1999 Saab 952 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1999 Saab 952, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine450.0%
- Electrical225.0%
- Transmission112.5%
- Visibility112.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *NLM
I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MULTIPLE GASKETS REPLACED (AND ASSOCIATED ENGINE PARTS) BECAUSE THEY ARE PREMATURELY WEARING OUT. THE VEHICLE SMOKES EXTENSIVELY AND CAUSES THE SMOKE TO ENTER THE CAR WHEN DRIVING. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR OVER THREE WEEKS TOTAL IN THE LAST 5 WEEKS TO REPLACE THE GASKETS, OIL PANS, TURBO CHARGERS, ETC., WITH NO END IN SIGHT. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THERE IS AN OIL PRESSURE ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT SAAB HAS ISSUED A REPAIR RECOMMENDATION FOR ALL OF SAAB LIKE VEHICLES BECAUSE THE PCV IS DEFECTIVE AND IS CAUSING THE OIL PRESSURE TO BE TOO GREAT. THIS CAUSES THE GASKETS TO WEAR OUT PREMATURELY AND CAUSES OTHER IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER TOOK THE ENTIRE FRONT END APART AND DIDN'T PUT IT TOGETHER CORRECTLY CAUSING THE PC BOOT TO NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE STEERING WENT OUT AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (TWO CHILDREN IN VEHICLE - NO DAMAGE OR INJURIES). I HAVE INFORMED SAAB USA OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE CONTACTING THE DEALER AND LOOKING INTO IT BECAUSE ALL OF THIS STARTED AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SAAB IS AWARE OF IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE ISSUED A REPAIR STATEMENT TO THE DEALERS. THAT TELLS ME THAT THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT ALL REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY SAAB. I'VE SPENT OVER $3,000 IN REPAIR BILLS AND RENTAL CAR BILLS WITH NO END IN SIGHT.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOTH HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT WITHIN A FEW/ MINUTES, THIS HAS HAPPENED 5-6 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, SEEMS TO BE A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES HAVE BEEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN BULBS ON BOTH LOW BEAMS HAVE BURNED OUT. *JB
INTERMITTENT STALLING DUE TO ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
AS WE TRAVELLED ALONG A BUSY ROAD, THE TRANSMISION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING ADN WE WERE UNABLE TO ENGAGE ANY GEAR, WHICH PUT US SOME REAL DANGER AS WE ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE WE TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT SAAB HAS KNOWN OF A FAILURE IN THE CNETRAL COMPUTER IN THE 9-5 MODEL AND HAS BEEN REPLACING COMPUTERS IN CARS EVEN IF THEY COME IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. WE WERE NEVER INFORMED OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND DROVE IT WITHOUT REALIZING THE DANGER IT PRESENTED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE COMPUTER REPLACED, BUT AS OF TODAY NEW ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE APPEARED AND WE FEAR THE PROBLEM IS NOT SOLVED.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
A PLASTIC PIECE IN THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM BROKE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER COULD NOT CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENT, PRIMARILY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. IN ADDITION, THE FAN MOTOR FAILED TO FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE WINDOWS FOGGED UP IMMEDIATELY. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, AND RE DESIGNED THE SYSTEM, BUT THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART WILL BE VERY COSTLY. A TSB ON THIS PROBLEM WAS ISSUED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .