1994 Saab 900 Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 SAAB 900. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT WAS CRACKED AND HAD A DAMAGED FRAME THAT WAS DETERIORATING. THE SEAT WAS NOT SECURED AND WOULD MOVE INDEPENDENTLY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ALSO EXHIBITED THE FAILURE. THE SRS SENSOR AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SENSOR ILLUMINATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESET THE CODES. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 94V226000 (SEATS) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE INSPECTED AND REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,601 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,100.

NHTSA ID

10595542

Incident

Oct 9, 1995

Mileage

22,601 mi

THE EXPERIENCE LEAKING HEAD GASKET REPEATED PROBLEM. THE ENGINE OVERHEATING AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. *BF THE BRAKES SQUEALED WHEN STOPPING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS HARD TO CLOSE, THE BATTERY LIGHT HAD RUN BAD, THE HEAT OPERATION WAS INOPERATIVE, THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK, SEAT COVER LEFT LOWER CRACKED, FLUID LEAKED UNDER THE VEHICLE/OVERNIGHT COOLANT LEAK, OVER HEATING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY, LEAKING DISTRIBUTOR SEAL, BROKEN TURN SIGNAL, AT A CERTAIN POSITION THE SEAT WOULD NOT OPERATE FORWARD, THE ANTENNA WOULD NOT PROPERLY RETRACT, LEFT FOG LIGHT INOPERABLE, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FRONT AND REAR FOR PROPER RUBBER ALIGNMENT, LEAKING CRANK PULLEY SEAL, OIL LEAK FROM THE TRANSMISSION, FOUND A LACK OF FUEL PRESSURE, SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE, THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS WEARING ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE, THERE WAS A LOOSE HOSE CLAMP IN THE POWER STEERING HOSE, THE BATTERY FAILED, ONE TAIL LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE, THE ALTERNATOR BELT WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE CHASSIS, THERE WAS A SQUEALING NOISE AFTER START UP, OIL LEAKED THROUGH THE VALVE COVER, AND THE TANK CLUTCH LEAKED FLUID. *SC

NHTSA ID

10101475

Incident

Jul 27, 1994

WHILE DRIVING ON THE DAN RYAN EXPRESSWAY AT 3:00 P.M. ON 4/30/04, I HEARD A POP AND I THOUGHT A BELT SNAPPED, MY CAR, A 1994 SAAB S, JERKED, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GAIN CONTROL. I SMELLED BURNING RUBBER. I LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW A TIRE ROLE FROM EAST TO WEST ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I THOUGHT I RAN OVER IT. FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD A PERSON ON ANOTHER CAR TOLD ME I DIDN'T HAVE A TIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR IN THE REAR. WHEN I PULLED OFF THE EXPRESSAY I SAW THE TIRE WAS MISSING. THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE HAD PULLED AWAY FROM THE SIDES. THE SIDES OF THE TIRE WERE LEFT ON THE WHEEL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10068185

Incident

Apr 30, 2004

Mileage

78,000 mi

IN JULY OF 2003, SAAB OF SANTA MONICA, CA REPLACED THE TIMING BELT ON MY USED 1994 SAAB 900 (65,000 MILE SERVICE). THE LABOR WAS COMPLIMENTARY AND COVERED UNDER A CHANGE IN SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE OUTLINED BY SAAB USA IN A LETTER SENT OUT TO SAAB 900 OWNERS IN JULY 1995. THE LETTER AMENDED INFORMATION IN THE WARRANTIES AND SERVICE RECORD BOOKLET AND OWNER'S MANUAL AND STATED THAT RATHER THAN EVERY 95,000 MILES, SAAB WAS NOW RECOMMENDING THAT THE BELT FOR THE CAMSHAFT DRIVE MECHANISM BE REPLACED BEGINNING WITH THE 35,000 MILE MAJOR SERVICE AND AT INTERVALS OF 30,000 MILES THEREAFTER. AT THE TIME OF SERVICE, IN ADDITION TO REPLACING THE TIMING BELT, NON-ROUTINE LABOR WAS DONE ON THE TENSIONERS. THE WORK RECEIPT NOTES THAT OLD-STYLE TENSIONERS WERE NOTED AND REPLACE. LESS THAN 1000 MILES AFTER SAAB OF SANTA MONICA PERFORMED THEIR "COMPLIMENTARY WORK" MY CAR CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED. ON OCT. 17, 2003, I LEFT WORK AT AND DROVE ABOUT 1/3 OF A MILE (35 MPH) BEFORE I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO PUTTER AND CLANK AS THE CAR LOST POWER. THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY IT WAS TOWED TO A WELL-RESPECTED INDEPENDENT SAAB MECHANIC, HUNG TAO (A.R.T. SAAB 18440 HART ST. RESEDA, CA (818) 881-7940 ). HUNG TAO LOOKED AT THE CAR AND STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD SLIPPED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST SAAB DEALER (SHERMAN OAKS, CA). SAAB OF SHERMAN OAKS FIRST SAID THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD SLIPPED, BUT THEN CHANGED THEY'RE STORY AND SAID THE CAMSHAFT HAD ALLEGEDLY SNAPPED, CAUSING $5000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THEY ARGUED THAT THERE WAS NO CORRELATION BETWEEN THE WORK THEY'D DONE ON THE CAMSHAFT DRIVE BELT AND THE FAILURE OF THE CAMSHAFT. THEY SAY BECAUSE THE CAR ISN'T UNDER WARRANTY THEY CAN'T HELP ME. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047020

Incident

Oct 17, 2003

Mileage

72,000 mi

VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE.*MR THE GASKET SURROUNDING THE TIMING BELT COVER BECAME TANGLED WITH THE TIMING BELT WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO START.*TS *JB

NHTSA ID

10044446

Incident

Aug 14, 2003

Mileage

90,837 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS SENT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO FOUND A BUNDLE OF WIRES HELD TOGETHER BY A PLASTIC BINDER WIRE CLIP. THE BUNDLE BECAME LOOSE AND A WIRE WAS EXPOSED TO AND RUBBING ON METAL. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10012206

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMMING BELT TENSION ON HER VEHICLE. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAS REPLACED IT ONCE AND IT WAS WARRANTIED FOR 3500 MILES AND IT HAS HAPPEND AGAIN THIS ALSO CAUSES ENGINE FAILURE ON THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. TS

NHTSA ID

8023056

RECALL 95 V 068 000/TRANSMISSION MANUAL: VEHICLE OPERATED IN REVERSE INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUME RTHAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8009679

Incident

May 1, 2000

CONSUMER HAD COOLANT BOTTLE AND COOLANT RECOVERY BOTTLE REPLACED. *JG

NHTSA ID

563909

Incident

Sep 13, 2001

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ON WET PAVEMENT THERE IS NO REPONSE FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN THE BRAKES WILL ENGAGE. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A RECALL REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER HIS VIN IS NOT INCLUDED, CONSUMER FEELS HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *SLC

NHTSA ID

899586

Incident

Aug 1, 1999

POPS OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE AND AT 40 MPH. *AK

NHTSA ID

753377

Incident

Jun 11, 1996

A FIRE STARTED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH OF THE CAR, IN A RAPID SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THICK SMOKE ENGULFED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, AS THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ADDING TO THE FLAMES, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. NLM

NHTSA ID

560904

Incident

Mar 19, 2001

DRIVING IN OUTSIDE LANE OF HIGHWAY -- TOTAL, SUDDEN FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM -- EVERYTHING STOPPED WORKING AT ONCE (INCLUDING 4-WAY FLASHERS, WIPERS. LIGHTS ETC.) -- POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE HAD CORRODED -- BUT THE SAME CABLE WAS REPLACED THE YEAR BEFORE DUE TO SIMILAR, SLIGHT INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH IT (ENGINE "CATCHING" TAPE PLAYER EJECTING, CD GOING ON "CODE" CLOCK ZEROING, ETC.). THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.*AK

NHTSA ID

726154

Incident

Apr 23, 2000

DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE SEIZED WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. THERE WAS A SAFETY CAMPAIGN WHICH THE OWNER WAS UNAWARE. THERE A NEWLY DESIGN FOR THE TIMING BELT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

864902

Incident

Jun 25, 2000

WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR JUMPS INTO NEUTRAL . VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 95V068000. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

855898

SERPENTINE BELT PULLEYS BROKE OFF TWICE, IN THE LAST FEW THOUSAND MILES, CAUSING DESTRUCTION OF BRAND NEW SERPENTINE BELTS, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, LOSS OF HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING, LOSS OF BATTERY CHARGE, AND OVERHEATING. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT, IN WHICH ANOTHER PULLEY BROKE OFF THE SYSTEM COULD HAVE CAUSED DEATH, GIVEN THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURED UP NORTH, AND THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS WELL BELOW FREEZING. LUCKILY, A DUNKIN DONUTS RESTAURANT WAS ON HAND WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE CAR'S FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

716441

Incident

Sep 3, 1999

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

851957

ENGINE TIMING BELT WENT OUT, AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

848408

Incident

Sep 1, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. ALSO VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THESE MATTERS. *AK

NHTSA ID

837378

Incident

Jun 15, 1994

SAAB PROVIDED DEALERS/MECHANICS WITH A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT NEGLECTED TO PROVIDE CONSUMERS WITH A SAFETY RECALL. WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A FREE, 30 MINUTE REPAIR RESULTED IN OVER $600, 2 DAYS OF REPAIRS, AND A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH MY ENGINE NEARLY BURNED OUT.

NHTSA ID

704359

Incident

Mar 4, 1999

PULLEY ON THE SERPENTINE BELT ASSEMBLY BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK.ET.

NHTSA ID

833580

Incident

Jan 11, 1999

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH LOWER CONTROL ARM. LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE RESTING ON SUB-FRAME, CAUSING THEM TO BREAK. WHEN DRIVING IT CAUSES THEIR VEHICLE TO DRIVE TOWARDS A CERTAIN DIRECTION, EVEN THOUGH THE ALIGNMENT IS CORRECT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

830288

Incident

Sep 18, 1998

MANUAL TRANSMISSION HANDLES POORLY IN REVERSE. VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES SLIP OUT OF REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO THERE IS A CRUNCHING NOISE DURING OPERATION OF TRANSMISSION. DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

823024

SMELLED SWEET SMELL, THIUGHT IT WAS THE VEHICLE, NEED A GOOD CLEANING. SMELL NEVER WENT AWAY AND KEPT COMING UP IN INTERVALS. COOLANT KEPT LEAKING INTO THE HEATER CORE AND HEATER BOX. CHANGED FILTERS, NO SMELL FOUND. REPLACED THERMOSTAT. HOWEVER, SMELL STILL APPEARED. IN ADDITION, THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER BUSHING REPLACED AS PER RECALL (97V-046). *AK

NHTSA ID

819203

Incident

Oct 7, 1997

THE AIR CONDITIONER: EXPANSION VALVE BROKE FOR THE 5TH TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

523068

Incident

Aug 1, 1997