SAAB Complaints

I HAVE A 2000 SAAB 9-5 SE, 6 CYLINDER ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR SIMPLY STOPPED RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ONCE TOWED TO THE SERVICE CENTER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE COIL PACK ON HALF OF THE CYLINDERS WAS AT FAULT. THIS WAS REPLACED. I HAVE LEARNED THAT SAAB HAS RECALLED THE 4 CYLINDER COIL PACKS BUT NOT THE 6 CYLINDER VERSION. EVEN THOUGH THE 4 AND 6 CYLINDER VERSION ARE DIFFERENT, I WOULD EXPECT THE MANUFACTURING OF THESE TO BE VERY SIMILAR. I HAVE HEARD RUMORS FROM REPAIR SHOPS OF A HIGH FAILURE RATE OF THE 6 CYLINDER VERSION TOO, AS IN MY CASE.

I OWN A SAAB 2001 95 4DR SEDAN WITH 58K MILES AND THE CAR JUST SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING OR DOESN'T START UP INITIALLY. MY WIFE WAS IN TRAFFIC WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. A LOCAL REPAIR SERVICE INDICATED A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND SUGGESTED WE GET IN CONTACT WITH SAAB MOTOR CO. *JB

JUST AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED: 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. ARROWAY SAAB DEALER ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE ISSUE WITH SAAB USA TO REPLACE $3500 PART. I WOULD PAY LABOR. SAAB DEALER REFUSED TO GUARANTEE REPLACEMENT OF ABS COMPUTER WOULD FIX PROBLEM. CURRENTLY WORKING WITH PURCHASING A USED UNTIL FOR $900. WISH I HAD KNOWN ABOUT THE REBUILD OPTION. THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WHICH IS 1) EXPENSIVE AND 2) POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AS IT AFFECTS KEY SAFETY FEATURES. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 95SE WAGON. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS NOT OPERATING NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE PASSENGE'S SIDE DEFROSTER WAS WORKING. THE WINDSHIELD WILL NOT DEFROST DURING COLD WEATHER. THE DEALER STATED REPLACING THE BOX INSIDE THE DASHBOARD WOULD CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 93800. *AK

WEDNESDAY MARCH 3, 2007, MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR SPORTS SEDAN (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) WITH 61,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WAITING TO SWITCH FROM RED TO GREEN. ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO PROCEED ACROSS THE INTERSECTION. THE INITIALLY ACCELERATED TO 20 MPH AND CEASED TO ACCELERATE. I NOTICED THAT I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND STEERING HAD BECOME HEAVY, I GLANCED AT THE TACHOMETER AND IT SHOWED THAT THE ENGINE HAD SHUT DOWN BUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WERE FUNCTIONING. I COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START FOR OVER 15 MINUTES. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS RUNNING, ONBOARD DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED OK, BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AFTER THE INTERVAL OF NO STARTS, THE CAR STARTED. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSTIC CODES INDICATED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. DEALER PROVIDED NO REAL EXPLANATION FOR FAILURE. WITHIN 3 WEEK PERIOD, VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN FOR FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT. PRIOR TO THAT REPAIR THE CAR HAD 60K SERVICE PERFORMED ON 12/13/07. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENT ON ALL REPAIRS REQUIRED BY PRIOR RECALLS. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE CALLED THE TOLL FREE NUMBER NOTED ON THE SAFETY RECALL #05V399000 FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, AND PROVIDED THE VIN HE WAS TOLD THAT SOMEONE WOULD GET BACK TO HIM. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT HE COULD HAVE BEEN TOLD WHETHER OR NOT THE SAFETY RECALL APPLIED TO THIS VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. THE RECALL STATED THAT STALLING MAY OCCUR. RECENTLY THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING AT 5 - 10 MILES, AND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY STALLED ONCE. THE WEATHER ON 02/06 WAS CHILLY, BUT CLEAR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 102467. *AK CONSUMER STATES MANUFACTURER IS NOT WILLING TO HONOR RECALL. UPDATE *4/23/07 *TR

I OWN A 2000 SAAB 9-5. I HAVE FOUND THERE TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. THIS ISSUE IS PRESENT AND KNOWN ON MANY DISCUSSION BOARDS FOR THE VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE ABS CONTROL MODULE ON THESE VEHICLES HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED? THE PROBLEM CAUSES THE SPEEDOMETER TO SHUT OFF, THE ODOMETER TO STOP CLOCKING MILES, THE ABS SYSTEM TO SHUTDOWN AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO SHUT OFF. THIS IS A FAIRLY SERIOUS ISSUE THAT MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH. IT IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AMONG 2000 SAAB 9-5 OWNERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. TO REFERENCE ONE OF MANY KNOWN INSTANCES OF THIS SAAB ISSUE, PLEASE VISIT: HTTP://WWW.SAABCENTRAL.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=73456. *JB

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE - EXITED ONTO AN INTERCHANGE RAMP AT 50 MPH - AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE AT REAR NEARLY REAR-ENDED MINE - BUT MISSED BY A HAIRS WHISKER. ANOTHER PIECE OF LUCK WAS THAT I WAS AT THE CREST OF THE RAMP SO MANAGED TO "COAST" TOWARDS THE SHOULDER. WAITED FOR A BIT - THE CAR WOULDN'T RESTART. HAD TO SPEND PERILOUS TIME ON THE LEFT SHOULDER BEFORE GETTING MY CAR TOWED. AT THE TIME OF WRITING - THE CAR IS SITTING IN THE DEALERS LOT. NOTHING SPECIAL HAPPENED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. PREVIOUSLY A SIMILAR INCIDENT HAD OCCURRED JUST OUTSIDE MY RESIDENCE - AND THE DEALER CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID IT MIGHT JUST BE "BAD GAS". SAAB'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WAS USELESS. BASED ON THE OTHER INCIDENTS REPORTED - REFER TO ODI #S: 10162804, 10137685, 10097342 - THERE IS SOMETHING DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE TAKE ACTION BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE.*JB

THE SEAT BELT ON MY 2001 SAAB 93 WILL NOT WORK. I AM UNABLE TO PULL THE STRAP OUT FROM THE SIDE OF THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL SAAB DEALER THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $700.00 TO FIX. MY CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD, NOT ONLY DID THE SEAT BELT STOP WORKING BUT THE ABS SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3200.00. ALL OF THESE REPAIRS SEEM TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COST AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY. I THINK THAT SAAB SHOULD REPAIR AT THE VERY LEAST THE SEAT BELT WHICH I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING WITHOUT. *JB

CHRONIC, ABRUPT STALLING PROBLEMS FOR 3+ YEARS. DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TO REPAIR ON AT LEAST, 15+ OCCASIONS. DEALERSHIP HAD IT AT THEIR FACILITY FOR OVER 3 MONTHS ONE PERIOD, CONDUCTING DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. PARTS CHANGED: SENSORS; MULTIPLE TIMES, WIRING HARNESS, "MAIN COMPUTER CHIP" AND VARIOUS OTHER PARTS. THE CAR ABRUPTLY STALLS. IT WILL STALL AT ANYTIME - WHETHER DRIVING, COASTING, AT A STOP, OR ON THE EXPRESSWAY. IT WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE ROADSIDE MULTIPLE TIMES OVER AND OVER WITHOUT CAUSING A COLLISION. I JUST GOT THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN LAST WEEK AFTER THEY "POSSIBLY FIXED IT AGAIN" . I DROVE A DISTANCE OF 15 MILES BEFORE THE CAR STARTED STAMMERING, JERKING AND STALLING AGAIN. IT TOOK ME OVER AN HOUR TO DRIVE THE RETURN FEW BACK HOME, WHICH WAS A HARROWING EXPERIENCE. THE VEHICLE IS KEPT GARAGED BY ME, IN MINT BODY CONDITION INSIDE AND OUT AND ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT. SAAB HAS OFFERED TO APPLY 4,000 CREDIT TOWARD A PURCHASE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THEM. IT IS CLEAR SAAB KNOWS THAT THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE OR WOULD NOT HAVE MADE OFFER. UNFORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE IS WORTH MUCH MORE THAN WHAT THEY HAD OFFERED; ASIDE FROM BEING MECHANICALLY DEFECTIVE/UNREPAIRABLE, THEY CAN'T TRACE THE PROBLEM IN THEIR VEHICLE THAT THEY MADE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IN ANOTHER CAR PYMT AND AM IN REAL FEAR THAT WILL BE INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN THIS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. I HAD PREVIOUSLY FILED A COMPLAINT FOR EXACT THIS SAME MECHANICAL PROBLEM (THAT STILL HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED NOR EVEN INVESTIGATED BY THE ODI OR NHTSA). I SEE POSTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH SAAB VEHICLES. SOMEONE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS TO HAVE THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. UNFORTUNATELY, I'M SURE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS NO OTHER OPTION THAN TO DRIVE A VEHICLE LIKE THIS. *JB