2003 Saab 9-5: complaints, problems and recalls

WE PURCHASED OUR 2003 9-5 ARC IN MARCH OF 2003. IMMEDIATELY, I NOTICED THE EXHAUST SMELLED OF HUMAN GAS, SERIOUSLY. SOON AFTER THE STENCH SEEPED INTO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. AT 7000 I COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE AND I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO HAVE CHECKED OUT BY THE DEALER. THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, THAT SOMETIMES NEW CARS SMELL. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT I USE ONLY PREMIUM OR BETTER FUEL TO LESSEN THE SMELL. 3000 MILES LATER, THE CAR STUNK. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE AND INFORMED THEM THAT THE CAR STILL STU…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052960 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR END THE CONSUMER. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS HIT MY OTHER VEHICLE'S FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES. BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WERE TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED OUT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *NM NEITHER THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS NOR THE HEAD RESTRAINT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074314 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

THE CAR SUFFERS FROM VIBRATIONS WHEN THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES ARE REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT PROCESS REQUIRES MANY REBALANCING AND/OR TIRE REPLACEMENTS AND STILL RESULTS IN MORE VIBRATION THAN EXISTS WITH THE FACTORY TIRES. THE VIBRATION IS MOST PRONOUNCED AT SPEEDS AROUND 70-80 MILES PER HOUR.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126613 at NHTSA ↗

TIRE TREAD SEPARATION DUE TO SUDDEN WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGES OF BOTH REAR TIRES. NEGATIVE CAMBER ON REAR WHEELS LEADS TO CUPPING AND WEAR ALONG THE INSIDE EDGE OF BOTH BACK WHEELS. WITH CAR FULLY LOADED, TREAD CAN SEPARATE AFTER ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES. AT THE VERY LEAST THE TIRES MUST BE REPLACED AFTER A FEW THOUSAND MILES TO AVOID SUDDEN TREAD SEPARATIONS AND LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10135494 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 ↗

THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE LOADED ANYWHERE NEAR IS GVWR AND MAINTAIN ITS ORIGINAL RIDE HEIGHT (OR ANYTHING CLOSE TO THE UNLOADED RIDE HEIGHT) AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN LOADED THE CAMBER SHIFTS (DUE TO THE REAR SUSPENSION TYPE) VERY NEGATIVE CAUSING POOR HANDLING AND EXTREME TIRE WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE REAR WHEELS. I HAD A BLOWOUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10138135 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLES GVWR IS OVERSTATED. THIS IS BASED UPON MY OWN AND OTHER OBSERVATIONS OF PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND TIRES WHEN USING THE VEHICLE NEAR THE STATED GVWR. I PERSONALLY HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT ON ME AND HAVE HAD PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE TIRES AND/OR THE VEHICLE AND/OR THE VEHICLES SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS TO DATE NOT BE ABLE TO FIX MY VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY, DESPITE REPLACING THE ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE SQUATS DANGEROUSLY WHEN LOADED RESULTING IN UNSAFE HANDLING. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10147112 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: 2006-10-26 (October 26, 2006)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 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 JANUARY 2003. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007. NOTE: THIS RECALL IS AN EXPANSION OF A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN (PLEASE SEE 05V399).

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.

Reported: 2008-04-09 (April 9, 2008)

SAAB IS RECALLING 57,389 MY 2002-2008 9-5 SERIES VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." DURING COMPLIANCE TESTING, ONE OF THE UPPER INTERIOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION TEST POINTS EXCEEDED THE STANDARD'S REQUIREMENTS.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY TO OCCUPANTS MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A-PILLAR TRIM WITH IMPROVED ENERGY-ABSORBING CAPABILITY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 25, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.