1999 Saab 9-5: complaints, problems and recalls

CHROME PLATING ON SEAT BELT BUCKLE SUBJECT TO FLAKING OFF RESULTING IN POSSIBLE LACERATION POINT TO PASSENGERS.

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013922 at NHTSA ↗

A BROKEN PLASTIC ARMATURE THAT CONTROLS THE VENTS FOR MY DRIVER SIDE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING AIR FLOW HAS BROKEN. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH SAAB 9-5 OWNERS AND THE DEALERSHIPS AND REPAIR PLACES ARE WELL AWARE OF IT AS WELL. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE FROM SAAB FOR THE 10 CENT PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT BREAKS SO COMMONLY. THE DEALERSHIPS (AND THE REPAIR PLACES THAT GET THEIR PARTS FROM THEM) ARE ONLY ABLE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEATER BOX ASSEMBLY, AT A COST OF OVER $2500 USD FOR PARTS AND ABOUT 20…

Owner-reported narrative. 86,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023520 at NHTSA ↗

FAILURE OF CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM PREVENTS HEATED AIR FROM REACHING THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSCREEN -- NO DEFROST. REPLACEMENT PART SOLD ONLY AS ENTIRE ASSEMBLY ($2,000) PLUS 14-18 HOURS LABOR=$3,000+. NO OTHER OPTION FOR PROPER OPERATION OF DEFROSTER SYSTEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032942 at NHTSA ↗

2ND TIME THE SID DISPLAY HAS FAILED, AFTER RESEARCHING, THIS IS A KNOWN AND WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH SAAB SID DISPLAYS FOR MANY YEARS. HAVE CONTACTED SAAB AND SO FAR WILL NOT REPLACE. CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRENTY, BUT CAN'T GET ANY INFORMATION FROM CAR ABOUT WARNINGS, ERRORS, TIME, DATE, RADIO STATION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033346 at NHTSA ↗

FAILURE OF DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. VEHICLE (1999 SAAB 9-5 SE) STOPS RUNNING IN TRAFFIC AND CANNOT BE RESTARTED. BASED ON REPORTS IN SAABNET.COM, THIS IS A RELATIVELY COMMON FAILURE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036842 at NHTSA ↗

VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER DEVELOPED AN INTERNAL LEAK, CAUSING MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION WHEN FIRST STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL DURING AN EMERGENCY STOP. DURING "NORMAL" BRAKING THE BRAKES WORKED FINE. IMPORTANT!...THE BIG DANGER HERE IS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BOOSTER TILL YOU HAVE TO MAKE A QUICK STOP WHERE YOU NEED TO JAM ON THE BRAKES QUICKLY!! YOU SUDDENLY FINE THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO BRAKES FOR A SECOND OR TWO!! IN NORMAL BRAKING THEY WORK FINE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052759 at NHTSA ↗

1999 SAAB 9-5 STALLING PROBLEM. SOMETIMES WHEN IN TRAFFIC. HAPPENED WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS (25-40 MPH). DEALER KEPT CAR FOR ONE WEEK THEN DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS DEFECTIVE "ECU" WHICH IT REPLACED AT A COST OF MORE THAN $900. THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 2003.

Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053131 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON A SNOWY. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS THEN STRUCK ON THE SIDE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED AFTER THE INCIDENT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10055932 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IF AN OWNER CHANGES THEIR WHEELS/TIRES BETWEEN SUMMER AND WINTER USING A STEEL WHEEL IN THE WINTER AND AN ALLOY WHEEL IN THE SUMMER, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR RUST AND CONTAMINATION TO BUILD UP ON THE WHEEL HUB DURING THE STEEL WHEEL USAGE. IF THIS OCCURS AND THE CONTAMINATION IS NOT REMOVED, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT AFTER THE TIRE CHANGE SERVICE, SOME OF THIS CONTAMINATION COULD FLAKE OR GRIND AWAY RESULTING IN REDUCED CLAMPING FORCE OF THE WHEEL TO THE HUB. OVER SEVERAL SEASONS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS REDUCED FORCE COULD RESULT IN FRACTURES DEVELOPING IN THE WHEEL BOLTS DUE TO WHEEL TO HUB MOVEMENT.

Consequence: THESE FRACTURES WOULD RESULT IN WHEEL BOLT BREAKAGE, ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO DETACH FROM THE WHEEL HUB, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE CONTACTED BY MAIL AND ASKED WHETHER THEY CHANGE BETWEEN STEEL AND ALLOY WHEELS. IF THEY DO ENGAGE IN THIS PRACTICE, THEY WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO BRING THEIR CARS TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER WILL REMOVE THE WHEELS, CLEAN ANY CONTAMINATION FROM THE WHEEL AND WHEEL HUB, AND REPLACE THE WHEELS USING NEW IMPROVED BOLTS WITH ATTACHED WASHERS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 31, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.

Reported: 1998-06-23 (June 23, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG ALERT LABEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR WAS OMITTED. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Consequence: THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT MAY NOT PROPERLY UNDERSTAND THE OPERATION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND THE NEED TO USE SEAT BELTS.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ALERT LABEL TO BE INSTALLED ON THE VISIBLE SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SUN VISOR. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.