SAAB Complaints

THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A NIGHTMARE. IT HAS REQUIRED THREE TOWS FROM JUNE 2001 TO FEBRUARY 2002. THE MOST EXPENSIVE FAILURE OCCURRED THE DAY AFTER I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE (INTERNATIONAL MOTORS, FALLS CHURCH, VA), AND THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH FAILED BECAUSE THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK THAT WAS NOT CAUGHT BY THEIR MECHANICS. I HAVE CONTACTED SAAB CORPORATE BY LETTER IN DECEMBER 2001 ABOUT MY MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THEIR RESPONSE BY TELEPHONE WAS THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. *AK

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AT VERY LOW SPEEDS RIGHT SIDE OF AXLE BROKE, MAKING VEHICLE INOPERABLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

RIGHT SIDE PASSIVE SEATBELT SYSTEM FAILED MOTOR CAUSED SHOULDER BELT KEY TO GO BACK AND FORTH . DRIVER SIDE DID THE SAME. REPAIR TECH SAID THAT IT WAS A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM AND THAT IT WAS COMMOM WITH SAABS WITH THIS TYPE OF SAFETY BELTS. COST OF REPAIR WOULD BE $650 DID NOT REPAIR HAD TECH LOCK KEY IN A FIXED POSITION.*AK

THE IMPACT WAS FRONT END - I HIT A STEEL AND CEMENT POLE AT 25 MPH AND THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. MY HEAD CRASHED THE WINDSHIELD AND I SUSTAINED A SEVERE HEAD INJURY WITH AMNESIA, LOSS OF CONCIOUSNESS, APHASIA, LEFT SIDED WEAKNESS, FRACTURED RIBS, AND SEVERE POST CONCUSSIVE SYNDROME. MY SEATBELTS CAUSED 4 BROKEN RIBS ON THE RIGHT. IF THE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED ACCORDING TO MY DOCTOR I WOULD HAVE NOT SUFFERRED THESE INJURIES. I CONTACTED SAAB CORPORATE OFFICE AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT AND THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL AT ALL.*AK

CLUTCH BECAME INOPERABLE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. ALSO, THERE WAS A SMALL COMPARTMENT FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

BRAKES LIGHT PORTIONS OF THE TAILLIGHT MELT AND DEFORM. WHILE THE OPTICS OF THE TAILLIGHT LENS IS DEGRADED THERE IS ALSO INTERNAL DEFORMATION THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE BULB, WHEN IT BURN OUT. THE DEFORMATION OF THE LENS CAUSES IT TO BE NEARER TO THE HEAT OF THE BULB CAUSING CONTINUED DEFORMATION. ULTIMATELY THE LENS WILL CONTACT THE BULB AND PROBABLY CAUSE IT TO BREAK. WHEN THE BULB BURNS OUT OR BREAK THE ENTIRE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. ALL DUE TO DESIGN FLAW THAT MANIFESTS ITSELF WHENEVER THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

THERE IS A VERY STRONG POLLUTED SMELL OF FUMES COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. ODOR HAS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WHILE DRIVING.*AK

FRONT SUSPENSION IS NOISY DUE TO BOLTS NOT PROPERLY TORQUED TO SWAY BAR. PERIODICALLY, BOLTS WILL BE TIGHTENED. HAS HAPPENED SIX TIMES. CURRENTLY, STEERING IS STARTING TO JERK. *AK

CONSUMER EXPLAINS THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE UPON INVESTIGATION WAS FOUND DEFECTIVE. *JG

IGNITION SWITCH IS LOCATED AT THE CENTER ON CONSOLE AND CAN BE EASILY BE HIT AND TURNED OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK