2001 Saab 9-5 Electrical System Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V399000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

MY 2001 SAAB 9-5 HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR AWHILE ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES STALL RANDOMLY AND NOT START UNTIL ENGINE COOLS DOWN. THE CODES FOR CEL LEAD TO DIRECT IGNITION. A PREVIOUS RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES, ONE MY VEHICLE RECEIVED. I CALLED DEALER AND THEY SAID SEEING AS IT WAS ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF ONCE NOTHING CAN BE DONE. I KNOW I WILL TO HAVE TO GET IT FIXED TO PASS EMISSIONS TESTING DUE TO FAULTY DIRECT IGNITION. NOT TO MENTION HOW UNSAFE IT IS IF IT STALLS. *TR

I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAD THE ERROR CODES CHECKED. THEY ARE P1312 AND P1334. THESE CODES INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH THE "DIC" (DIRECT IGNITION CONTROLLER). EARLIER MODELS WERE SUBJECT TO RECALL. THERE IS APPARENTLY STILL A PROBLEM. I KEEP CLEARING THE WARNING SIGNAL, BUT IT KEEPS RECURRING. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 SAAB 9-5. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE DIRECT IGNITION COIL TWICE IN MY CAR. I RECENTLY READ THAT THIS ITEMS HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND I WANT TO SEE IF I AM ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND FOR THE WORK DONE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED A NO START CONDITION. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. THE IDM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V399000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE) IN 2006; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,074.

I HAD A "DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE" FAILURE ON MY SAAB 9-5 2001. I FOUND FROM WWW.SAABSERVICES.COM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR MODEL YEARS 2000-2002. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT MY VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH IN THAT CATEGORY, DID NOT QUALIFY FOR A RECALL PART REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER, I HAVE COPIED THE NOTICE BELOW AND AM FILING A COMPLAINT AS INDICATED IN THE NOTICE BELOW. TAKEN FROM THE WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.SAABSERVICES.COM/SAAB%20DIRECT%20IGNITION%20CASSETTE%20FAILURES.HTM "SAAB DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURES UPDATE! A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED, FOR MODEL YEARS 2000 THROUGH 2002. DI CASSETTES HAVE A SERIAL NUMBER ON THEM. THE COVERED UNITS ARE SERIAL # D000000-D336210 AND B083821-B096117 FOR 4CYL ENGINES, AND C048743-C073404 FOR 6CYL ENGINES. CONTACT YOUR SAAB DEALER FOR MORE INFO! BE AWARE THAT THE PRICE HAS DECLINED SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT WE DO NOT EXPECT THIS TO LAST VERY LONG. WE HAVE REPLACED MANY OF THESE IGNITION CASSETTES, AND FEEL THAT THEY DO HAVE A LIMITED ( LESS THAN REASONABLE) LIFE. IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE, AND YOUR VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL GROUP, YOU MAY WISH TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA." *TR

ON TWO OCCASIONS OUR 2001SAAB,9.5 6 CYLINDER TRANSMISSION CASSETTE FAILED. LEAVING MY HUSBAND AND MY SELF STRANDED WITH A SMOLDERING CAR. ON OCT 19TH 05 WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF THE HWY IN THE NICK OF TIME, HEAVY SMOKE HAD BEGUN TO POUR OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED BUT THE IGNITION CASSETTE,THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE, THE WIRE HARNESS, BATTERY AND,SPARK PLUGS WERE DESTROYED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENCE WE WERE DRIVING IN THE SOUTHERN SIERRAS IN A SEASONAL DRY FOREST AREA. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT A WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD IN A SAFE SPOT. ON AUG.15TH, 08. THE REPLACEMENT PART FAILED AGAIN AND AS BEFORE THE SPARK PLUGS, INSTALLED SEVERAL MONTHS PREVIOUSLY HAD TO BE REPLACED THE CONTINUED FAILURE OF THIS PART IN AN INTRINSIC MANUFACTURING DEFECT. SPECIFIC VIN NUMBERS OF THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED, BUT SAAB/ G.M NEEDS TO BE MADE TO RECALL ALL OF THESE AUTO'S AND REPLACE THE FLAWED IGNITION CASSETTE. NEITHER OF THE TWO IGNITION CASSETTES INSTALLED IN OUR CAR HAVE HAD THE VIN NUMBERS RECALLED. *TR

2001 SAAB 9-5 V6. DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE. RECALL WAS ISSUED, (RECALL 05V399000: IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE OVERHEATING) FOR THIS CAR YEAR AND TYPE. MINE FAILED AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PART # MATCHES THE RECALLED PART #. ALL I WANTED WAS THE PART REPLACED. THANK YOU *TR

COMPLAINT IS THAT SAAB USA HAS DECLINED TO REPLACE/REIMBURSE THE COST OF THE IDM/DIC WHICH FAILED ON OUR 2001 SAAB 9-5 V-6 VIN # . THIS WAS A RECALL BY NHTSA IN 2006. (NHTSA CAMPAIGN # IS 05V399000) SAAB USA DENIED THIS REPAIR AS THEIR DATA BASE DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VIN #. (THIS SERVICE REQUEST # TO SAAB USA IS 17613448567) THE FINAL DECISION ON THIS FROM SAAB USA CAME FROM AN UN-NAMED SUPERVISOR AT 1-866-790-5600 EXT # 31078. THE COST FOR THIS REPAIR WAS $677.50, INCLUDING $70.00 FOR TOWING TO A NEARBY FOREIGN AUTO REPAIR FACILITY. FROM EXHAUSTIVELY SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND ALSO PROVIDED TO ME BY THE REPAIR FACILITY, THE SERIAL NUMBERS OF THE DEFECTIVE IDM/DIC WERE FOUND. THE FAULTY UNITS FOR A V-6 ENGINE ARE C048743 THROUGH C073404. THE SERIAL # FROM THIS VEHICLE THAT FAILED IS C061858. THIS INFORMATION WAS ALSO GIVEN TO THE SUPERVISOR AT SAAB USA (MESSAGE-RECORDING), BUT HAS NEVER RESPONDED TO THIS ADDITIONAL FINDING AND CONTINUED CLAIM FOR COST REIMBURSEMENT. YOUR ASSISTANCE IS REQUESTED ON THIS MATTER. FROM INTERNET INFO, OTHERS HAVE BEEN SIMILARLY "STONEWALLED" BY SAAB USA COMPLIANCE TO YOUR ORDER. *TR

WE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE STALLING AND UPON RECOMMENDATION OF OUR MECHANIC WE LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL OR ANY INFORMATION OUT THERE FOR THIS VEHICLE. I CONTACTED SAAB USA AND THERE WAS A VALID OPEN RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS VEHICLE. WE ARRAIGNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO HERITAGE SAAB IN MORROW, GA AND ACCORDING TO THEIR TECH'S THEY COMPLETED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE IDM IN ACCORDANCE TO THE RECALL NOTICE, BUT IN A MATTER OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE PROBLEM RETURNED. NOW WE CAN'T EVEN CRANK THE VEHICLE DUE TO IT CUTTING OFF AS SOON AS YOU CRANK IT. IT WILL APPEAR TO BE RUNNING, BUT THE ENGINE HAS STALLED AND IT SOMETIMES WILL NOT RECRANK UNTIL AFTER A FEW MINUTES HAS GONE BY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DI CASSETTE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, WHICH IS THE SAME AS THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER WAITING TO BE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 55,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

DIGITAL INSTRUMENTATION PANEL FAILED IN THE FIRST 20,000 MILES AND NOW AGAIN BEFORE 50,000 MILES. OTHERS I HAVE SPOKEN TO WITH THE SAME MODEL HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE CALLED THE TOLL FREE NUMBER NOTED ON THE SAFETY RECALL #05V399000 FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, AND PROVIDED THE VIN HE WAS TOLD THAT SOMEONE WOULD GET BACK TO HIM. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT HE COULD HAVE BEEN TOLD WHETHER OR NOT THE SAFETY RECALL APPLIED TO THIS VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. THE RECALL STATED THAT STALLING MAY OCCUR. RECENTLY THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING AT 5 - 10 MILES, AND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY STALLED ONCE. THE WEATHER ON 02/06 WAS CHILLY, BUT CLEAR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 102467. *AK CONSUMER STATES MANUFACTURER IS NOT WILLING TO HONOR RECALL. UPDATE *4/23/07 *TR

2001 SAAB SID DISPLAY. THE LINES DISAPPEAR AND THE DISPLAY WILL NOT SHOW ANYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING TO THE CAR. THIS DISPLAYS IS VITAL TO THE OPERATION. IT FAILED WITH LESS THAN 50,00 MILES AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE SAAB'S. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE RECALL WORK FOR NHTSA RECALL # 05V399000, PERTAINING TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION MODULE WAS PERFORMED UNSATISFACTORILY. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER WAS CONTACTED, WHO DETERMINED A SECOND REPAIR WOULD NOT BE DONE WITHOUT CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO RETURN CALLS PROVIDED.

IDM (IGNITION CASSETTE) FAILURE 1ST OCCURRENCE: 10/11/2005 (48,000 MILES) 2ND OCCURRENCE: 4/10/2006 (54,000 MILES). *NM

IGNITION MODULE FAILED WHILE DRIVING, LEADING TO LOSS OF POWER MAKING VEHICLE INOPERABLE. CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DAMAGED AND IT AND THE IGNITION MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SECOND TIME WAS AFTER IGNITION MODULE REPLACE IN 10/05. *JB

I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE 2001 SAAB 9-5 SE (V6 ENGINE) WAGON AT 45-50 MPH WHEN IT SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND DECELERATED. I KNEW ABOUT DI CASSETTES FAILURE AND STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR OR AFTER THIS EPISODE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL SAAB DEALER. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE AND REPLACED WITH A NEW PART FOR FREE DUE TO FUTURE RECALL (DI CASSETT ONLY). THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DAMAGED DUE FAILURE OF THE IDM TOO, BUT IT DOES NOT COVERED AND IT WAS REPLACED AT COST OF $2026.48. +10 DAYS I WAS WATING FOR PARTS. THIS CAR HAS HAD OTHER "SMALL" ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS LIKE MULTIPLE LIGHT BULB BURN OUTS, LOSS OF PIXELS ON THE SID DISPLAY, SUDDEN INCREASE BRIGHTNESS OF ALL LIGHTS, FAILURE OF REAR SEATS HEATER. *NM

ON A 2001 SAAB 9-5 SE (V6 ENGINE) STATIONWAGON WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. AS I PULLED THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO AN EXIT RAMP (WITHIN LESS THAN A MINUTE OF THE MALFUNCTION), THE CAR STALLED AND A BURNING SMELL WAS DETECTED INSIDE THE CAR AFTER WHICH THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND PARKED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL SAAB DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE ON THE REAR CYLINDER BANK WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE FAILED. FAILURE OF THE IDM ON ONLY 3 OUT OF 6 CYLINDERS CAUSED UNBURNED GAS TO BE DISCHARGED INTO THE EXHAUST WHERE IT REACTED IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, CLOGGING THE CONVERTER AND STALLING THE ENGINE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS RUINED WHICH CAUSED THE BURNING SMELL. NO FIRE WAS DETECTED. THE IDM AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE REPLACED. *JB

DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, CAUSING CAR TO LOSE POWER AND STOP. VEHICLE IS A SAAB 95, 2001, V6, SE WAGON, DATE OF SECOND INCIDENT IS BELOW.*JB