2002 Saab 9-5 Problems

IGNITION SWITCH SHUT OFF WHILE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY TWICE! ONCE IN 2006 AND ONCE LATER ANOTHER YEAR PLUS ONCE IN A DRIVEWAY (CAR PURCHASED USED IN THE FALL OF 2005). THE SAAB SWITCH IS LOCATED IN THE CENTER CONSOLE AND IF IT IS HIT IT SWITCHES OFF AND SHUTS DOWN THE CAR, SAME AS RECALLED SWITCHES IN OTHER GM CARS. VERY DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT I WAS LUCKY AND ABLE TO STEER TO THE SIDE WITHOUT A CRASH. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LOCK MECHANISM TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING. IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME TO REPORT IT THOUGH IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD IN A WHAT WAS AT THE TIME A GM OWNED PRODUCT. I STILL OWN THE CAR AND DRIVE IT DAILY ON THE SAME HIGHWAY, HOWEVER AM VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE ISSUE. I WASN'T AWARE OF WHAT CAUSED THE SHUT DOWN UNTIL IT HAPPENED THE SECOND TIME A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST TIME. YOU SHOULD INCLUDE SAAB IN THE RECALL OF GM PRODUCTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SAAB 95. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED TO REPAIR THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48000. *TR

THE ENGINE ON MY 4 CYLINDER SAAB 9-5 (2002) HAS SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING AT LEAST 4 TIMES SINCE OWNING THE CAR, BOTH ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN SLOWER TRAFFIC. THE FIRST TIME I REPORTED OFFICIALLY (2007) TO THE DEALER, "NO CAUSE WAS IDENTIFIED." I NOTICED THE LAST TIME THAT IT HAPPENED (AROUND MAY 2011) THAT IT SEEMED TO COINCIDE WITH INADVERTENTLY BUMPING INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH LIGHTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE SYMPTOMS MATCH THAT OF ANOTHER OWNER'S COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE FOR THE 2002 SAAB 9-5. I EXPECTED MY CAR TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECENT RECALL INVOLVING THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH BUT GOT NO NOTIFICATION. I HAVE ALSO PAID IN JUNE 2008 AND AGAIN IN OCTOBER 2009 AND JANUARY 2013 TO REPLACE/RESET A FAULTY IGNITION CASSETTE, WHICH I BELIEVE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF A RECALL CAMPAIGN AND NOT CHARGED TO ME, BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IN SUMMARY, DUE TO THE CAR SHUTTING OFF, I FEEL IT IS NOT SAFE AND THAT IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECENT GMC RECALL. AND THAT THE FAULTY IGNITION CASSETTE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND NOT REPLACED AT OWNER EXPENSE MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAVE DOCUMENTED SERVICE RECORDS OF THE ABOVE INCIDENTS. *TR

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

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.

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

TRANSMISSION "CLUNK" OCCURRED WITH SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. DEALER DIAGNOSED VALVE BODY AND RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION REBUILD. AAMCO DIAGNOSED SAME ISSUE RESULTING FROM METAL SHAVINGS BEING RELEASED FROM TORQUE CONVERTER INTO TRANSMISSION. ENTIRE TRANSMISSION INCLUDING TORQUE COVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 74,000 MILES.*JB

I AM EXPERIENCING A TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH MY 2002 SAAB 9-5. JUDGING BY THE NUMBER OF MENTIONS I HAVE SEEN IN ONLINE FORUMS, THIS IS A PRETTY WIDE SPREAD ISSUE. THE SAAB TSB THAT RELATES TO THIS ISSUE IS 440-2497, OCTOBER 2004. MY LOCAL DEALER HAS ADVISED ME I NEED TO FOOT THE BILL FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. IT APPEARS VERY SIMILAR TO THE EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER VALVE BODY ISSUE THAT WAS ELEVATED TO RECALL STATUS A FEW YEARS AGO. *JB

HELLO...I NEED TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP. I HAVE A 2002 SAAB 9-5 WHICH HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT. IT DOES NOT RETRACT AND THEREFORE THE PASSENGER IS UNPROTECTED. I KNOW THAT SAAB HAS A HISTORY OF THIS BEING A PROBLEM. MY ATTEMPTS TO GET SOME HELP FROM SAAB HAVE BEEN FUTILE. IF THIS WAS A MINOR ITEM, I WOULD JUST PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $450 TO HAVE THE SEAT BELT FIXED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THAT. ISN'T THIS THE KIND OF VERY BASIC THING THAT A VEHICLE OWNER SHOULD EXPECT WHEN THEY PURCHASE A CAR? ALSO, ISN'T THIS THE VERY BASIC KIND OF THING THAT A VEHICLE MANUFACTURER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING TO ITS CUSTOMERS, AT A REASONABLE COST? I EXIST ON A VERY LIMITED INCOME (SOCIAL SECURITY) AND CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY $450 TO FIX THIS. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN OTHER YEARS AND MODELS OF SAAB. CAN I ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN TRYING TO GET SAAB TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION? THANK YOU. *TR

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

2002 SAAB 9-5 LINEAR SEDAN, PASSENGER SIDE SEAT MOVED BACK ON IT OWNS. *BF THE SEAT PINNED THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE. THE CONSUMER STATED SOME PAPERS FELL BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE DOOR HITTING THE CONTROLS WHICH ACTIVATED THE SEAT MOVEMEN.T EVEN AFTER THE CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF THE SEAT DID NOT STOP MOVING, ONCE THE CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE DOOR THE SEAT STOPPED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. INTERMITTENTLY, THE ELECTRICAL MECHANISM TO OPEN THE TRUNK WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *AK WHEN EXPOSED TO PROLONGED INTENSE SUNLIGHT/HEAT, THE INTERIOR CHILD RELEASE FEATURE WOULDN'T WORK EITHER. *PH

LOSS OF REVERSING LIGHTS, TRUNK OPENING WARNING LIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION WITH NO INTERNAL WARNING INDICATIONS. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CAUSE WAS THE FAILURE OF TRUNK WIRING HARNESS AT 70K MILES - 2 WIRES WERE COMPLETELY SEVERED, ALL OTHERS (6) HAD LOST INSULATION. FAILURE IS AT THE FOLDING POINT JUST PRIOR TO ENTRY INTO THE TRUNK LID. CAUSE APPEARS TO BE EXCESSIVE TIGHTNESS OF THE INTERIOR WIRES. THE RUBBER BOOT WAS ENTIRELY INTACT, SEALED TO CONNECTORS IN THE BODY AND TRUNK LID AND THERE WAS NO VISIBLE INDICATION OF THE INTERNAL FAILURE. WIRES ARE SEPARATE INSIDE THE BOOT UP UNTIL THE TRUNK LID ENTRY WHERE THEY ARE WRAPPED WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED ONLY DURING SERVICE, NOT REPORTED BY SELF-CHECK DISPLAY WHICH ALWAYS REPORTS LIGHT BULB OUTAGES IN TEXT MESSAGES ON THE 2 LINE SAAB INFORMATION DISPLAY (SECONDARY FAILURE). PRIOR TO DISCOVERY A NUMBER OF CARS HAD ALMOST REAR ENDED THE CAR WHEN BACKING UP (REVERSING LIGHT FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED OR KNOWN). CORRECTED TEMPORARILY BY SPLICING IN WIRES AND HEAT WRAPPING, WAITING FOR APPOINTMENT WITH THE SAAB DEALER TO REPLACE THE HARNESS. *TR

2002 SAAB 9-5 WITH 54000 MILES. THE THROTTLE BODY ON THE CAR STARTED TO SURGE BADLY. IF IT IS NOT REPLACED AT THIS POINT IT CAN GO OUT COMPLETELY AND THE CAR STOPS IMMEDIATELY IN TRAFFIC. *NM

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES AT THIS TIME WITH THE AIR BAGS; HOWEVER, HE FEELS THAT THEY WILL NOT DEPLOY DURING A CRASH. HE ALSO BELIEVES THAT THEY MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY TIME. THE AIR BAGS ARE RUNNING THROUGH A CENTRAL RIBBON CABLE AND NOTHING ELSE CONNECTED TO THAT CABLE IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE CENTRAL WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, WHICH COULD ALSO CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED TWO WEEKS AGO AND THE CENTRAL WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED AT THAT TIME. THE DEALER DID NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL, AND HIT A GUARD RAIL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE SHUT DOWN ,CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB..*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS ARE DISCOLORED AND FOGGY. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT NIGHT, THE LIGHT BARELY SHINES THROUGH THE HEADLIGHTS. THE SAAB DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING A NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 70,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,002.

DT: CONTACT STATED THE INBOARD DASHBOARD SIDE INFORMATION DISPLAY PANEL GARBLED, AND THERE WAS NO LEGIBLE DISPLAY PRINTING OFF. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THIS WAS A FREQUENT PROBLEM, AND HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT OFTEN. HE HAD THE SYSTEM REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY ,AND WAS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WILL OFFER NO FREE REMEDY. *AK

ON FEB 20, 2013, I WENT TO GILLYS, A LOCAL TIRE COMPANY, SOLD ME TWO TIRES AND WELDED A CRACKED RIM. ON MAR 2, 2013 THE TIRE BLEW OUT AND UPON INSPECTION AT WALMART AUTOMOTIVE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE TIRE WAS ILLEGALLY PLUGGED ON INNER WALL. THE RIM HAD RECRACKED. THIS VIOLATES 49 CFR 570.10 WHEEL ASSEMBLIES. THE COMPANY THAT SOLD ME THE FAULTY TIRES WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. I BELIEVED I WAS PURCHASING TWO USED TIRES WITHOUT PLUGS, BUT RECEIVED TWO TIRES WHICH SHOULD NEVER BE ON THE ROAD. ONCE I NOTIFIED THE TIRE SHOP, THE OWNER DISPUTED THE FINDINGS DESPITE TWO LETTERS FROM SEPARATE TIRE SHOPS. *TR

ON FEB 20, 2013, I WENT TO GILLYS, A LOCAL TIRE COMPANY, SOLD ME TWO TIRES AND WELDED A CRACKED RIM. ON MAR 2, 2013 THE TIRE BLEW OUT AND UPON INSPECTION AT WALMART AUTOMOTIVE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE TIRE WAS ILLEGALLY PLUGGED ON INNER WALL. THE RIM HAD RECRACKED. THIS VIOLATES 49 CFR 570.10 WHEEL ASSEMBLIES. THE COMPANY THAT SOLD ME THE FAULTY TIRES WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. I BELIEVED I WAS PURCHASING TWO USED TIRES WITHOUT PLUGS, BUT RECEIVED TWO TIRES WHICH SHOULD NEVER BE ON THE ROAD. ONCE I NOTIFIED THE TIRE SHOP, THE OWNER DISPUTED THE FINDINGS DESPITE TWO LETTERS FROM SEPARATE TIRE SHOPS. *TR