ON THE INTERNET, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY PARTICULAR CAR WAS NOT COVERED. IN THE LETTER OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT DATED SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 FROM GM TO THE NTHSA, GM STATES THAT "A SUSTAINED VEHICLE FIRE IS UNLIKELY AND GM KNOWS OF NONE." DUE TO THE EXACTNESS OF MY SITUATION AND THE RECALL, I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT GM NOW HAS AT LEAST ONE FIRE ON RECORD. *JB