SAAB Complaints

I HAVE A 1999 SAAB 9-5, V6 AND HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION CASSETTE MODULE. THE 2000 9-5 HAS HAD A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PART. WHY HASN'T THE 1999 BEEN RECALLED? *JB

ON 4/15/06, MY HUSBAND MERLE WAS DRIVING MY MOTHER AND DAUGHTER TO A GROCERY STORE. MY MOM STEPPED OUT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT; AS SOON AS SHE DID, THE SIDE AIR BAG LODGED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. IT DID NOT DEPLOY UPON ANY KIND OF COLLISION OR IMPACT; HOWEVER, THE CAR HAD BEEN IN A PASSENGER SIDE COLLISION ON FEBRUARY 21, 2006, WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER HIT OUR CAR BROADSIDE. THE REPAIR WORK WAS COMPLETED IN MID-MARCH. ON APRIL 18, 2006, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE AUTO BODY SHOP THAT COMPLETED THE REPAIRS FROM THE 2/21/06 INCIDENT. THEY TOOK THE CAR TO SAAB INTL MOTORS (703.534.7222), WHICH PERFORMED DIAGNOSTICS ON THE CAR'S "BLACK BOX". MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE DIAGNOSTICS DID NOT REVEAL ANY HELPFUL INFORMATION TO EXPLAIN THE DEPLOYMENT. THE SIDE AIR BAG IS NOW BEING REPAIRED BY INTERNATIONAL MOTORS, AT THE EXPENSE OF STATE FARM (PHONE 1.888.613.3966), THE INSURER FOR THE DRIVER WHO ORIGINALLY COLLIDED WITH OUR CAR ON 2/21/06. THE STATE FARM CLAIM # IS 206103504-02. *JB

SINCE PURCHASING MY 2000 SAAB 9-3 [XXX] IN 2003, I HAVE SPENT $9,000 IN VEHICLE REPAIRS WHICH HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY BECOME "RECALL NOTICES" ISSUED FROM SAAB CARS USA. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE FAILED FALL 2004 - WITH SUBSEQUENT REPAIR COVERAGE UNDER A RECALL NOTICE ISSUED 5/17/05. THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE FAILED IN 7/05, WITH REPAIRS SUBSEQUENTLY COVERED THROUGH AN IDM RECALL NOTICE ISSUED 3/31/06. AT THE TIME OF THE IDM FAILURE IN 7/05, THE SAAB DEALERSHIP ALSO DIAGNOSED CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE. DO THE MAJOR MECHANICAL ISSUES THAT EXIST WITH THIS VEHICLE CAUSE A CASCADE OF EVENTS WHICH HAVE DAMAGED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, NOW REQUIRING REPLACEMENT? *NM *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 SAAB 9-5 WAGON AT OR AROUND 35 MPH WHEN THE CAR, SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, LOST ITS ELECTRICAL POWER. SHE WAS UNABLE TO STEER, BRAKE OR CONTROL THE VEHICLE IN ANYWAY. ALL OF THE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE DRIVER'S PANEL. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO ON-COMING TRAFFIC OR ANY VEHICLE FOLLOWING BEHIND HER BECAUSE SHE WAS APPROACHING A CURVE IN THE ROAD AT THE TIME THE CAR FAILED. SHE COASTED STRAIGHT AHEAD, THROUGH THE CURVE, TO A STOP. SHE TURNED THE CAR OFF, THEN RESTARTED THE CAR. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY, AND RETURNED THE CAR A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. WE NOTIFIED SAAB USA THAT WE NO LONGER FELT SAFE IN OUR VEHICLE AND HAVE LOST FAITH IN THE LINE AS A WHOLE. THIS INCIDENT WAS NOT THE FIRST ONE. WE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ELECTRICAL POWER LOSS TWICE PREVIOUSLY IN OUR 2001 SAAB 9-5 WAGON. WE HAD THOUGHT IT WAS A PROBLEM UNIQUE TO OUR SPECIFIC CAR, BUT WE NOW BELIEVE THAT THE SAAB 9-5 WAGON PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, IN OUR OPINION. WE REGRET THAT WE DID NOT THINK TO REPORT THE PREVIOUS INCIDENTS IN THE 2001 MODEL TO NHTSA. WE DID, HOWEVER, ALERT THE DEALERSHIP, WHO COULD NOT FIND ANY EXPLANATION FOR THE POWER LOSS. WE DECIDED NOT TO KEEP THE 2001 MODEL WHEN OUR LEASE WAS UP, FOR THAT VERY REASON. WE FELT COMFORTABLE DRIVING A NEW 2004 SAAB, BECAUSE SURELY THIS PROBLEM ONLY EXISTED IN OUR ONE CAR, RIGHT? THE "WHAT-IF'S" FOR THESE ELECTRICAL POWER FAILURES ARE SCARY AND UNTHINKABLE. WHAT IF WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED? WHAT IF THERE WERE PEDESTRIANS IN OUR LINE OF STEERING AT THE TIME? WHAT IF WE WERE TURNING LEFT AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION? WE'VE HAD THIS FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE THREE TIMES IN TWO DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS OF THE SAME CAR. WE WILL NO LONGER BE SAAB CUSTOMERS. SAAB SHOULD RECALL ALL 9-5 WAGONS BEFORE A FATAL ACCIDENT OCCURS AS A RESULT OF THIS POWER FAILURE. *JB

MY 1999 SAAB 9-5 SUSTAINED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OF THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE DESCRIBED IN THE 2000-2003 RECALL. REPAIRED BY LOCAL MECHANIC. WAS UNAWARE OF RECALL (AS DID NOT INCLUDE 1999) BUT MY COLLEAGUE POINTED IT OUT TO ME. I CONTACTED SAAB, SENT THEM RELEVANT DOCUMENTATION, AND THEY REFUSED TO CONSIDER MY VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL. CLEARLY AN IGNITION MODULE SMOKING AND BURNING WHEN ENGINE STARTED IS A VERY UNUSUAL EVENT. I SUSPECT THIS MODULE ALSO BEGAN TO FAIL IN 1999 BUT THAT TOO FEW OF THESE EVENTS WAS REPORTED TO MAKE YOUR RECALL THRESHOLD, BUT I WOULD MAINTAIN THAT SUCH AN ARBITRARY CUTOFF IS INEQUITABLE. SAME PART; SAME UNUSUAL FAILURE. NOT SURE WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THIS MANUFACTURER (USUALLY GOOD FOLK) IS MANAGING THIS WELL. HENCE MY FORMAL COMPLAINT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT FORWARD TO LET PASSENGERS OUT OF THE BACK SEAT THE SEAT SLID BACK AND PINNED THE PASSENGERS. 3 OF THEM SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE SEAT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V399000, REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: MODULE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE OUT OF ALIGNMENT STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, IT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE SYSTEM WAS CLEARED. THE DEALER WAS VAGUE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND STATED IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC DOORS LOCKS AND THE TRUNK RELEASE AS WELL. THE DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK AT WILL AND THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND TRUNK CAME OPEN ON ONE OCCASION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. *AK UPDATED 08/14/06. *JB

IN MARCH 2006 MY 2000 SAAB 9-5 WAGON BURST INTO FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR BURNED. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF ALL POWER. THE WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE TO INDICATE A FAILURE. A STRANGE BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT BUT NO FLAMES OR SMOKE WAS VISIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP; THE IGNITION MODULE AND COIL ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V399000, REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 05/04/06. *JB