2001 Saab 9-3 Complaint Log

The contact owns a 2001 Saab 9-3. The contact stated that the vehicle was overheating while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. A mobile independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 05V399000 (Electrical System) and 06V126000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

unexpected and unrequested deployment of driver side seat air bag. i was driving the vehicle at a speed of 0-5mph attempting to back the vehicle into a parking spot when the driver seat air bag deployed. a report was made with the local police department. no indicator or failure lights were present, the vehicle is able to be inspected at this time for further information. It is unknown about any other inspections by anyone other than the local police department.

I left my home with my daughter in the afternoon to go to the bank and hardware store. I drove to the bank to make a deposit. We had to wait for quite awhile in the drive-through line at the bank, so I turned off my engine a couple of times rather than having the car idle. After making the deposit at the bank, I pulled out of the bank lot and began driving to the hardware store. I had driven for about two minutes and was driving along at approximately 25-30 miles an hour, and suddenly there was a terrible explosion at my left ear and massive pain in my left arm. I thought the car had been shot at and my arm hit. I was terrified we were still being shot at and looked at my daughter whose hands were over her ears. I could tell by that time that I was not bleeding and so was worried that the bullet had hit her. I could hear only faintly out of my left ear. There was smoke and the smell of an explosion. I could see by this time that an airbag had come out of my driver's seat and thought that it had been hit too. My daughter told me she was o.k. and to pull the car over so that we could see what had happened. I was shaking with fear and pain in my arm but finally calmed down enough to park the car and get out to see what had happened. It became clear that the car had not been shot at and that the driver's side seat airbag had simply spontaneously exploded without any warning whatsoever. The driver's seat side seam was completely ripped, multiple pieces of seat foam were lying about, and the air bag in the seat was out and ripped. The seat was still smoking. Luckily I had had my window completely down, or the explosion would have been louder in the car, and my arm and left side could have been more badly injured. I called my longtime Saab repairman who told me that what happened to me was extremely rare. He said I would need a new seat and that the computer system would need to be reset for the airbag system to work again. Insurance will examine soon. I may try GM too.

NO INCIDENT

EXCESSIVE LEAKING. WAS DRIVING ON E-WAY AND ENGINE STOPPED OR SOMETHING OCCURED WHERE IT SOUNDED AS IF THE CAR TURNED OFF. THE BATTERY WAS WORKING BUT, WHEN I PRESSED ON ACCELERATOR IT DIDN'T PROPEL FORWARD. I CAREFULLY STEERED WITH HAZARD LIGHTS TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. IGNITION CRANKS BUT, CAR WON'T TURN OVER. REPLACED DIRECT IGNITION COIL, CRANKSHAFT SENSOR BUT, ISSUE SEEMS TO BE THE FUEL PUMP. A RECALL WAS ISSUED REGARDING THIS: RECALL 06V126000 AFFECTED CARS SAAB 9-3 2001 ENGINE, MAY 12, 2006 ORIGINAL RECALL FROM THE NHTSA MANUFACTURER'S REPORT DATE MAY 12, 2006 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER RQ05003 POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED 11,886 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V126000 COMPONENT FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS SUMMARY 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.

WHEN I CHANGED THE BATTERY OF THE CAR KEY, ITS DOORS AND TRUNK STOPPED LOCK AND UNLOCK. THE BELT OF THE GAS TANK WAS BROKEN ALSO. I REPLACED ALSO THE FUEL TANK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHILE THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V399000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 186,000.

WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKS REPEATEDLY MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LEAN FORWARD TO SEE IF THE INTERSECTION IS CLEAR. EVEN AFTER SLOWLY LEANING ALL OF THE WAY BACK AND TRYING TO LEAN FORWARD AGAIN, IT LOCKS. THE SEAT BELT MUST BE REMOVED TO AVOID BEING HELD BACK IN THE SEAT AND UNABLE TO SEE. IN ADDITION, WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE THE SEAT BELT, THE BUTTON STICKS AND MUST BE PRESSED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT RELEASES. *TR

BROUGHT MY 2001 SAAB 9-3 FOR CAMPAIGN RECALL 05V399000 IDM TO DIRITO BROTHERS SAAB OF WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA. DEALER STATED NOT REQUIRED TO CHANGE THE IDM. IF MY IDM FAILS AT A LATER DATE, I COULD BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO INJURY OR DEATH. NEED TO KNOW IF DEALER IS REQUIRED TO CHANGE IDM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WITH OUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

SAAB 93 - HEATED DRIVER SEAT MELTED A HOLE IN THE SEAT. *TR

TL * THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVER DIED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE SPEED WAS 40-45 MPH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 09/11/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE 7 YEAR OLD PASSENGER WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE A PILLAR AS WELL AS THE ROOF CAVED IN. POLICE DETERMINED VEHICLE SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. UPDATED 1/13/2015 *JS

DRIVING ON FREEWAY ON RAMP, WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS CRASH. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVER THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY THROTTLE BODY. PART WAS REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND THE LIGHT TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE MECHANIC FLUSHED THE OIL SLUDGE OUT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000. UPDATED 07/15/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SAAB ACKNOWLEDGING A PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL YEAR MODELS REGARDING INTERNALLY LUBRICATED ENGINE PARTS. THE LETTER STATED THEY WERE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR A TOTAL OF EIGHT YEARS FROM THE SERVICE DATE WITH UNLIMITED MILEAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS COVERAGE EXPIRED. THE COST TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WAS $2500. UPDATED 07/19/10*JB

AT APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES, DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AROUND 70MPH, OIL LIGHT BEGINS FLICKERING. AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO 60 THE LIGHT STOPPED FLICKERING AND INSTEAD STAYED ON. FROM THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN TO PULL OFF THE ROAD A KNOCKING SOUND COULD BE HEARD FROM THE ENGINE PROGRESSIVELY GETTING LOUDER. THE CAR WAS THEN TAKEN HOME AND INSPECTED. REMOVING THE OIL PAN REVEALED THAT THE OIL PICK-UP TUBE WAS CLOGGED AND THE PAN WAS CAKED WITH BURNT OIL. A LOCAL MECHANIC ESTIMATED $3,000 TO REPAIR THE INTERNAL DAMAGE. CALLED SAAB, THEY SAID THE CAR WAS BEYOND ANY WARRANTY AND THAT IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT TURNING THE CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER SEEING THE LIGHT. FURTHERMORE AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I SPOKE WITH 3 SAAB REPRESENTATIVES WHO CLAIMED TO KNOW NOTHING OF THIS OIL SLUDGE ISSUE AND WERE NOT ABLE TO BRING IT UP AS IT DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL NUMBER, A FOURTH ONE WAS ABLE TO PULL UP A RECORD BASED ON MY V.I.N. SHOWING THAT THIS KNOWN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM WAS "REPAIRED" BACK IN 2006 UNDER THE NAME "SPECIAL POLICY" WHICH WAS GOOD FOR 8 YEARS AFTER THE IN SERVICE DATE SO LONG AS ALL RECORDS OF THE CAR WERE KEPT. ACCORDING TO THIS REPORT MY ARGUMENT WAS POINTLESS CONSIDERING I WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY AND DID NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED SERVICE LOGS. *TR

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 04V557000 AND 06V126000 ARE RECALLS WHICH NECESSITATED SAAB TO INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP BRACKETS. THE 2001 SAAB 9-3, WHICH I OWN, WAS FIRST REPAIRED BECAUSE THE FUEL LINES WERE CORRUPTED AND CAUSED FUEL TO PUMP OUT INTO THE OPEN ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK. THIS WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AT THAT TIME. MUCH LATER, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR AN INSPECTION OF THE FUEL PUMP BRACKET TO MAKE SURE THE A "NEW" BRACKET HAD BEEN INSTALLED. THESE TWO INSPECTIONS REQUIRED THE LOWERING OF THE FUEL TANK. I RECEIVED A CODE 0442 A FEW MONTHS LATER AND HAD THE SAAB DEALER INSPECT POSSIBLE CAUSE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VENT HOSE FILLER PIPE HAS A LEAK AS DETERMINED BY A "SMOKE" CHECK. LATER, AT A DIFFERENT SHOP, WHILE HAVING A TIRE ROTATION, THE TECHNICIAN HAD ME COME OUT AND CHECK THE RIGHT WHEEL AREA WITH THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY REMOVED. WHAT WAS REVEALED WAS A "RUB" HOLE IN THE VENT HOSE CAUSED BY CONTACT WITH THE SHOCK ABSORBER. I HAVE DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE. THE DAMAGED VENT LINE IS EITHER 1) POOR ENGINEERING OF THE VENT LINE IN RELATION TO THE SHOCK ABSORBER, OR 2) THE DAMAGE WAS THE ACT OF POOR RE-INSTALLMENT OF THE FUEL TANK EITHER ON THE REPAIR OR LATER INSPECTION. MY QUESTION IS THIS, " HAS THERE BEEN ANY REPORTS OF SHOCK ABSORBERS, OR OTHER PARTS, CAUSING HOLES IN THE VENT LINES WHICH PASS NEAR THE RIGHT WHEEL ASSEMBLY?" SAAB HAS NOT BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED. SHE THEN FOUND A RECALL ON HER VEHICLE FOR THE SAME FAILURE HER VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT HER VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,347. UPDATED 05/20/08. *LJ THE DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/20/08

ENGINE SEIZED. *TR

2001 SAAB 9-3 WITH OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART WHEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF REPORTS OF OIL SLUDGE ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL. *KB THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE, DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD-UP IN THE OIL PAN.

NO WARNING. OIL LIGHT GOES ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE TOWED TO SAAB DEALERSHIP. ENGINE SEIZED. SLUDGE FOUND IN THE OIL PICKUP PAN. PERFECT SERVICE RECORDS. SAAB/GM WILL NOT HONOR EXTENDED 8 YEAR WARRANTY. FOR KNOWN SLUDGE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT. HER LEGS BECAME EXTREMELY HOT SO SHE PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE SEAT WARMER. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED WITH SMOKE AND A HOLE WAS BURNED INTO THE DRIVER SEAT. SHORTLY AFTER THE SEAT WARMER WAS SHUT OFF, THE SMOKE CEASED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 94,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE APPLIED WITH MORE PRESSURE THAN NORMAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 93. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS SAFETY RECALL ON THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE. THE FIRST TIME HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE SAFETY RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE WAS 04/17/2006. THE CONTACT DROVE BACK HOME AT 60 MPH FOR APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES, AND DURING THAT TIME AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. THE CONTACT WENT BACK A SECOND TIME ON 05/11/2006 BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON AND, THERE WERE GAS FUMES IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WENT BACK TO THE DEALER ON 06/08/2006 BECAUSE THERE WERE OVERWHELMING GAS FUMES IN THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY THE ENGINE ON LIGHT STAYED ON CONSISTENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD BE CHARGED FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,949 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,900. *AK THE CONSUMER PROVIDED THE INVOICES FOR REPAIRS AND DOCUMENTS FOR THE SAAB DEALERSHIP. UPDATE 4/25/07 *TR

CAR TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE BECAUSE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" ON INTERMITTENTLY; TOLD THERE WERE "NO PROBLEMS" AND INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO CLEAR MESSAGE. "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" AND "OIL" LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER INTERMITTENTLY; TAKEN TO 2 INDEPENDENT MECHANICS FOR CHECK; BOTH STATED THERE WAS OIL IN THE PAN, OIL IN THE ENGINE, NO OBVIOUS PROBLEM. "CHECK ENGINE" AND "OIL" LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON; CAR BEGAN MAKING NOISE. PULLED OVER AND HAD TOWED TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED BEARINGS WERE SHOT AND NEW ENGINE NEEDED. SAAB USA HAS PERSISTED IN DENYING CULPABILITY DESPITE LETTER AND MECHANIC'S STATEMENT. TOLD ME CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY RESULTING IN TOWING FROM INDEPENDENT SHOP TO DEALER; DEALER THEN SAID CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. BBB COMPLAINT FILED; NOW SAAB USA INSISTS ENGINE MUST BE TORN DOWN TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM AND I MUST ACCEPT RISK THAT IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT THEIRS, I WILL OWE $1500 FOR TEAR-DOWN; DEALER WANTS STORAGE CHARGES. CAR OUT OF SERVICE NOW 43 DAYS AND COUNTING. *JB

THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES. THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT WAS ONLY 8,000 MILES INTO THE ORIGINAL OWNERSHIP. THE LAST TWO WERE IN 2006 WITH 80,000 MILES. IT IS APPARENT CONTINUED PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65-70 MPH. THE VEHICLE COASTED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. NEITHER COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 05V399000 REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: MODULE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH, THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS A VERY LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE VEHICLE THREW A ROD. AFTER TWO MONTHS, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE OIL PAN CAUSING THE OIL TO BECOME VERY THICK, CAUSING OIL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE.

SAFETY RECALL 15018 MY CAR IS A SAAB MODEL: 9-3, IT HAD THE FUEL LINE PROBLEM IN SAFETY NOTICE 15018, WHICH IS STILL AN OPEN FILE. SAAB SAYS THAT BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. I DID HAVE THE PROBLEM. IT COULD HAVE KILLED US. I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY GENERAL MOTORS IS GOING UNDER. I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR PRODUCTS. TO ME, THE ISSUE IS NOT THE $263 I SPENT THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER. THE ISSUE IS THAT I BOUGHT THEIR PRODUCT IN GOOD FAITH, DISCOVERED A DESIGN ERROR THEY KNOW ABOUT, AND THEY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND IT. I THINK EVERY SAAB ON THE ROAD WITH THAT CHEAP (THE PLASTIC PART COSTS UNDER $4 RETAIL AT THE DEALER) FUEL SYSTEM ATTACHMENT DESIGN SHOULD BE PULLED OFF THE ROAD. *NM

WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RE-START ONCE TURNED OFF AND THE KEY TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO RE-START THE VEHICLE AND ALSO HEARD A "THUNK" SOUND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE WHICH ORIGINATED DIRECTLY BELOW THE INSERTED KEY. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM UNDER CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION MOUNTING SCREW/BOLTS HAD "WORKED THEMSELVES LOOSE" AND CAUSE THE HOUSING TO UNSEAT. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY RE-INSTALLING THE BOLTS. THE PROBLEM IS NOTICEABLE IF YOU HAVE A STANDARD-SHIFT VEHICLE (NOT AN AUTOMATIC) AND ARE ABLE TO SHIFT DIRECTLY FROM NEUTRAL TO REVERSE WITHOUT NEEDING TO LIFT UP ON THE SAFETY MECHANISM NEAR THE SHIFTER KNOB. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON HOWEVER THE GREATEST CONCERN WAS THAT WHEN I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER I WAS UNABLE TO EASILY SHIFT INTO GEAR AND HAD NOTICEABLE DIFFICULTY SHIFTING OUT OF REVERSE. *JB

MY 2001 SAAB 9-3 BEGAN LEAKING FUEL, CULMINATING WITH A MAJOR LEAK OF FUEL FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE ON 2/26. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH TABS HOLDING IN THE FUEL PUMP. RECALL NUMBER 04V557 WAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, EXACT SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR BUT DID NOT COVER MY VIN. SAAB MUST NOT HAVE COVERED ENOUGH VEHICLES IN ITS RECALL. VIN ENDS WITH 12050281. I THINK NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE. *NM

DEC. 10, 2005 WHILE DRIVING ON THE PA TURNPIKE OIL LIGHT CAME ON THEN WENT OFF. OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN CAR LOST ALL POWER. SAAB TOWING LEFT US ON BUSY TURNPIKE FOR 2 1/2 HOURS IN FREEZING COLD. TOWED TO PURCHASE DEALER WAS TOLD NEEDS NEW ENGINE IT THROUGH A ROD. AFTER 2 MONTHS OF NO HELP FORM DEALER OR SAAB TOOK TO INDEPENDENT SAAB MECHANIC. WAS TOLD BENT ROD OR CRANK SHAFT FROM SLUDGE BUILD UP NEED SMALL BLOCK ENGINE. 7 MONTHS AND SAAB WANTS TO ONLY GIVE $500 TOWARDS REPAIR DEALER CHARGING $6,000. SAAB IS AWARE OF SLUDGE PROBLEM IN THESE ENGINES (SEE WEB ON CONSUMER REPORTS AND CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY) YET, WON'T STAND BY THEIR WORD TO EXTEND WARRANTY 8 YEARS UNLIMITED MILES. WE HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALER SINCE PURCHASE ABOUT ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON AND STALLING. NO ISSUES FOUND BY THEM. IDM WAS REPLACED 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS WITH ENGINE LIGHT REMAINING ON. NO CALL BACK FROM DEALER. HAVE RECEIVED NO HELP FROM SAAB OR DEALER, WITHOUT IT RESULTING IN THEM MAKING MONEY OFF OF US. *JB

DT CONTACT STATED THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING. THERE WAS RECALL 04V557000. WHEN SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF A QUART OF GASOLINE WILL POUR OUT UNDER THE VEHICLE. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE WITH THE RECALL REPAIR KIT. THE KIT WAS A CLAMP TO SECURE THE FUEL LINE FROM COMING LOOSE. *AK PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATE: ESTIMATED LEAKAGE RATE WAS ABOUT ONE QUART OF FUEL EVERY 5 MINUTES.

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL LINE CAME OFF THE FUEL PUMP. THE CAR WAS SPURTING GAS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST GARAGE. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. HE FOUND NHTSA RECALL 04V557000/SAAB RECALL 15018 WHICH DEALT WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM AS HIS VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. WHEN THE CONTACT TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURERS, THEY TOLD HIM THAT BECAUSE HE DID NOT TAKE THE CAR TO A GM OR SAAB DEALERSHIP TO HAVE RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE THE REPAIR WORK WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. *AK PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATE: THE COMPLAINANT WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN HE SMELLED FUEL ODOR. THE REPAIRING GARAGE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP BECAUSE THE FUEL LINE RETAINING TAB ON THE PUMP IS BROKEN WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL LEAK.

A FUEL LEAK FROM THE BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE FUEL TANK TOGETHER. A RECALL HAS BEEN FILED ON SAAB 9-3 2001 -2004 CARS. THIS IS SAAB 9-3 2001, RECALL NUMBER IS 04V557000, VIN NUMBER [XXX], IT SEEMS IF THIS HAS A RECALL ON SOME CARS, IF A CAR HAS THE PROBLEM YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE FIXED BY THE RECALL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED FOR FIRE POSSIBILITIES. IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE SAAB DEALER IN FAIRFIELD OH. THE DEALER IS CLAIMING THAT THIS CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED BY RECALL. I FEEL THAT THIS IS THE RECALL PROBLEM. AND IT SPECIFICALLY STATES SAAB 9-3 2001 - 2002. *NM UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I WAS TRAVELING IN A ROTARY THAT IS AN ON-RAMP TO 128 IN READING, MA. AND WAS ABOUT TO ACCELERATE UP THE ON-RAMP WHEN THE CAR DIED, BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, POWER STEERING FAILED. THIS WAS DURING RUSH HOUR AND THERE WAS NO SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER, LUCKILY A STATE TROOPER PULLED UP WITHIN ABOUT 2 MINUTES AND WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR TO A SAFER LOCATION. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED, CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED WITH A DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE (DIC) FAILURE. *JB

DT: 2001 SAAB 93. THE CONSUMER STATES GAS STARTED COMING OUT WHERE THE FUEL LINE WAS. THIS STARTED LAST NIGHT,ON OCTOBER 4, 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE, AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE FUEL CLIP. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A RECALL 04V557000 ON THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER CALLED SAAB, AND THEY TOLD HIM THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN FIXED. *AK

DIRECTION IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE. CAR SUFFERED COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER, WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX 65 MPH. *NM

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, I SMELLED GAS AND WHEN I GOT IT BACK TO MY JOB SITE, I LOOKED UNDERNEATH TO SEE GAS LEAKING FROM UNDER MY CAR. I CALLED MY GARAGE AND THEY HAD TO TOW IT IN DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUES. THEY PUT IN A NEW SEAL AND SNAPPED THE FUEL LINE BACK TOGETHER BECASUE THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING ELSE WRONG WITH IT. 3 WEEKS LATER, I'M DRIVING MY CAR AGAIN AND SMEELLED GAS AGAIN. I PULLED OVER SOMEWHERE SAFE AND LOOKED UNDER ONLY TO FIND GAS LEAKING AGAIN. I CALLED MY GARAGE AND HAD IT TOWED A SECOND TIME. SINCE IT HAPPENED A 2ND TIME AND THERE WAS NO CLEAR REASON WHY IT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED EITHER TIME, MY GARAGE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THEY TOLD HIM THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT PROBLEM AND THEY HAD NEW CLAMPS PRODUCED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. BUT HTYE ALSO TOLD HIM THAT MY CAR'S VIN DIDN'T FALL WITHIN THE RECALL. THEY SOLD MY GARGAGE THE PART TO PUT ON MY CAR BUT THAT'S ALL THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO WITH IT. I CALLED SAAB USA AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING. MY VIN WASN'T IN THE SELECTION FOR THE RECALL AND THAT'S WHY I WASN'T NOTIFIED AND NHTSA LETS THEM KNOW THE RECALL NUMBERS AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR. MY CAR HAD THE SAFELTY PROBLEM ACTUALLY HAPPEN AND JUST BECAUSE MY VIN WASN'T ONE OF THE ONES SELECTED, I'M NOT COVERED. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT IT DIDN'T RESULT IN A CAR FIRE. I FEEL I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR MY GARAGE BILLS FOR A PROBLEM THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN RECTIFIED IF RECALLED. *JB

1) I STOPPED AT HOME ON THE WAY TO ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. THERE WERE NO INDICATORS THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE GARAGE ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT MADE NO NOISE AND GAVE NO INDICATION EXCEPT IT WAS MYSTERIOUSLY COMPLETELY UNABLE TO START. THE LIGHTS WOULD STILL TURN ON, SO IT WAS NOT A BATTERY. I PAID TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SAAB INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. LUCKILY I WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT STOPPED WORKING; IT WAS A COMPLETE FLUKE I HAD STOPPED THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES. IT HAD STARTED FINE THE OTHER 3 TIMES THAT DAY. 2) THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS 2 MONTHS OUT OF THE 4-YEAR WARRANTY. LUCKILY, I WAS AT HOME AND WAS NOT INJURED. 3) WHEN THE REPAIR SHOP CHECKED THE CAR, THEY SAID THE IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY REPLACED IT. THE CAR NOW STARTS. HOWEVER, IT IS AN EXPENSIVE PART AND SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED SO SOON. I HAVE ONLY ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE READ STATEMENTS FROM OTHER SAAB 9-3 DRIVERS THAT THE IGNITION CASSETTES ON THEIR CARS FAILED WHILE DRIVING, WHICH LOST THEM CONTROL OF THE CAR IN BAD SITUATIONS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND I CONSIDER I HAD A CLOSE CALL. *NM

DT: FUEL LINE CAME LOOSE ON THE CAR. WHILE DRIVING I SMELLED GAS AND STOPPED LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND GAS WAS POURING OUT ONTO THE GROUND. TURN ED CAR OFF, CRANKED IT UP AGAIN, AND WAS LEAKING EVERYWHERE. HAD TOWED TO DEALER, AND LINE HAD COME LOOSE AT THE CLAMP. CONNECTED THE LINE WITH NEW CLAMP AT THE COST OF $ *AK

DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. CAR LOST POWER, INCLUDING ELECTRICITY AND POWER STEERING. WAS ABLE TO RESTART CAR, BUT SHUT DOWN AGAIN ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE SHUT OFF. DEALER STATED ENGINE NEED TO BE CLEANED OF SLUDGE. *AK

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY FROM SYRACUSE TO CORTLAND TO NEW YORK WHEN ABOUT QUARTER WAY THEIR MY CAR SHUT DOWN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS A BAD DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE WHICH CAUSED MY CAR TO SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY. APPARENTLY THE SAME PART HAS BEEN USED AND FAILING FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS TO THIS DATE. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR THE DIC REPLACEMENT IT COST ME $500.00 FOR 5 SEC. OF TIME. WHEN I TOLD THE MECHANICS ABOUT THE PROBLEM THEY LAUGHED AND SAID THEY NEW WHAT IT WAS AND THAT IT HAD BEEN FAILING FOR YEARS AND THEY MAKE GOOD MONEY OFF OF THE PART AND THIS IS THE SAME THING I AM HEARING FROM OTHER SAAB 9-3 DRIVERS. I THEN PROCEEDED TO RESPOND TO SAAB CORPORATION WITH WHICH THEY WOULD NEITHER REIMBURSE ME FOR THEIR PART FAILURE AND THEY AVOIDED MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIIS TYPICAL FAILURE AND HOW IT FAILED. I WOULD LIKE TO QUIT BEING AVOIDED AND GET SOME ACTION OR RESPONSE FROM THIS CORPORATION

WHILE STOPPED THE CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC *JB PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATE: THE COMPLAINANT SMELLED FUEL ODOR AND SAW A TRAIL OF LEAKED FUEL BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT AND NO NOTICABLE LOSS OF VEHICLE PERFORMANCE.

WE HAD OUR CAR IN FOR WARRANTY WORK IN THE FALL BUT THE SERVICE PROVIDER NEEDED TO ORDER PARTS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE WERE CONCERNED BECAUSE THE PARTS WOULD NOT ARRIVE, AND WE COULDN'T GET TO AUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDER UNTIL AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY TOLD US "NO PROBLEM" THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE WE WERE THERE PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION. THEY NEVER CALLED TO TELL US PARTS HAD ARRIVED (WE LIVE OVER AN HOUR AWAY FROM SERVICE PROVIDER) AND THEY'RE NOT OPEN ON WEEKENDS SO DIFFICULT TO GET TO. WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR THERE A FEW WEEKS AGO THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. OBVIOUSLY WE WERE UPSET ABOUT THIS NEW REPRESENTATION BUT THEY SAID THEY'D CALL SAAB. THEY CALLED US BACK AND SAID THAT THEY DISCOVERED WE NEEDED A NEW HEAD GASKET ON THE CAR. THIS IS A 2001 WITH 38,000 MILES, NOT DRIVEN HARD. WE WERE SHOCKED AS THIS WAS AFTER OUR WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY SAID THAT THEY CALLED SAAB AND THAT SAAB WOULD PAY FOR APPROXIMATELY HALF OUR BILL (THE TOTAL OF THE WARRANTY WORK AND THE HEAD GASKET. WE HAVE TALKED TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO SAID THERE IS NO WAY A HEAD GASKET SHOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THIS STAGE UNLESS THERE WAS A DEFECT. SAAB WILL NOT AGREE TO PAY FOR ALL THE REPAIR. WE'VE PAID OVER $600 TOWARD THE HEAD GASKET AND WARRANTY WORK THEY WOULDN'T COVER. *AK

2001 SAAB 9-3 TURBO-CHARGER FAILED ON START-UP ON FEB. 1, 2005; OIL WAS BLOWN INTO EXHAUST SYSTEM; CAR WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED, NO PRIOR WARNING; MANUFACTURER DENIED COVERAGE BECAUSE OUT OF 50,000 MILE WARRANTY AND REPAIR SHOP DONE BY LOCAL SHOP, NOT DEALER.*AK

COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH ON LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY IN LEFT LANE. LOSS OF POWER WAS DUE TO DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE (ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN ENGINE IGNITION SYSTEM). *NM

I OWN A 2001 SAAB 9-3 AND WISH TO ALERT YOU TO A PROBLEM WITH THE SAAB DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. A DISCUSSION ON WWW.SAABNET.COM INFORMED ME THAT THE FAILURE RATE OF THIS PART IS APPARENTLY 100%. THE DI CASSETTE CAN GO AT ANY TIME AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SUDDENLY STOP IN TRAFFIC. IT HAPPENED TO ME ON A RAINY DAY AS I WAS TAKING MY ELDERLY MOTHER TO HER DOCTOR. SHE HAD HAD HIP REPLACEMENT AND SPINAL SURGERY, AND HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY GETTING INTO THE TOW TRUCK CAB. (SHE DIED TWO MONTHS LATER, NOT RELATED TO THIS INCIDENT- BUT SHE WAS FRAIL). MY CAR'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND IT COST $600 TO HAVE TO DI CASSETTE REPLACED, NOT COUNTING TOWING EXPENSES AND OTHER HARDSHIP. APPARENTLY SAAB KNOWS THIS IS A DEFECT, AND IT IS POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK WAITING TO HAPPEN.

KEY OF SAAB 93 (YR 2001) TURNED TO OFF WHILE DRIVING HIGH SPEED ON HIGHWAY, DUE O BEING LIGHTLY HIT AS PASSENGER REACHED DOWN FOR PURSE. ALL ELECTRIC IN CAR WENT OFF, WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO GO ON SIDE ROAD SINCE WE WERE ON I95 OUTSIDE BALTIMORE AT 4 PM THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING! KEY OPERATION APPEARS TO POSE DANGER. SAAB SHOP SAID KEY WAS OPERATING NORMALLY.*AK

SAAB 9-3 (2001) AUTOMATIC 49000 MILES STALLED ON FREEWAY WHILE PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL AFTER BRAKING (BUT STILL MOVING) FOR CONGESTION. RESTART SUBSEQUENT TO STALL DID NOT SUCCEED. HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO DEALER (B&B SAAB). SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED -- FIRST TIME (SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES) THE DEALER SAID A SOFTWARE UPGRADE SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. NOW THEY THINK IT IS THE THROTTLE UNIT. LUCKY ON BOTH OCCASSIONS NOT TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.*AK