2002 Saab 9-5 Fuel system Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

10210874

Incident

Dec 1, 2007

Mileage

66,500 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10200050

Incident

Oct 26, 2006

Mileage

77,314 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10193694

Incident

Jun 18, 2007

Mileage

35,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10193580

Incident

Jun 7, 2007

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

NHTSA ID

10187155

Incident

Apr 3, 2007

Mileage

29,470 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10183329

Incident

Feb 23, 2007

Mileage

70,500 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10139470

Incident

Oct 6, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10059624

Incident

Feb 23, 2004

GAS GAUGE FUEL INDICATOR IS INOPERATIVE, AS A RESULT THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO TELL HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE TANK RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE RUNNING OUT OFF GAS AND LEAVING DRIVER STRANDED.*AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

8018681

Incident

Apr 10, 2002