2000 Saab 9-5: complaints, problems and recalls

DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK WITH UNLOCK SWITCH WHEN DOOR IS LOCKED MANUALLY. IF YOU LOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY -- BY RESTING YOUR ELBOW ON THE LOCKING BUTTON -- THE UNLOCK SWITCH DOES NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE UNLOCK SWITCH MAKES A NOISE LIKE IT IS TRYING TO UNLOCK THE DOOR BUT IT DOES NOT ACTUALLY UNLOCK IT. THE DEALER VERIFIED THAT THIS OCCURS ON OTHER MODELS OF THIS SAME CAR. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017099 at NHTSA ↗

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2000 SAAB 9.5 SEDAN. WHEN I CALLED SAAB TO GET A TETHER TO INSTALL OUR CHILD SAFETY SEAT, THEY TOLD ME THAT DUE TO A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, TETHERS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR AN INDEFINTE TIME. THIS PUTS OUR CHILD AT AN UNECESSARY SERIOUS RISK IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. ALICE FRADIN

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019170 at NHTSA ↗

2000 SAAB 9-5 SEDAN SUDDENLY STALLED OUT AT 60 MPH AS 2 TRACKER TRAILERS NEARLY COLLIDED INTO MY VEHICLE. NO SHOULDERS ON THIS HIGHWAY LEAVING MY FAMILY IN A HORRIBLY DANGEROUS PLACE. VERMONT STATE POLICE RESPONDED TO PROVIDE PROTECTION. THE CASSETTE WHICH HOUSES THE IGNITION FAILED. BOTH THE DEALER AND OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPRESSED THAT THIS OCCURS AL THE TIME WITH SAABS AND THERE IS NO WAY TO PREVENT THESE CARS FROM STALLING AT ANY TIME!*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052795 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A CONSTANT 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THERE WAS NO INDICATION ON AN IMPENDING FAILURE. ONE MOMENT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING NORMALLY AND THEN SUDDENLY IT STOPPED COMPLETELY. FORTUNATELY, I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED A FAILED DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN SPITE OF THE HEAVY TRAFFIC.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 26,165 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052798 at NHTSA ↗

INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH POWER STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INSPECTED VEHICLE FOUR TIMES, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057922 at NHTSA ↗

TWICE IN THE 4 YEAR, 60K LIFE OF MY SAAB 9-5 WAGON, THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT HAS LOCKED UP, SO AS NOT TO BE USABLE. BOTH TIMES AFTER FULLY FOLDING DOWN THE REAR SEAT AND RAISING IT BACK TO ITS UPRIGHT POSITION. THE FIRST TIME, SAAB MADE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE YET TO CONTACT SAAB OR SEARCH YOUR SERVICE BULLETINS. I DOUBT I HAVE FOLDED DOWN THIS SEAT MORE THAN 20 TIMES SO THE FAILURE RATE, FOR ME, IS >10%.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058377 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. ECM WAS REPLACED BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. (NAR) *LA *CB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059495 at NHTSA ↗

ON TWO OCCASIONS, THERE HAS BEEN A TOTAL LOST OF POWER TO THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME ON A SIDE STREET GOING ABOUT 25 OR 30. AFTER HAVING THE CAR LOOKED AT A SAAB DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND SENT ON MY WAY. OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 AT ABOUT 70 MPH IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE. NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, NO NOTHING. EVERY PERSON I HAVE TALKED TO WHO HAS OWNED A SAAB (MODEL AND YEAR DIFFERENCE DO NOT SEEM TO MATTER) HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THE MECHANICS ARE NOW SAYING THA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064569 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-05-18 (May 18, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE AIR BAG ALERT LABELS MAY NOT BE PERMANENTLY AFFIXED AS REQUIRED BY THIS STANDARD.

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE SUNVISOR SURFACE AND APPLY A NEW AIR BAG ALERT LABEL ON BOTH SUNVISORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 30, 2001. 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: 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: 2005-09-14 (September 14, 2005)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH B205/B235 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND B308 6-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE OVERHEATING AND BURNOUT OF THE ISOLATED GATED BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR (IGBT) WITHIN THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE (IDM) DUE TO INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ELECTRICAL LOADS.

Consequence: OVERHEATING OF THE IGBT OCCURS MOST OFTEN AT ENGINE START-UP, BUT IT MAY ALSO OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. ENGINE STALLING MAY OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE WHAT VERSION IDM IS IN THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE IDM IF IT IS A VERSION BUILT PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTION OF QP3. AN INTERIM LETTER WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS IN OCTOBER 2005, INFORMING THEM OF THE CONDITION. PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AND OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN TO THE DEALERS TO HAVE THE IDM REPLACED BY LETTER DATED MARCH 13, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.