1999 Saab 9-5 Engine Problems

ALL OF THESE REPAIRS IN ABOUT A TWO YEAR PERIOD: ABS MODULE, OIL COOLER, THROTTLE BODY, UPPER RADIATOR HOSE, AND BOTH DIC CASSETTES. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY A $40K CAR. I HAVE LOVED SAAB'S SINCE MY CHILDHOOD, BUT THIS ONE CAR HAS COMPLETELY TURNED ME OFF OF THEM. FIRST THE ABS MODULE WENT, HAD IT REBUILT ($150) AND NO IMPROVEMENT. SO I BOUGHT A NEW ONE ($350). THEN JUST AFTER THAT THE THROTTLE BODY DIED ($450). THEN JUST A FEW MONTHS LATER THE OIL COOLER ($1100) WENT OUT. IT RAN SMOOTH FOR A SHORT TIME, BUT THEN BOTH DIC'S DIED AT THE SAME TIME ($850). IT IS TIME FOR THIS CAR TO GO AWAY, AND I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SAAB. WHY IS THERE A RECALL ON THE DIC FOR ALL SUBSEQUENT YEARS, BUT NO THE 1999'S? THANK SAAB!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10432601

Incident

Oct 7, 2009

Mileage

97,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER IGNITION CASSETTE WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN SHE STARTS HER VEHICLE, IT MOVES SLUGGISHLY AND MAKES NOISE. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINS ILLUMINATED AND AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUMES EXIT THE EXHAUST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION CASSETTE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS HARMING THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10252814

Incident

Dec 18, 2008

Mileage

135,000 mi

ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO OIL SLUDGING CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP IN TRAFFIC ON AN INCLINE AT NIGHT ON A STREET WITH OUT LIGHTING. IT SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS PART OF A RECALL TWO YEARS AGO BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF IT. I FOUND OUT AFTER THE INCIDENT FROM A REPAIR SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10217606

Incident

Dec 2, 2007

Mileage

126,300 mi

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 1999 SAAB 9-5 SE SEDAN WITH A 2.3 LITRE ECOPOWER ENGINE WITH TURBO. BARELY 5 DAYS AFTER MY PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE THERE WAS A VERY SUDDEN ONSET OF A LOUD KNOCKING COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I IMMEDIATELY HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE MANAGER AT WHICH INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A DAMAGED BALANCING SHAFT AND THAT MY ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF ENGINE SLUDGE. WHAT I WAS NOT TOLD, HOWEVER I DID FIND OUT WAS THAT ENGINE SLUDGE IS A PROBLEM KNOWN TO SAAB ON THIS CAR. HOWEVER IN ORDER FOR SAAB TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIR, I WOULD HAVE THE UNREASONABLE TASK OF PROVIDING SAAB WITH ALL MAINTENENCE RECORDS FOR A CAR THAT I'VE OWNED FOR 5 DAYS. AFTER MUCH TRACKING I WAS ABLE TO FIND A SATISFACTORY NUMBER OF RECEIPTS, HOWEVER SAAB STILL REFUSED TO COVER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE OF A DATE DISCREPANCY ON ONE OF THE RECEIPTS THAT IS COMPLETELY OUT OF MY CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10185738

Incident

Mar 17, 2007

Mileage

96,500 mi

1999 SAAB 9-5 4-CYLINDER SEDAN THREW ROD AT 53,000 ON BUSY I-85 IN ATLANTA WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNING WHATSOEVER (NO OIL LEAKS ON GARAGE FLOOR, NO ENGINE OR OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS, STRANGE NOISES, NOTHING). WAS ABLE TO GET TO SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT. CAR HAD BEEN MAINTAINED REGULARLY. CONTACTED SAAB ASKING FOR REPAIR UNDER EXTENDED 8-YEAR WARRANTY ISSUED IN 2005 DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THIS ENGINE RELATED TO OIL SLUDGE. SENT ALL REQUESTED RECORDS BECAUSE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE ON FILE. REQUEST WAS DENIED. SENT FOLLOW-UP LETTER TO SAAB G.M. REQUESTING REPAIR. DENIED WITH NO EXPLANATION. PHONED ON 3/1/07 REQUESTING A WRITTEN EXPLANATION BE EMAILED. STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED ALTHOUGH WAS TOLD IT WAS BEING SENT IMMEDIATELY. WAS TOLD BY PERSON I SPOKE WITH THAT THE CAR WAS OUTSIDE THE 8 YR. EXTENDED WARRANTY. SAAB WILL DO NOTHING EXCEPT OFFER A CUSTOMER LOYALTY DISCOUNT TOWARD A NEW VEHICLE. MINE IS PRACTICALLY NEW AT 53,000 MILES. LOW MILEAGE DUE TO SHORT TRIPS OF 3 MILES EACH WAY TO WORK. THIS DRIVING CONDITION WAS ONE SPECIFICALLY LISTED AS CONTRIBUTING TO SLUDGE. I DON'T WANT OR EXPECT A NEW CAR. I JUST WANT MINE REPAIRED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10183936

Incident

Feb 4, 2007

Mileage

53,000 mi

UPON REACHING MY DESTINATION AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF, I HEAR A NOISE WHICH SOUNDS LIKE AIR ESCAPING THROUGH THE CAR'S PASSENGER A/C AND HEATING SYSTEM. ALSO, THE CAR MAKES A WEIRD NOISE OCCASIONALLY. I AM SMELLING SULFUR FROM THE GASOLINE ACCORDING TO THE TAPPERT BROTHERS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10162327

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

Mileage

95,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE SPEED DROPPED TO 10 MPH. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME AND ONCE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE DEALER, WHERE THE IGNITION CASSETTES AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE SPARK PLUGS WERE DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #05V399000, REGARDING THE 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. THIS HAPPENED ON THE ROAD WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 30 MPH. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT ONE OF THE HIGHWAYS WHERE PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FATALITY. THIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT DO OVER 15 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THE SMALL OF THE CAR WAS VERY BAD SO THE CONTACT WAITED 20 MINUTES BEFORE LEAVING. THERE WAS NO FIRE. BOTH IGNITION CASSETTES WERE REPLACED, AS WELL AS SPARK PLUGS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10152937

Incident

Mar 15, 2006

Mileage

67,187 mi

SLUDGE IN OIL AND FAULTY IGNITION CASSETTE MODULE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10147698

Incident

Dec 22, 2005

Mileage

62,000 mi

1999 SAAB 9-5 HAS A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER, AND VACUUM BOOSTER WHICH BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *TS IN THE PAST THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP. HEATER FAN MOTOR, THERMOSTAT. LEAKY SUNROOF, BATTERY, BATTERY CABLES AND NUMEROUS LIGHT BULBS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10148678

Incident

Dec 28, 2005

Mileage

108,000 mi

DT: THE ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THERE WAS ONLY A CLICKING NOISE. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE IGNITION CASSETTE WAS REPLACED, AND THIS SUBSEQUENTLY HAPPENED AGAIN. MORE REPAIR WORK WAS DONE AND THIS HAPPENED FOR A THIRD TIME. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN SHOP. *AK THE THROTTLE BODY HAD TRIPPED AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE ON THE THIRD INCIDENT. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETECT THE ROOT CAUSE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10121309

Incident

Sep 9, 2002

Mileage

29,000 mi

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THREE COMPLETE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL FAILURES ON THE 1999 SAAB 9-5. *MR THERE WERE NO WARNINGS. THE DI CASSETTE AND THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. *SC THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS EXPERIENCED BULB FAILURES FAILURES ON A REGULAR BASIS AND HE TRULY BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10121543

Incident

May 1, 2005

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF UPPER IDLER PULLEY ON '99 2.3LITER LOW PRESSURE TURBO ENGINEE ON SAAB 95SE. THE PULLEY DISINTEGRATED ON STARTUP OF THE VEHICLE. CAUSED PIECEES OF PLASTIC OUTHER RING MATERIAL TO BE SCATTERED AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMETN AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SEPENTINE BELT SLIPPED DOWN ONTO THE HUB AND CAUSED FAILURE OF ACCESSORIES SUCH AS: POWER STEERIGN PUMP, LETERNATOR ETC.*AK HAD THIS OCCURED DURIGN DRIVIGN ON THE HIGHWYA, THE IMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER AND ACCESSORIES WOUDL HAVE GENERATED MAJOR PROBLEM AND MIGHT HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR IS 1999 MODEL YEAR, WITH ~ 50,200 MILES DUING INCIDENT. PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CALL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS AT 512-301-7425. I HAV EFOLLOWE DUP ON WEB BASED OWNER AND ENTHUSIAST NETWORKS. IT APPERAS THAT THIS FAILUR EIS BECOMIGN AN COMMON COURENCE ON 99 & 2000 SAABS95 OPERATED IN SOUTHERN USA. PLEASE CHECK OR SEARCH AT WWW.SAABNET.COM : HTTP://WWW.SAABNET.COM/TSN/BB/9-5/SEARCH.HTML?QUERY=IDLER+PULLEY THIS SEARCH INDICATES 256 MESSAGES RELATED OT THE PROBLEM MOST OF THEM OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS. I HAD THE PULLEY REPLACED AT THE LOCAL DELERSHIP UNDER EXTENDED THIRD PARTY WARRANTY, HOWEVER I BELIVE THAT THIS IS A CASE OF BAD SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THIS APPLICATION. THE PULLEY BODY WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC, THAT IS CRACKIGN AND FAILURING DUE TO HEAT EXPOSURE. I HAVE PIECES OF PULLEY AVAILABLE FO RYOUR INSPECTION IF NEEDED. JERZY

NHTSA ID

10118388

Incident

Apr 9, 2005

Mileage

50,200 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, CHECK ENGINE DISPLAY CAME ON, BUT BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD THE CAR COMPLETELY STALLED. CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP (VILLAGE SAAB,ACTON, MA), AND TOLD I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. OIL ALWAYS CHANGED WITHIN SPECIFIED PARAMETERS, W/ 76K MI. SAAB NOTES DEFECT-BUT OFFERS NO HELP. *NM

NHTSA ID

10112080

Incident

Jan 28, 2005

1) SOME OIL LEAKAGE. OIL BACK-UP SLUDGE IN OIL PAN. 2) DRIVING ON HIGHWAY MY CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE, THEN SMOKE POURED OUT THE REAR OF MY CAR. I TOWED IT TO THE DEALER. THE TURBO CHARGER WENT BAD. I WAS TOLD THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD OIL CHANGE?? (OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AT EVERY 5,000 MILES, PER THE DEALERS RECOMMENDATION). I'VE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA.GOV AND SAABNET.COM. WHY IS NOTHING BEING DONE ABOUT THIS CLEARLY FAULTY SYSTEM? MY CAR NOW STILL HESITATES INTERMITTENTLY. WE ARE TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT IF DIAGNOSTICS COME BACK CLEAN AND CAR STILL HESITATES IT MIGHT CAUSE CRASH IF INSUFFICIENT SPEED IS NOT ACHIEVED DURING A FULL STOP OR WHILE TURNING IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ID

10072705

Incident

May 7, 2004

Mileage

53,000 mi

I OWN A 1999 SAAB WAGON WHICH HAS HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE AND TURBO SYSTEM. THE CAR WITH 78,000 MILES NOW REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE ESTIMATED AT BETWEEN 7-10 THOUSAND DOLLARS... ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE CAR.. THE CAR HAS REQUIRED MAJOR REPAIRS INCLUDING REPLACING THE TURBO, CRANKSHAFT, HEAD GASKET AND OIL PRESSURE SWITCH, THE WATER PUMP AS WELL AS THE THROTTLE HOUSING AND DI CASSETTE. THE VEHICLE HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING, STALLING AND BUCKING UPON ACCELERATION. THESE INCIDENTS LED TO MOMENTS OF TWO FOOT DRIVING AND NUMEROUS TOWS. RECEIVING NO HELP FROM DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER VEHICLE HAD TO BE ABANDONED AT DEALERSHIP. CUSTOMER BELIEVES THERE IS AN INHERENT DEFECT IN THE ENGINE/TURBO. *JB

NHTSA ID

10065926

Incident

Dec 26, 2003

Mileage

78,000 mi

I OWN A 1999 SAAB WAGON WHICH HAS HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE AND TURBO SYSTEM. THE CAR, WIH 92,000 MILES, NOW REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE. ESTIMATED COST BETWEEN 6 - 10 THOUSAND DOLLARS...ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE CAR. LAST YEAR, THE CAR REQUIRED A NEW TURBO SYSTEM (72,000 MILES) AT A COST OF $1200 PLUS. AT LEAST FOUR TIMES, THE VEHICLE FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. IT EITHER LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER OR WOULD STALL UPON ACCELERATION, REQUIRING "TWO PEDAL" DRIVING. THE CAR REQUIRED 5 TOWS BECAUSE OF MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN. CAR HAS REPEATED INTERNAL OIL LEAKS WHICH LEADS TO CLOGGED OIL PAN, A $600 REPAIR. CUSTOMER BELIEVES THERE IS AN INHERANT DEFECT WITH TURBO SEALS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10064084

Incident

Mar 9, 2004

Mileage

92,000 mi

VEHICLE WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WITH A/C ON. DEFECT HAS OCCURRED 6 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ID

847867