2001 Saab 9-5: complaints, problems and recalls

KEY WAS TOUCHED BY A BABY BOTTLE (VERY GENTLY). THE CAR SHUT OFF ON A BUSY EXPRESSWAY. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS KILLED. I WENT TO THE CAR SERVICE AND GENTLY TAPPED THE KEY AND REPRODUCED THE KEY TURNING. THE SERVICE PERSON SAID THAT WAS NORMAL! PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOME ONE IS KILLED.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010313 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED ON THE BRONX RIVER PKWY AND MY PASSENGER REACHED INTO THE BACK SEAT. HER LEG HIT THE KEY AND TURNED THE CAR OFF WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS HURT. THE CAR LOCKED UP AND I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. IT TOOK A FEW ANXIOUS MOMENTS/MINUTE OR TWO BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THIS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES WHEN I DECIDED TO CONTACT SAAB. THEIR RESPONSE IN A LETTER IS AS FOLLOWS " WE HAVE REVIEWED YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE PLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH GARDEN CITY SAAB, CORPORATE TECH…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019072 at NHTSA ↗

THE ENGINE ON OUR 2001 SAAB 9.5 WAGON COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AS WE EXITED I-10 NORTH OF SAN ANTONIO TEXAS. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH AND THE ENGINE JUST QUIT. WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AT THE EXITS INTERSECTION BECAUSE OF ITS LENGTH OF ABOUT 1/4 MILE. THERE WAS NO WARNING, JUST NO ENGINE AND NO RESTART. THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE WAS REPLACED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 23,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025942 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND BEGAN EXITING WHEN THE SAAB COMPLETELY DIED. NO WARNING..ALL LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER. I COASTED DOWN THE RAMP. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN IN THE LEFT LANE? SAAB QUICKLY DIAGNOSED THIS AS A SHORTED OUT DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. THEY REPAIRED IT RETURNED THE CAR. IT NEEDED TO GO BACK AS IT HAD NO POWER. THE CASSETTE'S FAILURE DESTROYED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AS WELL. I HAVE NOW HEARD OF THIS INCIDENT THREE TIMES ON 2001 SAAB 9-5'S. WHERE IS THE RECALL?*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028525 at NHTSA ↗

SUDDEN COMPLETE POWER FAILURE ON HIGHWAY! RELATIVLY NEW CAR 2001 WITH LOW MILES.TRACED TO BAD DIRECT IGNITION (DI) MODULE. IS A SAFETY HAZARD. NO INJURIES THANKFULLY.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036863 at NHTSA ↗

A PRIOR RECALL ADDRESSED EXTREME CORROSION ON ALLOY WHEELS OF SAABS, IN THE VICINITY OF THE WHEEL BOLTS. MY CONCERN IS THE EXTREME AMOUNT OF CORROSION OCCURING WHERE THE ALLOY WHEEL MEETS THE STEEL HUB. THERE IS AN ORANGE COLORED POWDER, AND DEFORMATION OF THE INSIDE SMALLEST DIAMETER OF THE ALLOY WHEEL, WHERE IT OTUCHES THE HUB. IS THIS A LOAD BEARING SURFACE? IS THIS A CONCERN TO ANYONE?? *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074910 at NHTSA ↗

EXITING THE HIGHWAY ON AN OVERPASS BRIDGE THE ENGINE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. A FEW MOMENTS LATER SMOKE WAS VISIBLE FROM UNDER THE DIRECT IGNITION COVER AND SMALL FLAME WAS APPARENT. THE FLAME WENT OUT AFTER A FEW MOMENTS. HOWEVER, WE WERE LEFT STRANDED ON AN UNLIT BRIDGE OVERPASS THAT WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT DUSK (WITH AN INFANT AND TODDLER). SAAB ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CONTACTED (THEY SUGGESTED WE WAIT WITH THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR UNTIL A TOW TRUCK COULD REACH US.) THIS INCIDENT FOLLOWS A STRING OF …

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075126 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2001 SAAB 9-5 HAS JUST UNDER 80,000 MILES AND HAS GONE THROUGH 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. IT ALSO BURNS OUT A LOT OF LIGHTS--HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, ETC. EVERY FEW MONTHS. ALSO THE LED DISPLAY ON THE DASH HAS A LOT OF PIXELS OUT. I'M WONDERING IF THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT IS PERHAPS A LITTLE TOO HIGH AND THAT COULD BE WHAT'S CAUSING ALL OF THE PROBLEMS?*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 79,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093700 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.

Reported: 2007-03-07 (March 7, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINES WERE DAMAGED DURING PRODUCTION.

Consequence: OVER TIME, THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL LINES TO LOOSEN FROM THE PUMP RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL MAY IGNITE RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL DEVELOP A SECURING BRACKET THAT WILL SECURE THE FUEL LINES TO THE FUEL PUMP EVEN IF THE PLASTIC RETAINING TABS SHOULD BREAK. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 13, 2007. THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGNS - SEE 04V557 AND 06V126. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.