RoadVitals

2000 Saab 9-5 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Apr 12, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
12%
of 119 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Saab 9-5 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Apr 12, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 95. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE MINUTES WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE VEHICLE OPERATED PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA ID
10325172
Incident
Aug 15, 2004
Mileage
77,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 27, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-5. ON NOV 18, 2008, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY HEAD GASKET, WHICH WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. SIX MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION CASSETTE WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V399000. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL TO THOSE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 05/13/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT LUNGED FORWARD AND THEN STALL. UPDATED 05/13/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10266831
Incident
Sep 12, 2008
Mileage
115,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 29, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SAAB 9-5 (GARY FISHER EDITION). THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE INCREASED THE RISK OF A CRASH AND SERIOUS INJURY. IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HE HAD TO UNPLUG THE FUSE TO THE ECM, RE-INSERT IT, THEN THE VEHICLE RESUMES NORMAL FUNCTION. HE HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE TECHNICIANS CANNOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,233.

NHTSA ID
10236290
Incident
Apr 29, 2008
Mileage
132,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 17, 2007

ENGINE MISFIRING WOULD HESITATE AND STOP OTHER TIMES DRIVABLE BUT NOT WITHOUT CONCERN FOR SAFETY. DETERMINED TO BE ID MODULE WHICH WAS REPLACED. SAAB REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL STATING VIN NOT INCLUDED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10209220
Incident
Nov 29, 2005
Mileage
76,813 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 8, 2007
Fire reported

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.

NHTSA ID
10198841
Incident
Aug 3, 2007
Mileage
92,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Jun 26, 2007

WATER PUMP FAILURE, TRANSMISSION MOUNT FAILURE MAY HAVE ATTRIBUTED TO ECM MODULE FAILURE, TURBO SEAL FAILURE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. CAR DIED AND HAD TO TOWED OFF A HIGHWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10194231
Incident
Jun 17, 2007
Mileage
83,320 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 24, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE COASTED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. IT WAS RESTARTED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 35MPH AND WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE IGNITION MODULE HAD FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONLY 30 MILES MORE WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD FAILED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, 05V399000, REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION MODULE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10158203
Incident
May 15, 2006
Mileage
93,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 24, 2006

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE 2000 SAAB 95 SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. *NM THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED. AFTER REPAIR THE CONSUMER LEARNED THAT THE IGNITION MODULE FOR HER VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AFTER THE IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DECIDED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10156286
Incident
Apr 4, 2006
Mileage
76,968 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 24, 2006

CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10155933
Incident
Apr 19, 2006
Mileage
83,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 3, 2005

ANOTHER VOICE: COMMON SUDDEN FAILURE OF SAAB ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY CAUSING IMMEDIATE STALL AT SPEED, IN TRAFFIC. NO CRASH. UNDRIVEABLE "LIMP HOME" MODE. NECESSITATED LONG TOW AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THIS ITEM CITED FREQUENTLY ON SAAB-RELATED WEBSITES, BUT GOT ME TODAY! NOTE THAT CURRENT RECALL IS FOR A DIFFERENT PART, EQUALLY SAFETY-RELATED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10141656
Incident
Oct 5, 2005
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 26, 2005

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. NO RESTART. INTERNAL FAILURE OF CAT. CONVERTER, REPLACED CAT. CONVERTER. *BF THE PROBLEM WAS THE R & R IGNITION MODULE. AFTER THE IGNITION REPAIR, THE CONSUMER FELT A LOSS OF POWER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CLOGGED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10111062
Incident
Dec 1, 2004
Mileage
82,500 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 19, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. ECM WAS REPLACED BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. (NAR) *LA *CB

NHTSA ID
10059495
Incident
Feb 1, 2004
Engine
Filed Jan 22, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
8002569
EngineFuel system
Filed May 12, 2000

FUEL TANK IS DEFECTIVE--FUEL RUSHES TO FRONT OF TANK UPON BRAKING AND THUNKS THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THIS STRESS ON THE FUEL TANK COULD POSE A THREAT, SUCH AS A FUEL EXPLOSION, IN A CRASH. PROBLEM EXISTS WHEN TANK IS 1/2 TO 3/4 FULL. SAAB IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND STATES THAT IT IS CAUSED BY COMPLIANCE WITH CA EMISSIONS STANDARDS. NO OTHER MANUFACTURERS HAVE HAD SUCH PROBLEMS IN COMPLYING WITH CA EMISSIONS. I HAVE SPOKEN BY THE INTERNET WITH OVER 10 OTHER SAAB 9-5 OWNERS WHO ALL REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT, NOT AN INDIVIDUAL COMPLAINT. *AK

NHTSA ID
722584
Incident
Feb 28, 2000

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .