SAAB Complaints

1999 SAAB 9-5 4-CYLINDER SEDAN THREW ROD AT 53,000 ON BUSY I-85 IN ATLANTA WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNING WHATSOEVER (NO OIL LEAKS ON GARAGE FLOOR, NO ENGINE OR OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS, STRANGE NOISES, NOTHING). WAS ABLE TO GET TO SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT. CAR HAD BEEN MAINTAINED REGULARLY. CONTACTED SAAB ASKING FOR REPAIR UNDER EXTENDED 8-YEAR WARRANTY ISSUED IN 2005 DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THIS ENGINE RELATED TO OIL SLUDGE. SENT ALL REQUESTED RECORDS BECAUSE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE ON FILE. REQUEST WAS DENIED. SENT FOLLOW-UP LETTER TO SAAB G.M. REQUESTING REPAIR. DENIED WITH NO EXPLANATION. PHONED ON 3/1/07 REQUESTING A WRITTEN EXPLANATION BE EMAILED. STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED ALTHOUGH WAS TOLD IT WAS BEING SENT IMMEDIATELY. WAS TOLD BY PERSON I SPOKE WITH THAT THE CAR WAS OUTSIDE THE 8 YR. EXTENDED WARRANTY. SAAB WILL DO NOTHING EXCEPT OFFER A CUSTOMER LOYALTY DISCOUNT TOWARD A NEW VEHICLE. MINE IS PRACTICALLY NEW AT 53,000 MILES. LOW MILEAGE DUE TO SHORT TRIPS OF 3 MILES EACH WAY TO WORK. THIS DRIVING CONDITION WAS ONE SPECIFICALLY LISTED AS CONTRIBUTING TO SLUDGE. I DON'T WANT OR EXPECT A NEW CAR. I JUST WANT MINE REPAIRED. *NM

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

SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR 7/1/06 I HAVE HAD SEVERAL STEERING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR PULLING AND JERKING. I HAVE HAD 2 ALIGNMENTS DONE WHEELS BALANCED AND CALIPERS ADJUSTED. THE CAR PULLED ON MY TEST DRIVE BEFORE PURCHASING THE CAR AND I WAS PROMISED IT WOULD BE RESOLVED. WHEN IT WAS NOT RESOLVED THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO BUY BACK THE CAR. TWO DEALERSHIPS WORKED ON THIS PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION THIS IS STILL A PROBLEM AND I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR STRAIT WITHOUT A FIRM GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL. SAAB HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL AT ALL AND HAS NO SOLUTION AND HAS OFFERED NO HELP. THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE CAR CAN JERK UNEXPECTEDLY. *NM

GEARBOX MALFUNCTION, INTERMITTENT SHIFTING OR SUDDEN DECELERATION WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN APRIL 2006. THE CAR RAN FINE UNTIL AUGUST 2006 WHEN THE FIRST GEARBOX MALFUNCTION LIGHT WAS INDICATED WITH AN INABILITY FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO DOWNSHIFT. SINCE THE FIRST GEARBOX MALFUNCTION THE 2003 93 SAAB HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE (UNDER WARRANTY) SIX TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF 49 DAYS. I HAVE ASKED FOR GM/SAAB TO TAKE/BUY THE CAR BACK. MY CAR WAS IN THE AUTHORIZED SAAB SERVICE GARAGE (PORTLAND SAAB) FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2006 WHERE THE ENTIRE TRANSAXLE WAS REPLACED. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT COLDBROOK SAAB (WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR) FOR ANOTHER GEARBOX MALFUNCTION. *NM

2001 SAAB SID DISPLAY. THE LINES DISAPPEAR AND THE DISPLAY WILL NOT SHOW ANYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING TO THE CAR. THIS DISPLAYS IS VITAL TO THE OPERATION. IT FAILED WITH LESS THAN 50,00 MILES AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE SAAB'S. *JB

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT I EXPERIENCED WITH MY 2003 9-3. AFTER ABOUT A 40 MILE DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY, I , ALONG WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER, PULLED INTO MY FRIENDS DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD SCRAPPING NOISE FROM BENEATH MY CAR. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE CAR TO FIND THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK STRAP WAS HANGING DOWN AND WAS ONLY 3 OR 4 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. THE FORWARD BOLT HAD LOOSENED COMPLETELY OUT AND THE FUEL PUMP WIRING HARNESS (WHICH ATTACHES TO THE STRAP) IS KEEPING IT FROM BEING EVEN CLOSER TO THE GROUND. ALSO THE TANK ITSELF IS HANGING ABOUT 3 INCHES LOWER ON THE RIGHT SIDE. LUCKILY THE BRACKET FOR THE HARNESS HAD A BOLT RETAINING WASHER BECAUSE THE BOLT WAS STILL THERE, HANGING ON TO THE END OF THE FLOPPING STRAP. MY FRIEND (A MECHANIC BY TRADE) AND I APPLIED LOCTITE TO THE BOLT AND REFASTENED IT. IT APPERED THAT THERE WAS NO VISABLE DAMAGE TO THE TANK, LINE OR WIRING. SCARY PART WAS THAT IT WAS THE FORWARD END HANGING DOWN SO IT COULD HAVE EASILY CAUGHT ON SOMETHING AND RIPPED OUT FUEL LINES AND WIRING AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE AND COULD HAVE EASILY STARTED A FIRE RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. *JB

IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE FAILED . I HAVE A V63.0 MODEL OF THIS CAR. 4 CYLINDER AND LATER YEAR MODES OF THIS CAR ARE COVERED FOR THIS DEFECT. HOWEVER MINE IS NOT. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE AS THIS IS A CLEAR DEFECT IN THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE. PLEASE CONTACT ME. *NM

I HAVE A 1999 SAAB 9-3 WITH MANUAL CLIMATE CONTROL. THE BLOWER SWITCH WAS ERRATIC FOR A FEW WEEKS (ON/OFF POSITION SHIFTED) BUT LAST NIGHT DURING A SHORT JOURNEY THE BLOWER WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND A BAD ODOR BECAME PRESENT IN THE CABIN. THIS MORNING I INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THAT THE BLOWER SWITCH AND WIRING CONNECTOR AND WIRES HAVE MELTED. IT IS LIKELY THAT IF THE JOURNEY HAD BEEN LONGER A FIRE WOULD HAVE RESULTED. THE SWITCH AND CONNECTOR AND WIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE REASON FOR THE BLOWER SWITCH ERRATIC BEHAVIOR NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *JB

WE OWN A 2001 SAAB 9.5 2.3T. MY WIFE IS A COMMUTER USER OF THE CAR AND CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE. HER GAS TANK HAS LOST THE COUPLING TO THE FUEL TANK TWICE AND LOST ALL THE GAS ON THE ROAD. SHE WAS STRANDED BOTH TIMES. THIS IS COMPLETELY INEXPLICABLE AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS NEVER ANSWERED WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED. DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS, WE FELT IT APPROPRIATE TO REPORT. WE WILL HAVE TO CONFIRM THE INCIDENT DATES IN OUR RECORDS. *NM

TL* -THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING HIS 2006 SAAB 93 (6300 FAILURE MILEAGE) APPROXIMATELY ONE (1) MILE AND STOPPING THE VEHICLE, TURING OFF THE POWER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT "EACH TRIP THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE DRIVEN MORE THEN TEN (10) MILES IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESTART APPROPRIATELY."