1999 SAAB 9-5 Complaints

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