Saab 9-5 — Recalls, Reliability, Specs & VIN Decoder

Dt*: the contact stated while parking, smoke was noticed coming in through the vents. After exiting the vehicle, it caught on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and filled out a report. A police report was also filed on the scene before the vehicle was towed. One passenger sustained minor injuries. The dealer has not been alerted. *ak

I have a 99 9-5 turbo. Over the course of the past week, my vehicle has stalled on me three times. The first, i was traveling alone at 20 mph and the car stalled when i made a left turn into a gas station, leaving me vulnerable to ongoing traffic. An hour later, i had my children in the car and we proceeded to get onto the highway. The car stalled as i was going into highway traffic. Thanks to the skillful maneuvering of the other drivers, our lives were spared. The other occurred when we reached our destination. The car stalled as we pulled into the parking space. This led to the inability to turn sufficiently and almost hitting the neighboring cars. I have read various forums of fellow saab owners who have experienced these same life threatening incidents. It seems to me and many others that saab does not care about the safety of their dedicated consumers. We are not asking for hand outs, just the reliability and safety any one should have from a company that "allegedly" prides themselves on those things. I just hope that the next time i submit a report it doesn't include a death or dismemberment of myself, child, or another loved one because of saab's lack of integrity. *jb

I purchased my 2004 Saab 9-5 in 2023. I was under the impression that everything was running and that drivability was proper. When I attempted to drive the automobile it would start, idle 7 minutes and stall. It would not start again for about 35 minutes. I tried to use it, and this behavior continued. Often, in traffic it would stall while I was moving at low speed, and moderate speed: Without warning, it cuts out and won't start for 40 minutes. I have spent money with my mechanic, over $1,000. I personally bought many parts: MAF sensor, fuel pump relay, fuel filter, and fuel pump. I replaced the Coolant Sensor. After all this the vehicle still stalls 5 minutes after warmup. If it drives to warm up, it stalls and won't restart for 40 minutes. After I replaced the Crankshaft Position Sensor, (CPS), it has never restarted. I bought 3, one a Bosch branded model, and It has never restarted. Many other drivers complain in forums, like Saab Forums, that they are experiencing the same problems. As you know, stalling at highway speeds can cause death. Clearly the problems with the Saab motorcars, produced, owned, and sold through General Motors, are something that poses a hazard, and should be repaired at GM dealership's expense. P.S. The vehicle's immobilizer device has caused my vehicle to not start at all. The key fobs have stopped functioning at all. I replaced the batteries, and they won't connect to the engine. The vehicle will crank, but no start. Battery runs down, with crank, but no start behavior. Can General Motors either: 1. replace the entire engine, 2. repair the "stall, no restart" situation, 3. moreover repair my seeming to be, "anti-theft system, no start" situation, called DICE/TWICEsystem, 4. achieving an actual fix for these older, but cherished sporting cars? Please check these links for confirming information: saabforums.com/forum/saab9-5-12/engine-turns-over--but-wont-start-9066/ www.saabcentral.com/threads/cranks-but-wont-start.689898/

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 would like to cite nhtsa campaign #05v399000. While driving my 2002 saab 9-5 6 cylinder on 4/20/2006 i began to experience rough operation and reduced power of the engine. I was a short distance from my destination where i parked thinking i would need to be towed. At first i thought my car was overheating because there seemed to be steam coming from under the hood but there was an odd smell. I went into the coffee shop i was visiting and within a minute or two i turned to check on my car and i saw that the interior was filled with smoke. I went outside and noticed sparks and flames coming from under the vehicle in the area of the back seat and i immediately called the fire department. They arrived and put out the fire under the car and in the back seat where the flames had burned through the carpet. I called a tow service and went back into the store to finish my coffee and wait for the tow truck. When i came back out i noticed that there was still smoke coming from under the hood so i called the fire department again to put out the remnants of the fire. The car was then towed to the nearest saab dealer which is in gainesville, florida, about 40 miles away. Later that day i called the dealer to ask about the above referenced recall which i had discovered on the internet, and they told me that my particular car was not covered. In the letter of acknowledgement dated september 13, 2005 from gm to the nthsa, gm states that "a sustained vehicle fire is unlikely and gm knows of none." due to the exactness of my situation and the recall, i can only assume that gm now has at least one fire on record. *jb

On two occasions our 2001saab,9.5 6 cylinder transmission cassette failed. Leaving my husband and my self stranded with a smoldering car. On oct 19th 05 we were able to get off the hwy in the nick of time, heavy smoke had begun to pour out from under the hood. The fire was contained but the ignition cassette,the cause of the fire, the wire harness, battery and,spark plugs were destroyed and had to be replaced. At the time of this incidence we were driving in the southern sierras in a seasonal dry forest area. It was fortunate that a we were able to pull off the road in a safe spot. On aug.15th, 08. The replacement part failed again and as before the spark plugs, installed several months previously had to be replaced the continued failure of this part in an intrinsic manufacturing defect. Specific vin numbers of this part has been recalled, but saab/ g.m needs to be made to recall all of these auto's and replace the flawed ignition cassette. Neither of the two ignition cassettes installed in our car have had the vin numbers recalled. *tr

1. Driving at approximately 40mph, complete engine failure with out any warning. 2. Car could break but power assisted steering was non funtional, steering functioned with out power assistance, but very hard to safely steer vehicle. 3. Was able to move car off road into grass ditch away from rear traffic. 4. Black smoke came from drivers side of engine with smell of burnt plastic and rubber. 5. Certified saab mechanic diagnosed car and found that the ignition cassette failed and burned from within. Replaced ignition cassette at a cost of $500. 6. There are two ignition cassettes in the saab 95. The remaining unit has 60,000 miles on it. 7. If this failure took place on a highway in fast moving traffic, a tragic accident could result. There is no warning of the failure. I had three children in the vehicle. 8. There was some minor smoke damage in the vehicle compartment, the fire was internal to the failed unit and did not spread. However toxic like fumes from the burning plastic existed in the passenger compartment causing passengers to cough. 9. Saab usa knows of this problem. After the incident i reviewed many saab websites and found other incidents of complete engine falure due to this problem. It is an expensive problem to fix. It also poses a major safety issue that could result in tragic consequences. 10. Saab usa should fix this problem at no cost to the consumer.

Add yet another direct ignition cassette failure to this list of complaints!! Driving home from the grocery store the car quit in the middle of a very busy intersection. Smoke and fire ensued. Where is the recall??!?!?!?

Exiting the highway on an overpass bridge the engine stopped without warning and would not restart. A few moments later smoke was visible from under the direct ignition cover and small flame was apparent. The flame went out after a few moments. However, we were left stranded on an unlit bridge overpass that was under construction at dusk (with an infant and toddler). Saab roadside assistance was contacted (they suggested we wait with the vehicle for approximately an hour until a tow truck could reach us.) this incident follows a string of minor electical / electronic "bugs" in which erroneous signals about light failures were displayed and the headlights failed to turn off when the key was removed (this is an automatic feature on saabs).*ak

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 saab 9-5. While approaching a stop light at 10 mph, the vehicle began vibrating excessively and the engine light illuminated on the instrument control panel. Minutes later, the interior lighting dimmed, the vehicle dramatically decelerated, and a burning smell was present. The vehicle lost power, but was restarted 15 minutes later. The vehicle was driven to a local dealer and they stated that the vehicle was experiencing the same failure as stated in nhtsa campaign id number 05v399000 (electrical system:ignition:module). The contact would have to pay for the repair. The vehicle is currently being repaired. He filed a formal complaint with the manufacturer. The vin and engine size were unknown. The failure and current mileages were 59,000.

Letter from insurance company regarding loss of saab due to fire with request for payment**cc the consumer noticed that one of the lights on the dashboard had illuminated and the vehicle began to act strangely. The consumer arrived home parked the vehicle in the garage and then suddenly the vehicle caught on fire. *jb updated

Bolt came off on turbo-charger and blasted a hole through the turbo-charger. My car suddenly stopped accelerating during a merge and i almost crashed. This resulting in $2000 worth of repairs. *nm

Dt: consumer states on october 6, 2005 while driving on a road the vehicle caught on fire. The fuel line was ripped, and one smelled gasoline all over the passenger side of the vehicle. Consumer stated when putting the vehicle in reverse it will stall intermittently. Consumer took the vehicle to dealer and no codes showed up on the diagnostic machine. The dealer changed catalytic converter and the oxygen sensor twice. The dealer could not pin point the problem. The engine failure light did come on before the vehicle caught on fire. The dealer said that some type of debris came from the highway that caused the fuel line to rip. *ak

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 saab 9-5. The contact believes that the ignition discharge module was the cause of her vehicle catching fire. The contact stated that before the fire occurred, the check engine light flashed. The contact's husband was driving when he noticed smoke rising from under the hood. He pulled over and exited the vehicle as it caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and the vehicle was towed. A police report was filed. The purchase date and speed were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 92,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2007 saab 9-5. While driving 50 mph and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle stalled. The failure occurs intermittently. The dealer was unable to diagnose the cause or duplicate the failure on two occasions. The contact is aware of the safety risk involved. The current and failure mileages were 5,800. Updated 09/18/07 *tr

Significantly delayed acceleration when ambient temps exceed 90f. Car functions normally until you encounter summer temps and heavy traffic. Then, upon pressing the accelerator pedal car hesitates severely until engine speed reaches approximately 2100 rpm. Then acceleration comes on stronger than expected. This is particularly disturbing when making left turns or entering a busy street. Car sometimes misfires when this occurs. *tr

The ignition cassette cracks causing ignition problems, stalling, acceleration problems. It makes it unpredictable. This is the same problem as the previous recall pasted below. Why does it not cover these other model years? Nhtsa campaign number: 06v410000 www.nhtsa.dot.gov manufacturer saab cars usa, inc. Recall date: oct 23, 2006 potential number of units affected: 5078 description electrical system:ignition:module summary certain passenger vehicles equipped with b308 6-cylinder gasoline engines may experience overheating and burnout of the isolated gated bipolar transistor (igbt) within the ignition discharge module (idm) due to increased susceptibility to electrical loads. Consequence overheating of the igbt occurs most often at engine start-up, but it may also occur while the engine is running. Engine stalling may occur, which could result in a crash. Remedy dealers will inspect to see what version idm is in the vehicle and replace the idm if it is a version built prior to january 2003. The recall is expected to begin during december 2005. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007. Note: this recall is an expansion of a previous campaign (please see 05v399). *tr

Purchased the car used 5/23/08 with 42,700 miles from saab dealership. Within a month the headlights worked randomly, check engine light would come on randomly. Called the dealership and was told that it wouldn't hurt anything and should it become more frequent, bring the car in. 8/18 took the car in to dealership when the light was coming on more frequently. Headlight relay replaced, engine light was due to a direct ignition cassette failure. Saab dealership ordered the part which was on national back order, part came in 10/9. Vehicle was taken in 10/6 due to steam coming from under the hood, temperature gauge never moved above the middle. Bypass valve replaced ($450 parts/labor). Vehicle has approx. 48,500 miles and is out of manufacturer warranty and repair is not covered under dealerships limited warranty. After an internet search for information relating to the di cassette failure i found that there was a recall for 2000-2002 models for the same issue. My vehicle is a 2004 saab 9.5 aero sedan. *tr

I own a 2004 saab 9-5 wagon, which was purchased in nov 2004. There were approximately 31,800 miles on the car at the time of this failure, which occurred in late july 2008. (ironically, less than 2 weeks after having taken the car for routine service/oil change/tire rotation.) after having run 2 errands (i.e. Two stops & starts), i was driving to work on a relatively busy 4-lane road. Just after having come down a hill & rounding a corner, with estimated speed 35mph, the car's engine cut out, the power steering went out, & the brakes seemed not to work appropriately. I was fortunate to be in the right lane, and wound up coasting to a stop in the lane of traffic, as i had so little control of the vehicle that i was not even able to move to what little shoulder was available (the vehicle finally stopped while on a bridge). The vehicle would not restart. Fortunately, traffic behind me became aware that the car had died, and no accidents occurred. Had this failure occurred even 5 or 10 seconds earlier, however, it would almost undoubtedly have caused an accident as i would have been completely unable to navigate the turn coming downhill. After having the vehicle towed to the saab dealership, it was discovered that the "crank sensor failed electrically." fortunately, it was still under warranty & was replaced. I would not have even thought to report this had i not seen reports of similar failures in other saab models. *tr

My car was built in 2002 as well as others reported, i purchased it used 3 years ago with 64k miles. My direct ignition control in 2003 9-5 linear sedan 2.3t ceased. Upon research, my dic is the original part 9197559 tk3.6 2000-2002 are recalled and 'some' 2003 vin's. With the over abundance of dic failures with the exact same part number, these need to be recalled as a whole. Upon removal of the dic, the engine is leaking at the seams of the head from where the bolts are located, inside the dic and engine section is perfectly clean. Bolts in the head of the engine loose, 1 was lifted out enough to just remove straight out. Car blows blueish smoke when it was starting, switches are defective (gm known issue), oil / engine / head known issues, suspension known issues (among other serious saab failures). I have spent thousands of dollars on this vehicle since purchase. The known recalls must be expanded to include the parts, not just 'year' or 'specific vin'. This was supposed to be a safe, reliable car but instead is causing serious financial issues. Please help the owners all over the world, we should not have to pay for all of this.. We already paid for their 'bailout'! Sincerely~ can not take any more repairs!!! *tt

While driving 30 mph, another vehicle rear end the consumer. This caused the driver to loose control of the vehicle. As a result the vehicle was hit my other vehicle's from different angles. Both frontal airbags failed to deploy. Both the driver and passenger sustained injuries and were transported by ambulance. The vehicle was totaled out by the insurance company. *nm neither the side impact air bags nor the head restraint air bags deployed. *nm

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 9-5 saab. The contact stated that while making a turn she crashed into a parked vehicle. The air bags did deploy after the crash occurred and the driver received injuries to her face and mouth. A police report was filed. She was not transported to the hospital. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who advised her that the way the she crashed into the vehicle, the air bags would not deploy. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000. The vin was unavailable. Updated 07/18/11 *bf updated 3/6/12 *cn

Had a head-on accident, traveling approximately 55mph, car pulled out going across intersection, hit head-on. Slammed on brakes noticing she was going, and slammed into her car, her car turned around 180 degs. My airbags did not deploy, nor did the seat belt lock up, which allowed me to go forward in the accident. *tr

While driving 35 mph, the consumer lost control of the vehicle on a snowy. The consumers vehicle was then struck on the side and the air bags failed to deploy, however the consumer noticed the air bag light had illuminated after the incident. *jb

I was involved with in an accident on friday december 14th, 2012. I was returning to work on my lunch break and a lady ran a red light, pulling out infront of me, and i ended up t-boning her going roughly 45mph. I was extremely disappointed that no air bags were deployed in such a severe head on collision. The car has been seen by the insurance company and they decided to total the vehicle. In such a violent accident i would expect the air bags to be deployed, especially when the accident was a front on collision that totaled my saab. I was taken to the er because i hit my head on the a frame and had major back and neck pain. This problem about the air bags not going off needs to be known, and i am very disappointed that this vehicle did not meet the basic standards for safety in a head on collision. *tr

7/26/22 10:23pm on interstate 25 North of Denver mile 249 I was not able to stop and rear ended another vehicle. My air bags did not deploy there were no dash lights indicating any problem with the airbags prior to the accident. My vehicle was not drivable and was towed to H&R Towing in Johnstown, CO. The only inspection so far has been by an Amica Insurance adjuster. My set belt pretensioner held me fast but the crown of my head went forward into the visor area I was dazed. I went by ambulance to MCR hospital in Loveland diagnosed with a concussion. I had other bruises from the seatbelt and hitting my left knee on the dash. The damage to my car begins at the driver’s side headlamp area and radiates across the font of the car to the headlights on the passenger side. The hood was folded back and there is significant damage to all the components in the front part of the engine compartment. I’ve tried to contact Saab cars but no response, they stopped building cars in 2011. I tried GM as well, no response.

Dt: the consumer's wife was in serious car accident and the side air bags did not deploy. Consumer's vehicle was hit on hit the passenger's side, and was hit so hard that the back passenger's door was stuck to the vehicle that hit it. The driver of the other vehicle admitted he had been going at 30 mph when the side impact occurred. This happened on august 17, 2005. Had not contacted dealership, but will be contacting the manufacturer. *ak

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 saab 9-5. The contact received a recall notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v063000 (air bags); however, the parts for the recall were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

S10 direct reply- letter addressed to president obama requesting assistance with a takata airbag recall. *smd 2010 saab 9-5. The consumer was informed the parts were not available. *jb updated 06/08/16.*jb

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 saa 9-5. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v063000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available...updated 05/22/17 *bf *cn

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 saab 9-5 arc. While driving 20 mph, the engine misfired and the contact noticed a burning smell. Approximately ten minutes after she parked the vehicle, there were flames coming from the rear of the vehicle near the fuel tank. The flames engulfed the vehicle and caused damaged to the trees and driveway. The fire destroyed the vehicle. As of december 5, 2007, the insurance company or manufacturer had not inspected the vehicle. The contact stated that recall #07v087000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings) was performed two weeks prior to the failure. The contact felt that the recalled part caused the failure. The current and failure mileages were 66,500.

Dt: consumer states on october 6, 2005 while driving on a road the vehicle caught on fire. The fuel line was ripped, and one smelled gasoline all over the passenger side of the vehicle. Consumer stated when putting the vehicle in reverse it will stall intermittently. Consumer took the vehicle to dealer and no codes showed up on the diagnostic machine. The dealer changed catalytic converter and the oxygen sensor twice. The dealer could not pin point the problem. The engine failure light did come on before the vehicle caught on fire. The dealer said that some type of debris came from the highway that caused the fuel line to rip. *ak

Car runs perfectly and at highway speeds will randomly stall. If you can manage to not get into an accident the car will start right back up after you turn off the key and restart. Sometimes every couple of miles, and can go several miles without the stall. Seems to only happen at constant speeds. This is a very dangerous problem. Diagnostic codes are p1230 and p1261, but i think these are results of the sudden stall, and not the problem. *tr updated 03/10/09. *lj

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 saab 9-5. While the contact's daughter was driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle shut off and would not restart. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic and they stated that the fuel pump failed and needed to be replaced. Three weeks later, the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 07v087000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Approximately one year later, the mechanic stated that the fuel pump failed again. The current mileage was 60,000 and failure mileage was 54,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 saab 9-5. On july 6, 2007, the contact received recall notice # 07v087000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). The vehicle is currently located in spain. The manufacturer stated that they are not obligated to repair the vehicle for free because it is located outside of the united states. The manufacturer also refused to provide the contact with a copy of the recall notice in spanish. The current mileage was 48,063 and there had been no failure to date.

Driving on the interstate - exited onto an interchange ramp at 50 mph - and the engine stalled without warning. Vehicle at rear nearly rear-ended mine - but missed by a hairs whisker. Another piece of luck was that i was at the crest of the ramp so managed to "coast" towards the shoulder. Waited for a bit - the car wouldn't restart. Had to spend perilous time on the left shoulder before getting my car towed. At the time of writing - the car is sitting in the dealers lot. Nothing special happened prior to this incident. Previously a similar incident had occurred just outside my residence - and the dealer checked it out and said it might just be "bad gas". Saab's customer assistance program was useless. Based on the other incidents reported - refer to odi #s: 10162804, 10137685, 10097342 - there is something definitely wrong with this vehicle. Please take action before someone loses their life.*jb

Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings summary: driving on highway, pressure line from fuel tank came loose and started leaking massive amounts of gas all over the underside of the vehicle and street. Stream of fuel on highway alerted driver. Lost unknown amount of gallons of gas quickly . Had to pull over and call for tow truck to take to nearest facility. I evacuated the car due to large amounts of gas under vehicle and streams of fuel near hot exhaust pipes. Technician discovered fuel line had come loose after looking inside port from under back seat. No evidence of any breakage or other issues the first event-- the line simply came loose and was easily re-attached. The second event happened in june 2007 and fuel again was pouring out from the underside in a parking lot. I called the same independent dealer who immediately had the car towed . This time the repair was done with metal straps to prevent any further coming apart. I then received a recall letter from saab after this occurrence two times. I was told by saab usa to submit repair orders for reimbursement which i did. I received a denial letter until an authorized saab dealer could check the work completed by the independent dealer. I was called by the authorized dealer in marietta, ga and told that i may need a complete fuel assembly for $1100 due to the independent dealers repairs affecting electrical wiring. The car is at the dealer for investigation and hopefully a saab usa will stand behind the needed repairs. Consultation on internet chat room saabnet.com finds that at least 4 other owners of similar vintage saab 9-5 vehicles have experienced this same problem. Saab usa is questioning my repairs at the independent dealer. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 saab 9-5. The contact recently received a recall letter regarding the fuel pump retaining tabs. He stated that the only local saab dealer in his area is no longer servicing saab, and the next closest dealer is 151 miles away. He does not want to drive his vehicle that far because it may fail or have a negative effect due to the recall. No failures have occurred at this time. The current and failure mileages were 35,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 saab 9-5. The contact received a recall notice in reference to the fuel pump retaining tabs, which may result in fuel leakage and a fire. He stated that the notice suggested having the repair done at an authorized dealer six miles away, while his auto mechanic shop is right down the street. The dealer will not provide him with a loaner vehicle. He notified the manufacturer about having to take his vehicle to an authorized dealer. The vin, engine size, and failure mileage were unknown. The current mileage is 85,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 saab 9-5. While driving the contact smelled gas and pulled the vehicle off the road. The contact inspected the vehicle, and found a large gas leak due to the fuel line loosening from the pipe. The vehicle was repaired, and the contact felt the failure was a safety risk. The current mileagewas 29,500, and failure mileage was 29,470.*ak

Dt: consumer states on october 6, 2005 while driving on a road the vehicle caught on fire. The fuel line was ripped, and one smelled gasoline all over the passenger side of the vehicle. Consumer stated when putting the vehicle in reverse it will stall intermittently. Consumer took the vehicle to dealer and no codes showed up on the diagnostic machine. The dealer changed catalytic converter and the oxygen sensor twice. The dealer could not pin point the problem. The engine failure light did come on before the vehicle caught on fire. The dealer said that some type of debris came from the highway that caused the fuel line to rip. *ak

Car runs perfectly and at highway speeds will randomly stall. If you can manage to not get into an accident the car will start right back up after you turn off the key and restart. Sometimes every couple of miles, and can go several miles without the stall. Seems to only happen at constant speeds. This is a very dangerous problem. Diagnostic codes are p1230 and p1261, but i think these are results of the sudden stall, and not the problem. *tr updated 03/10/09. *lj

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 saab 9-5. While the contact's daughter was driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle shut off and would not restart. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic and they stated that the fuel pump failed and needed to be replaced. Three weeks later, the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 07v087000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Approximately one year later, the mechanic stated that the fuel pump failed again. The current mileage was 60,000 and failure mileage was 54,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 saab 9-5. On july 6, 2007, the contact received recall notice # 07v087000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). The vehicle is currently located in spain. The manufacturer stated that they are not obligated to repair the vehicle for free because it is located outside of the united states. The manufacturer also refused to provide the contact with a copy of the recall notice in spanish. The current mileage was 48,063 and there had been no failure to date.

Driving on the interstate - exited onto an interchange ramp at 50 mph - and the engine stalled without warning. Vehicle at rear nearly rear-ended mine - but missed by a hairs whisker. Another piece of luck was that i was at the crest of the ramp so managed to "coast" towards the shoulder. Waited for a bit - the car wouldn't restart. Had to spend perilous time on the left shoulder before getting my car towed. At the time of writing - the car is sitting in the dealers lot. Nothing special happened prior to this incident. Previously a similar incident had occurred just outside my residence - and the dealer checked it out and said it might just be "bad gas". Saab's customer assistance program was useless. Based on the other incidents reported - refer to odi #s: 10162804, 10137685, 10097342 - there is something definitely wrong with this vehicle. Please take action before someone loses their life.*jb

Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings summary: driving on highway, pressure line from fuel tank came loose and started leaking massive amounts of gas all over the underside of the vehicle and street. Stream of fuel on highway alerted driver. Lost unknown amount of gallons of gas quickly . Had to pull over and call for tow truck to take to nearest facility. I evacuated the car due to large amounts of gas under vehicle and streams of fuel near hot exhaust pipes. Technician discovered fuel line had come loose after looking inside port from under back seat. No evidence of any breakage or other issues the first event-- the line simply came loose and was easily re-attached. The second event happened in june 2007 and fuel again was pouring out from the underside in a parking lot. I called the same independent dealer who immediately had the car towed . This time the repair was done with metal straps to prevent any further coming apart. I then received a recall letter from saab after this occurrence two times. I was told by saab usa to submit repair orders for reimbursement which i did. I received a denial letter until an authorized saab dealer could check the work completed by the independent dealer. I was called by the authorized dealer in marietta, ga and told that i may need a complete fuel assembly for $1100 due to the independent dealers repairs affecting electrical wiring. The car is at the dealer for investigation and hopefully a saab usa will stand behind the needed repairs. Consultation on internet chat room saabnet.com finds that at least 4 other owners of similar vintage saab 9-5 vehicles have experienced this same problem. Saab usa is questioning my repairs at the independent dealer. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 saab 9-5. The contact recently received a recall letter regarding the fuel pump retaining tabs. He stated that the only local saab dealer in his area is no longer servicing saab, and the next closest dealer is 151 miles away. He does not want to drive his vehicle that far because it may fail or have a negative effect due to the recall. No failures have occurred at this time. The current and failure mileages were 35,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 saab 9-5. While driving the contact smelled gas and pulled the vehicle off the road. The contact inspected the vehicle, and found a large gas leak due to the fuel line loosening from the pipe. The vehicle was repaired, and the contact felt the failure was a safety risk. The current mileagewas 29,500, and failure mileage was 29,470.*ak

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

While pulling into traffic the engine died vehicle had to be towed to the dealer, and dealer determined that fuel injection system failed. Dealer replaced that part. *ak

Saab 1999 wagon- prior to event computer indicated rear light failure. Then brake failure occured, and cruise control would not disengage. Car could not be stopped, collision with highway wall. Car destroyed. No injuries. *jb

My 2011 saab 9-5 is currently in the saab repair shop to have the brake pedal replaced. The brake pedal would not return to its proper position and was locking the brakes on and also locking the brake lights on. It feels like you have a flat tire and the car feels like something is holding it back. In my case i ruined the brake rotors and discs as the brakes were locked. This could have started a fire and made the car hard to handle and of course reduced the proper braking ability. Gm should put out an immediate safety recall on this issue. The repair shop says they have seen several cases like mine. It took a long time for me to be aware of what was happening. I have had the car for less than a year and it does not happen all the time. Mostly in hot and humid weather. This is very dangerous and should be fixed right away. Gm safety recall needed now! Contact saab im autohaus, 551 n washington st, falls church, va 22046, at (703) 534-0770, for more information and documentation.

Electronic emergency brake does not completely release. Noticed by excessive wear on rear brake pads/rotors, vibration when braking and poor gas mileage.

Loss of braking power, car wouldn't stop. Was able to stop car by pushing extremely hard on the brakes. *tr

No specific events lead to the failure of the brake system. The brake system is marginally functional and has been since the car was purchased new. The rear brake rotors began to wear showing visible grooving at approximately 1200 miles while the front rotors still show no signs of wear or grooving at 4800 miles. Improper brake performance is further evidenced by the rapid accumulation of brake dust on the surface of the rear wheels wnd only slight accumulation of brake dust on the front wheels. The vehicle is also quite unstable and difficult to keep within the traffic lane during emergency braking maneuvers from speeds of approximately 60 mph or higher. Nothing has been done to correct the failure. The dealership has been contacted and notified of the problem. They acknowledged the problem and reported that others have filed the same complaint. The front/rear braking force is automatically controlled by the vehicle control system. The manufacturer's service department has told me there is nothing they can do to remedy the problem. The vehicle is leased to me under a three year contract. I therefore have no option to sell it or terminate the lease and am legally bound to maintain payments on this unsafe vehicle for another 36 months. *nm

Purchased the car used 5/23/08 with 42,700 miles from saab dealership. Within a month the headlights worked randomly, check engine light would come on randomly. Called the dealership and was told that it wouldn't hurt anything and should it become more frequent, bring the car in. 8/18 took the car in to dealership when the light was coming on more frequently. Headlight relay replaced, engine light was due to a direct ignition cassette failure. Saab dealership ordered the part which was on national back order, part came in 10/9. Vehicle was taken in 10/6 due to steam coming from under the hood, temperature gauge never moved above the middle. Bypass valve replaced ($450 parts/labor). Vehicle has approx. 48,500 miles and is out of manufacturer warranty and repair is not covered under dealerships limited warranty. After an internet search for information relating to the di cassette failure i found that there was a recall for 2000-2002 models for the same issue. My vehicle is a 2004 saab 9.5 aero sedan. *tr

Bosch abs module on 2001 saab 9-5 se v6 with 88,000 miles failed with abs, tcs, brake, and /!\ failure lights displayed on dash. Abs no longer operable. Traction control system no longer operable. Engine management system no longer operable. Speedometer no longer operable. From reading many (over eight!) message boards, this an endemic problem with the bosch abs systems in many bmw, saab, cadillac catera, vw cars. Why can't the government recognize that this is an issue? Abs is brakes and brakes are a safety system. Please look into this. Contact bba-reman in taunton, ma, they handle fixing these systems and their load is very heavy. *tr

2001 saab 9-5 with engine stalling problems. Consumer states that she has had the engine shut off while driving and the fuel pump replaced twice. She feels that her vehicle is a lemon. *kb the consumer stated the engine light illuminated. The mechanic stated the brake booster was faulty which caused the engine light to come on. There was a loud roaring noise coming from the rear of the vehicle upon braking. The dealer replaced the brakes. *jb

During driving, i experienced intermittent failures of the abs system. Over time it became constant. Apparently, the abs control module has failed, as seems to be common with this vehicle. The problem causes the speedometer to shut off, the odometer to stop clocking miles, the abs system to shutdown and the traction control system to shut off. *tr

I own a 2000 saab 9-5 aero sedan. On june 14, 2007, i was driving this car when i experienced total loss of the braking system. This loss occurred completely without warning. The only way to stop the car was by engaging the emergency brake. Subsequent examination by a mechanic determined that the vacuum pump and brake booster had failed. I was fortunate in that the emergency brake engaged and that i did not drift out into the 5 lane highway that i was approaching. I was also fortunate in that i did not hit other cars or pedestrians in this incident. Saab has recalled other models that have had similar brake problems and i believe that the 9-5 should be investigated. *ak

Saab 1999 wagon- prior to event computer indicated rear light failure. Then brake failure occured, and cruise control would not disengage. Car could not be stopped, collision with highway wall. Car destroyed. No injuries. *jb

No specific events lead to the failure of the brake system. The brake system is marginally functional and has been since the car was purchased new. The rear brake rotors began to wear showing visible grooving at approximately 1200 miles while the front rotors still show no signs of wear or grooving at 4800 miles. Improper brake performance is further evidenced by the rapid accumulation of brake dust on the surface of the rear wheels wnd only slight accumulation of brake dust on the front wheels. The vehicle is also quite unstable and difficult to keep within the traffic lane during emergency braking maneuvers from speeds of approximately 60 mph or higher. Nothing has been done to correct the failure. The dealership has been contacted and notified of the problem. They acknowledged the problem and reported that others have filed the same complaint. The front/rear braking force is automatically controlled by the vehicle control system. The manufacturer's service department has told me there is nothing they can do to remedy the problem. The vehicle is leased to me under a three year contract. I therefore have no option to sell it or terminate the lease and am legally bound to maintain payments on this unsafe vehicle for another 36 months. *nm

Purchased the car used 5/23/08 with 42,700 miles from saab dealership. Within a month the headlights worked randomly, check engine light would come on randomly. Called the dealership and was told that it wouldn't hurt anything and should it become more frequent, bring the car in. 8/18 took the car in to dealership when the light was coming on more frequently. Headlight relay replaced, engine light was due to a direct ignition cassette failure. Saab dealership ordered the part which was on national back order, part came in 10/9. Vehicle was taken in 10/6 due to steam coming from under the hood, temperature gauge never moved above the middle. Bypass valve replaced ($450 parts/labor). Vehicle has approx. 48,500 miles and is out of manufacturer warranty and repair is not covered under dealerships limited warranty. After an internet search for information relating to the di cassette failure i found that there was a recall for 2000-2002 models for the same issue. My vehicle is a 2004 saab 9.5 aero sedan. *tr

2001 saab 9-5 with engine stalling problems. Consumer states that she has had the engine shut off while driving and the fuel pump replaced twice. She feels that her vehicle is a lemon. *kb the consumer stated the engine light illuminated. The mechanic stated the brake booster was faulty which caused the engine light to come on. There was a loud roaring noise coming from the rear of the vehicle upon braking. The dealer replaced the brakes. *jb

I own a 2000 saab 9-5 aero sedan. On june 14, 2007, i was driving this car when i experienced total loss of the braking system. This loss occurred completely without warning. The only way to stop the car was by engaging the emergency brake. Subsequent examination by a mechanic determined that the vacuum pump and brake booster had failed. I was fortunate in that the emergency brake engaged and that i did not drift out into the 5 lane highway that i was approaching. I was also fortunate in that i did not hit other cars or pedestrians in this incident. Saab has recalled other models that have had similar brake problems and i believe that the 9-5 should be investigated. *ak

While driving in the 2000 9-5 the dashboard lit up like a christmas tree ; abs, tcs, brakes, etc.. Brought the vehicle to the dealer, and was advised that i needed a new abs controller . The cost to replace it was $2,700. I asked if they could install a rebuild or an aftermarket part ,and they advised that it would cost $1,600. Still aghast, i did some internet research and found that the bosch abs module faile d routinely, and could be repaired for approximately $150 to $250. Aside from the potential safety issue of this part commonly failing there also appeared to be quite a mark up from the dealer/manufacturers on this part. *ak

When parked on hill overnight with car pointed down hill, when engine is started and shift lever moved to drive and hand brake released, the foot brake is unable to prevent the car from rolling and hand brake must be used to stop vehicle. After a few minutes of driving, the foot brakes appear to function normally. This could be a serious problem for a woman unable to work hand brake or exert enough brake pedal effort to assist in stopping the car. Saab expert mechanic says this is a common design problem and i should report it as a serious safety problem. *tr

Just as others have reported: dash lights came on: abs, tcs off, warning triangle and brake. Check engine light came on after intermittent problem became permanent. Speedometer and odometer ceased to operate. Researched to discover a common problem with like vehicles (saabnet.com). Service technician confirmed that abs ecu was inoperative and needed to be replaced. Arroway saab dealer attempted to resolve issue with saab usa to replace $3500 part. I would pay labor. Saab dealer refused to guarantee replacement of abs computer would fix problem. Currently working with purchasing a used until for $900. Wish i had known about the rebuild option. This is a consistent problem which is 1) expensive and 2) potentially dangerous as it affects key safety features. *jb

I own a 2000 saab 9-5. I have found there to be an issue with the abs control module. This issue is present and known on many discussion boards for the vehicle. I would like to know why the abs control module on these vehicles have not been recalled? The problem causes the speedometer to shut off, the odometer to stop clocking miles, the abs system to shutdown and the traction control system to shut off. This is a fairly serious issue that may result in injury or death. It is a very well known problem among 2000 saab 9-5 owners. Thank you for your help. To reference one of many known instances of this saab issue, please visit: http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73456. *jb

The break booster gave out on my '00 saab while driving causing the breaks to stop working.

On two occasions our 2001saab,9.5 6 cylinder transmission cassette failed. Leaving my husband and my self stranded with a smoldering car. On oct 19th 05 we were able to get off the hwy in the nick of time, heavy smoke had begun to pour out from under the hood. The fire was contained but the ignition cassette,the cause of the fire, the wire harness, battery and,spark plugs were destroyed and had to be replaced. At the time of this incidence we were driving in the southern sierras in a seasonal dry forest area. It was fortunate that a we were able to pull off the road in a safe spot. On aug.15th, 08. The replacement part failed again and as before the spark plugs, installed several months previously had to be replaced the continued failure of this part in an intrinsic manufacturing defect. Specific vin numbers of this part has been recalled, but saab/ g.m needs to be made to recall all of these auto's and replace the flawed ignition cassette. Neither of the two ignition cassettes installed in our car have had the vin numbers recalled. *tr

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

2006 saab 9-5 with multiple problems. Consumer states that the throttle broke, shut off on its own due to a faulty fuel gauge. Minor problems are radio grill popping out and heat comes on in the summer and cold air comes in the winter. *kb

The ignition cassette needed to be replaced. *tr

The factory floor mat slipped forward and was wedged to the accelerator pedal so that the pedal stuck at almost full throttle. Avoided a collision by shifting into neutral, stopping, and realizing the mat was jammed into the accelerator pedal. I extricated the mat from the pedal and restored the function to normal. The car has restraining pins designed to hold the mat in place but the design is flawed, especially if the mat curls in that area. *tr

Ign cassettes failed (car wouldn't start, towed, very expensive to repair). A mechanic said the ign cassettes on my saab model were not under recall (but maybe should be). *tr

Failure of 2003 saab 95 direct ignition cassette. *tr

The engine warning light on my 2003 9-5 wagon has been coming on periodically for the last year. We had it serviced by an indy and two error codes came up, p1312 and p1334, both having to do with the direct ignition cassette. We just had the part replaced. Only once did the car "die" while driving and luckily it was at low speed and i was able to pull off the road to restart. The identifying information on the original part is 9197559 (tk3.6). My vehicle was built in 2002. Consider expanding the recall in place for 2000-2002 model years (nhtsa #05v399000) to include 2003 vehicles, particularly those built in 2002. *tr

The onstar system failed. Nlm

Direct ignition cassette failure...this causes the car to sputter like the engine is going to die and burns the electrical inside of the direct ignition cassette. We had the car hooked up to the machine and tested and got a misfire code (p0325) and once the check engine was cleared it worked again for a few minutes. The car will then stop operating, the engine stays running but when you try to accelerate the car does not move, goes into limp mode. This happened to me on the freeway this morning and thankfully i could coast to the side of the road. Saabservices.com shows that a recall was issued on this make and model but the serial numbers on mine fall out of the range of the serial numbers the recall covers. *tr