SAAB Complaints

I HAVE A 2004 SAAB 9.5 THAT I BOUGHT NEW ON APRIL 1, 2004. I DISCOVERED TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT MY BACKUP LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. YESTERDAY, I FILED A COMPLAINT #10166145. THIS BACK UP LIGHT PROBLEM IS RELATED. THE HARD PLASTIC MOLDED ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE TRUNK LID THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE WIRING HARNESS FROM DAMAGE IS ACTUALLY DAMAGING AND EVENTUALLY CUTTING THROUGH ALL OF THE WIRES THAT PASS THROUGH THE ASSEMBLY. WIRES IN MY CAR BEGAN GETTING CUT WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF PURCHASE AND HAVE CONTINUED. THIS ASSEMBLY APPEARS TO BE ABLE TO CUT THROUGH ABOUT 8 WIRES LEAVING EXPOSED WIRE IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER AND THEREBY DISABLING THE CRUISE CONTROL, BRAKE LIGHTS, REVERSE LIGHTS AND ELECTRIC TRUNK LOCK. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR - ITS A DESIGN FAULT. THE WIRES SEEM TO CATCH ON THE SHARP EDGE OF THE PLASTIC PROTECTOR (!) THAT FITS INTO THE LID. THEY RUB AGAINST THIS AS THE LID IS OPEN AND CLOSED. I BELIEVE THIS SITUATION PRESENTS A POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL FIRE HAZARD AND SAFETY HAZARD AND THAT THE NHTSA SHOULD IMMEDIATELY ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ITEM. *NM

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.

I HAVE A 2004 SAAB 9.5 THAT I BOUGHT NEW ON APRIL 1, 2004. FROM DAY 1 THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS WORKING ERRATICALLY. DEALER SAID HE COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM. THEN CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. THEN THE ELECTRIC TRUNK LOCK STOPPED WORKING. I CONTACTED THE DEALER TELLING IT THAT EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOW BEYOND THE 50,000 MILE PORTION OF THE 4 YEAR WARRANTY (OF WHICH ONLY 28 MONTHS HAD ELAPSED) I WANTED THE TRUNK AND CRUISE ISSUES FIXED ALONG WITH A LAUNDRY LIST OF ITEMS THAT WERE NOT ADDRESSED PREVIOUSLY THE LAST TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR IN UNDER WARRANTY. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ADDRESS ANY OF THE ISSUES. I FOUND A SITE ON THE INTERNET CALLED SAABNET. A PARTICULAR POST HIT THE PROBLEM ON THE HEAD. HTTP://WWW.SAABNET.COM/TSN/BB/9-5/INDEX.HTML?BID=125557 IT SAID: TURNS OUT TO BE A BADLY WORN WIRING LOOM WERE THE CABLES RUN FROM THE CAR TRUNK INTO THE TRUNK LID. 6 WIRES HAD BROKEN THROUGH THE INSULATION AND TWO HAD COMPLETELY SNAPPED. THIS CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD!!!! THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR - ITS A DESIGN FAULT. THE WIRES SEEM TO CATCH ON THE SHARP EDGE OF THE PLASTIC PROTECTOR (!) THAT FITS INTO THE LID. THEY RUB AGAINST THIS AS THE LID IS OPEN AND CLOSED. YOU CAN CHECK TO SEE IF YOURS IS OK SIMPLY BY PULLING OFF THE PROTECTIVE RUBBER BOOT THAT ATTACHES TO THE END OF THE PLASTIC PROTECTOR. I DID THE VERY SIMPLE CHECK THE POSTER RECOMMENDED ABOVE BY PULLING THE RUBBER COVER BACK AND WAS SOMEWHAT AMAZED TO SEE 4 WIRES COMPLETELY CUT AND THE OTHER 3 WITH BROKEN INSULATORS. AS THE POSTER ON SAABNET INDICATED, THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND APPEARS AS IF IT COULD LEAD TO FIRE. LOOKING FURTHER ON SAABNET, I SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS DISCUSSED QUITE FREQUENTLY. I BELIEVE THIS SITUATION PRESENTS A POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL AND FIRE HAZARD AND THAT THE NHTSA SHOULD IMMEDIATELY ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ITEM. *NM

DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED ON MY 1999 SAAB 9-3. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 2000-2002 SAAB 9-3 AND I FEEL THIS RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE THE '99 MODEL AS WELL BECAUSE THIS PART HAS A LESS THAN REASONABLE LIFE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AN ODOR OF FUEL WAS DETECTED WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE STOPPED A PUDDLE WAS NOTICED ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE HAD LEAKED FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE RETAINER TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINE WERE DEFECTIVE AND THEY WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #04V557000, PERTAINING TO THE FUEL LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

THE PLASTIC AROUND THE TONGUE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT HAS A VERTICAL CRACK PRESENTING A POTENTIAL POINT OF FAILURE IN AN ACCIDENT WHEREBY THE WEBBING WOULD BE PUSHED THROUGH THE PLASTIC SURROUNDING THE TONGUE AND CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO BE UNRESTRAINED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK.

CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL REPAIRS DONE ON A 2000 SAAB 9-5. *KB WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC. IN SEPT 2004 THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE (IDM) WAS REPLACED AT A CHARGE OF OVER $500. IN APRIL 2006 THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM SAAB FOR THE IDM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO EXPLAINED THAT THE IDM HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. THE RECORDS DID NOT INDICATE WHERE THE WORK HAD BEEN DONE. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT BUT CANNOT FIND THE INVOICE. *NM

2000 SAAB 9-3 SE CONVERTIBLE. ON COMMUTE HOME, WAS PULLED OVER BECAUSE OF A DETECTED GASOLINE LEAK. GASOLINE WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE AUTO BY THE GAS TANK. POLICE HAD CAR FLAT BEDDED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE CAUSE WAS FROM A "BROKEN CLIP THAT ATTACHED THE FUEL LINE TO THE FUEL PUMP". COSTS FOR REPAIR AND TO REFILL TANK TOTALED $1057.58. 2001 VEHICLES OF THIS SAME MODEL WERE ALREADY RECALLED FOR THIS SAME REASON (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V557000). *NM

HAD JUST HAD AN UPDATE FRIDAY OF ANOTHER INCIDENT WITH GASOLINE / FUEL PUMP RUPTURE AND FAILURE LEADING TO EXCESSIVE GAS BEING PUMPED OUT . THEN ON SUNDAY, IT HAPPENED TO ME, A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL, ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN STOPPED FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME. UPON ARRIVAL (10 MIN) TO DESTINATION, I LOOKED UNDER CAR, ESPECIALLY AFTER BEING ALERTED FROM ".MYCARSTATS.COM/SAFETYSTATION". GAS WAS EVERYWHERE! AND PUMPING OUT LIKE CRAZY, EVEN THOUGH IGNITION WAS OFF.. RESIDUAL PRESSURE I SUSPECT.. A LOT MORE CAME OUT.. THOUGH I LIVE IN CANADA , THIS IS A US CAR, I BOUGHT EARLY LAST YEAR: A 2001 SAAB 9-3 VIGGEN CONV'T, SAAB USA , SAID IT WOULD BE COVERED FOR BEING FIXED, >>04V557000. 15018.. BUT SAAB CANADA, HAS NO RECALL AND IS QUESTIONING IT, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE REPLACED CLIPS IN OTHER 9-3S.. CAR IS UNDRIVABLE. *JB