2003 Saab 9-5 problems and owner complaints

THE VEHICLE STALLED ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS FROM VARIOUS SPEEDS OF 25 MPH OR MORE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER HAS CLEANED AND TIGHTENED THE BATTERY CABLES, THE FIRST TIME, THEY REPLACED THE CRANK SENSOR, T-7 AND THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE SECOND TIME AND THE THIRD TIME, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB THE ECM WAS REPLACED BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, THE CUP HOLDER CRACK AND HAD BROKEN, THE BATTERY CABLES WERE LOOSE AND DIRTY, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY …

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097342 at NHTSA ↗

CAR STALLED WHILE CRUISING AT 75 MILES PER HOUR ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. CAR COULD NOT BE RESTARTED, EVEN AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NO PRIOR INDICATION OF IMMINENT FAILURE WAS GIVEN'THE ENGINE SIMPLY CUT OUT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS THE FAILURE OF AS A BAD THROTTLE BODY. THIS IS A KNOWN WEAKNESS IN THE CAR FOR WHICH SAAB HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR YEARS. THE SERVICING DEALER WAS SURPRISED THAT THE PART WAS NOT IN STOCK SINCE IT FAILS OFTEN. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THROTTLE BODY PROBLEMS WHICH TRIGGER LI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10137685 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2003 9-5 LINEAR IS HAVING MANY OF THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED BY OTHERS. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON RECENTLY AND I HAD THE CODES READ. THE CODES REPRESENTED A MISFIRE PROBLEM. WHEN DOING RESEARCH I LEARNED THAT IT IS MOST USUALLY THE DIRECT IGNITION MODULE, FAILURE AT 80000 MILES? SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY (ONE TIME), FORCING ME TO WEAVE THROUGH TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER TO GET TO THE SIDE. THE CAR RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STOPPING. NOW THE CAR SEEMS TO BUCK WHEN DRIVING AND AT IDLE, WHICH IS AL…

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10273099 at NHTSA ↗

PURCHASED A "CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED" 2003 SAAB 9.5 AERO IN LATE AUGUST 2006 BEGAN HEARING HORRIBLE (AND WORSENING) GRINDING NOISE SOON AFTER PURCHASE. WE WERE THINKING IT WAS THE BRAKES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED...TOOK IT TO A WELL RESPECTED NATIONAL BRAKE SHOP WHO TOLD US WE NEEDED NEW RIGHT SIDE WHEEL BEARING AND THE COST WOULD BE OVER $700.00 THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 60000 MILE ON IT AND I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH TO FIND THAT I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL THINK IT IS A DEFECT THAT COULD PROVE FATAL IF NOT ADDRES…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10180923 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP MY ENTIRE CAR DIED. I WAS STUCK AT A STOP LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR. I HAD TO HOLD MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUMP THE GAS PEDAL TO GET THE CAR TO REV, BUT IT WOULDN'T CONTINUE TO IDLE. IT KEPT DYING. I HAD TO USE BOTH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL TO GET IT OFF THE HIGHWAY TO A SIDE STREET, WHICH WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. SEVERAL TIMES THE CAR DIED. I TOOK IT TO A GM CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP WHO AFTER THREE DI…

Owner-reported narrative. 77,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234670 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-5. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THREE WEEKS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V087000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE…

Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247639 at NHTSA ↗

WITHOUT WARNING, ON TWO OCCASIONS, MY WIFE'S 2003 SAAB 9-5 AERO WAGON HAS STOPPING RUNNING WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR HAS BEEN FACTORY MAINTAINED AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. OBVIOUSLY, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE STOP RUNNING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CAR HAD A NEW FUEL PUMP AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR INSTALLED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED ABOUT 6 WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATI…

Owner-reported narrative. 98,723 miles reported. Look up ODI 10351082 at NHTSA ↗

2003 SAAB 9-5 AERO TRANSMISSION LEAKING DIRECTLY THROUGH PORES IN METAL CASING (NOT SEAM OR GASKET) AT LESS THAN 51000 MILES (LESS THAN 1000 MILES OVER WARRANTY) REQUIRING FULL TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. SAAB USA OFFERS TO PAY ONE THIRD ($1700) OF $5100 ESTIMATED COST. ALTHOUGH CAR HAD BEEN IN A WRECK WHEN IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR OLD, THIS COULD NOT BE RELATED. ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALER AT OR BEFORE THE PRESCRIBED MILEAGE WAS REACHED.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 50,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170532 at NHTSA ↗

THE HORN OFTEN FAILS TO WORK WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED AIRBAG COVER IS PRESSED. THIS IS AN ONGOING, UNRESOLVED PROBLEM. A DEALER REPLACED A PART UNDER WARRANTY BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER 2002+ 9-5S WITH THE SAME HORN FAILURE ISSUE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10558046 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES SEIZED AS THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND DISCOVERED THAT THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 06V410000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDE…

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10562209 at NHTSA ↗