RoadVitals

2000 Saab 9-5 Fuel system Problems

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

Data refreshed

Fuel system 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 Jul 20, 2011
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.
0
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 fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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 fuel system

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

Fuel system
Filed Jul 20, 2011

DRIVING SLOWLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, I NOTICED A LOSS OF POWER WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE WITH FREEWAY TRAFFIC. THE GAS GAUGE NEEDLE WAS DROPPING QUICKER THAN NORMAL, AND THE GASOLINE FUMES BECAME APPARENT AFTER CRACKING A WINDOW. THE ENGINE STALLED FOR THE THIRD AND LAST TIME AS I EXITED THE FREEWAY. UPON INSPECTION, I COULD SEE THAT THE FUEL 'LINE OUT' FROM THE PUMP UNDER THE BACK SEAT HAD COME OUT, FORCING FUEL OUT ONTO THE ROAD, JUST IN FRONT OF MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT BACK IN AS THE RETAINING CLIP WAS NOT BROKEN. WITH AIR IN THE LINE, IT TOOK A WHILE TO START UP AND GET TO A NEARBY GAS STATION. DOUBLE ZIP-TIES WHEN I GOT HOME. CALLED MY SAAB GUY WHO SAID THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL, AND I NEED TO GET THEIR LATE FIX BRACKET. IT WILL NEVER COME OUT AGAIN OF ITS OWN ACCORD, AND I'M THANKFUL THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO GET IT TOWED - THIS TIME.

NHTSA ID
10414473
Incident
Jul 13, 2011
Mileage
146,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 17, 2011

DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AFTER LEAVING WORK, I NOTICED NO LOSS OF POWER UNTIL I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE WITH FREEWAY TRAFFIC. SOON ENOUGH, THOUGH I DID NOTICE THAT THE GAS GAUGE NEEDLE WAS DROPPING QUICKER THAN NORMAL, AND THE GASOLINE FUMES BECAME APPARENT AFTER CRACKING THE WINDOWS. THE ENGINE STALLED FOR THE THIRD AND LAST TIME JUST AS I ESCAPED OFF THE FREEWAY. UPON INSPECTION, I COULD SEE THAT THE FUEL LINE OUT FROM THE PUMP UNDER THE BACK SEAT HAD COME OUT, FORCING ALL (OF THAT OH-SO-PRECIOUS) FUEL OUT ONTO THE ROAD, JUST IN FRONT OF MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL. I PUSHED IT BACK IN (FUEL TANK 'ROADS?), AS THE RETAINING CLIP WAS NOT BROKEN. NOW WITH SOME AIR IN THE LINE, IT TOOK A WHILE TO SUCK ENOUGH FUMES TO START UP AND GET TO A NEARBY GAS STATION. SMOOTH AS SILK AFTER A DOSE OF FUEL. DOUBLE ZIP-TIES WHEN I GOT HOME. CALLED MY SAAB GUY WHO SAID THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL, AND I NEED TO GET THEIR 'AFTER FIX' BRACKET. IT WILL NEVER COME OUT AGAIN, AND I'M GRATEFUL I DIDN'T HAVE TO GET TOWED THIS TIME.

NHTSA ID
10414272
Incident
Jul 13, 2011
Mileage
146,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Mar 3, 2010

2000 SAAB 9-5 FAILED IGNITION CASSETTE. SAAB SAID THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE PART HAD BEEN RECALLED. RECALL # 05V399000. *DT ALSO THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10313165
Incident
Oct 3, 2008
Fuel system
Filed Dec 4, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-5. THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE GAS TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY THE FOLLOWING DAY SINCE ALL OF THE FUEL LEAKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC ADVISED HIM THAT RECALL 07V087000, FUEL WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO CONFIRMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 191,535 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,708. UPDATED 12/30/09. *LJ UPDATED 12/30/09*JB

NHTSA ID
10294498
Incident
Nov 22, 2009
Mileage
190,708 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 4, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE LOOSENED FROM THE PUMP AND CAUSED FUEL LEAKAGE. THE DEALER ATTRIBUTED IT TO THE TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINE. THE FUEL PUMP LINE WAS COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED. THE ENGINE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A PUDDLE AND FUMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V087000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,690. UPDATED 04/23/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ID
10220041
Incident
Mar 2, 2008
Mileage
68,690 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 16, 2007

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR AND BASED ON PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE REPAIR CENTER. THEY CHECKED THE CODES AND DISCOVERED 3 ERRORS RELATED TO THE THROTTLE BODY. THEY CLEARED THE CODES, DROVE THE CAR AND THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. SINCE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART IN STOCK I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT HOME BUT THE ENGINE WOULD BARELY START AND EVEN AFTER STARTING IT RAN ROUGH. I REFUSED TO DRIVE IT SINCE MY EXPERIENCE SO FAR HAS BEEN WHEN A COMPONENT ON THIS CAR FAILS, THE CAR DOES NOT DEGRADE GRACEFULLY BUT RATHER STOPS ABRUPTLY (USING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD).

NHTSA ID
10185348
Incident
Mar 13, 2007
Mileage
78,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 11, 2006

I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON ROUTE 93 NORTH OF BOSTON IN RUSH HOUR. SOMEONE STARTED FLASHING LIGHTS AND HONKING AT ME. I PULLED OVER (FORTUNATELY 150 FEET BEFORE THE BREAKDOWN LANE IS USED AS A TRAVEL LANE) AND SMELLED GAS. THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL LINE HAD POPPED OFF THE FUEL TANK UNDER THE ACCESS PLATE UNDER THE REAR SEAT. I CLEANED UP THE MESS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, PUSHED THE FUEL LINE BACK IN, LET IT SIT FOR 15 MINUTES AND THEN PROCEEDED HOME. THE WHITE RETAINING CLIP IS NOT BROKEN. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE FUEL LINE CAME OUT, BUT THIS IS NOW THE SECOND TIME, IT ALSO HAPPENED OCTOBER 29 TO MY WIFE AND WE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED HOME. I ADDED STAINLESS WIRE TO KEEP THE BRACKET FROM ALLOWING THE FUEL LINE TO POP OUT AGAIN AND ORDERED THE BRACKET THAT SAAB HAS TO ADDRESS A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON THE 9-3. *JB

NHTSA ID
10175862
Incident
Dec 11, 2006
Mileage
70,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 2, 2006

CONSUMER SAAB AERO 9-5 CLIP HOLD THE GAS TANK BROKE, SPILLING GASOLINE ALL OVER THE CAR, THE ROAD AND EXHAUST LINES. *TS ***NAR*** A CLIP THAT WAS HOLDING THE GAS HOSE IN PLACE BROKE, WHICH REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP. *JB

NHTSA ID
10170159
Incident
Oct 2, 2006
Fuel system
Filed Apr 13, 2005

MY 2000 SAAB 9-5 WITH APPROX. 30,000 MILES STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. CAR RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. IT ALSO SURGES THEN STALLS WHILE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT OR IN TRAFFIC. CAR RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY. HAVE HAD CAR IN FOR SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SURGING PROBLEM IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND HAPPENING MOST EVERY DAY. HAVE NOT BEEN IN ACCIDENT (MY DRIVING IS LOCAL AND ALOT OF STOP AND GO) BUT I WILL NOT DRIVE CAR ON PARKWAY FOR FEAR OF STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ID
10116853
Incident
Apr 12, 2005
Fuel system
Filed Aug 21, 2002

NOXIOUS TERRIBLE SMELL --SUE TO A POORLY DESIGNED CATALYTIC CONVERTER---REPLACED CATALTIC CONVERTER W/NEW DESIGN NOTHING HELPED--SULPHUROUS SMELL THAT IRRIATES WIFE'S LUNGS

NHTSA ID
566317
Fuel system
Filed May 21, 2000

I HEAR FUEL SLOSHING/THUNKING SOUND WHEN THE TANK IS 1/2-3/4 FULL. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, BUT IT CONCERNS ME. THE MFG. HAS TOLD ME IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
722998
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
Fuel system
Filed Jan 5, 2000

THE FUEL TANK MAKES A UNBEARABLE LOUD NOISE. THE FUEL IS BANGING AGAINST THE WALLS OF THE TANK WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY RUPTURE THE TANK OR LOOSEN THE CONNECTING COMPONENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
716927
Incident
Nov 20, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Jan 4, 2000

A LOUD NOISE IS COMING FROM THE GAS TANK AS GAS MOVES IN THE TANK. *MJS

NHTSA ID
784408

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .