1999 SAAB 9-5 Complaints

ON FEBRUARY 15, 2006 AS I WAS EXITING MY CAR (1999 SAAB 9-5 SE), I WAS JOLTED BY FIVE "SHOCKS" WHEN I REACHED FOR THE DOOR (JUST BELOW THE WINDOW) AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND REMOVING THE KEYS. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO EAST OF SWEDED (SAAB SPECIALISTS) IN BOULDER, CO FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR. THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE WAS REPLACED, AND THE PROBLEM SOLVED. I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT SAAB USA HAS RECALLED THIS PART ON THE 2000, 2001, AND 2002 SAAB 9-3 AND 9-5S. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE WHICH WAS REMOVED FROM MY CAR IS THE EXACT SAME PART THAT WAS RECALLED ON THE OTHER MODEL YEARS, BUT THAT THE 1999 HAD NOT BEEN RECALLED. I STILL HAVE THE PART IN MY POSSESSION. *NM

THE CAR DEVELOPED AN ODD BURNING SMELL WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AND THE ENGINE QUIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTES. *NM

SAAB SAFETY ISSUE: MY THIRD NEW SAAB IS A 1999 9-5 SE V6. ON A RECENT TRIP TO JACKSONVILLE, FL, I HAD A FLAT TIRE ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THE SMALL JACK SUPPLIED WITH THE CAR WAS INADEQUATE TO SUPPLY SUFFICIENT LEVERAGE TO LIFT THE CAR. IN A COMPLAINT TO SAAB, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS TOO OLD; HOWEVER, THE JACK WAS NEW (NEVER USED). FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. AT THE LEAST, THIS IS A MATTER OF GREAT INCONVENIENCE AND AT THE WORST A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT PRESENT AND FUTURE SAAB OWNERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE SNOW TIRES CHANGED. ALL OF THE LUG NUTS ON THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE COULD NOT BE REMOVED DUE TO CORROSION. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUR TIRES COULD NOT BE REMOVED DUE TO CORROSION AND RUST. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN MOVED FROM A SALT BELT STATE. PRIOR TO PURCHASE, THERE WAS A RECALL, #03V006000 REGARDING THE WHEEL, CAPS, HUB AND COVER, PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE.

MY 1999 SAAB 9-5 SE TURBO V-6 HAS NOW HAD BOTH DIRECT IGNITION MODULES FAIL. THE FIRST ONE FAILED AS THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT CITY SPEEDS, THE CAR STALLED ONCE WAS RESTARTED AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND A STRONG ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. FOUR MONTHS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE OTHER IGNITION MODULE. *NM

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

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