SAAB Complaints

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, AND THE COMPUTER RECORDED A CODE REFERRING TO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. *AK

A PLASTIC PIECE IN THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM BROKE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER COULD NOT CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENT, PRIMARILY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. IN ADDITION, THE FAN MOTOR FAILED TO FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE WINDOWS FOGGED UP IMMEDIATELY. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, AND RE DESIGNED THE SYSTEM, BUT THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART WILL BE VERY COSTLY. A TSB ON THIS PROBLEM WAS ISSUED. *AK

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1997 SAAB 900S CONVERTIBLE - THE CLUTCH CABLE HAS BROKEN 3 TIMES IN 3 YEARS. EACH TIME, I HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD ONLY TO HAVE THE CABLE SNAP AND THE CLUTCH GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. ON SEPT 8, 2004 - THE CABLE BROKE FOR THE 3RD TIME - MY 5 YEAR OLD AND I WERE ON THE HIGHWAY - NARROWLY ESCAPING A MAJOR ACCIDENT OCCURING. MY IMPORT MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE SAAB MANUFACTURER WHO ATTRIBUTES IT TO A POOR DESIGN. EACH FIX IS COSTING - $300 FOR LABOR AND PARTS AS WELL AS THE USE OF A RENTAL CAR FOR 1 WEEK BECAUSE OF A LONG DELAY IN GETTING PARTS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I AM PURCHASING ANOTHER CAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY CHILD. HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP MY SAAB (FOR SUNNY DAYS) AS WELL. IS SAAB ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE? APPARENTLY THERE IS A PLASTIC PART AT THE END OF THE CABLE WHICH SNAPS OFF BECAUSE IT CAN'T TAKE THE CONSTANT PRESSURE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! WHAT IS THE FIX?*AK

MY SON AND HIS GIRLFRIEND WERE IN A SERIOUS ROLL OVER CAR ACCIDENT IN HER 2000 SAAB HATCHBACK. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, NEITHER FRONT NOR SIDE, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT AND DAMAGE ON FRONT AND SIDES.*AK

BACK TAILGATE MOTOR BURNED OUT, AND THE TRUNK WAS NOT ACCESSIBLE. THE SPARE TIRE AND OTHER ITEMS WERE IN THE TRUNK.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DEALER STATDS AXLE EXPLODED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK

ORIGINAL FUEL TANK MADE OF PLASTIC LEAKED FROM THE BOTTOM DUE TO A HOLE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL TANK, WHICH ALSO STARTED TO LEAK SOMETIMES IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION. MANUFACTURER HAD NO ANSWER AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, AUTO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY, NO POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. BURNT ELECTRICAL SMELL FROM ENGINE. CAR WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, WHERE A FAILED IGNITION CASSETTE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY SINCE DAY ONE, IN SOME CASES FOR DAYS AT A TIME. I HAVE ASKED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT SEVERAL DEALERS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT COULD BE BECAUSE OF A LOOSE GAS CAP AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT (SAAB USA CLAIMS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM). THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT, BUT BECAUSE IT COMES ON SO OFTEN, I IGNORED IT. $900 REPAIR BILL!*AK

AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK ENGINE REVVED AT A HIGH RATE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A WALL. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *TS

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