2001 Saab 9-5 Tires & Wheels Problems

With only 670 miles on a new set of tires, an inspection for a completely unrelated reason found that there was a bulge in 3 of the 4 NEW tires. Installed in Jun, issue found in Dec; car is driven very little. Tires were purchased from Tire Rack and installed by Discount Tire. Inspection by Discount tire found the 3 defective tires. They report bulges as "impact damage". I have had one other tire ever with impact damage in 180,000 miles on this 20+ year old car. On this set of tires, there were no incidents, such as hitting a curb or pothole. I have to believe that these tires have a manufacturing defect. For all I know, they had a sidewall bulge from day one. I am replacing all four tires. I have contacted Vredestein customer service, at both domestic and international email customer service contacts. They have not answered, even with an acknowledgement of receipt.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-5. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, SLAMMED TO THE GROUND, AND CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ROTOR, HUB ASSEMBLY, AND FRONT RIM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,000.

AFTER BRINGING MY CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR RECALL SERVICE I FOUND THAT THE DEALER HAD NOT PERFORMED SOME OF THE WORK. THE DEALER DID NOT ADDRESS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V006000, WHICH IS ABOUT THE WHEEL BOLTS. THE DEALER SAID THAT SINCE I HAD MOVED TO FLORIDA THE RECALL WAS NOT VALID EVEN THOUGH IT IS NATIONWIDE. THE VEHICLE CAME FROM OHIO AND HAD STEEL WHEELS IN OHIO DURING THE WINTER. THE DEALER SHOULD REPLACE THE BOLTS BUT HAVE PUT ME IN DANGER INSTEAD. *TR

I OWN A 2000 SAAB 9-3 AND A 2001 SAAB 9-5. I HAV HAD THE LUG NUTS REPLACED ON MY 9-5 TWICE DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUSTING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE NUTS WITH THE IDENTICAL TYPE. AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT THESE CONTINUING TO RUST THEY SAID, JUST BRING THE CAR BACK AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO REPLCE THEM. BOTH OF MY CARS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER SAAB OWNERS WHO ARE FRUSTRATED BY THE SAME ISSUE. ALL WHERE CONCERNED THAT THE LUG NUTS WOULD WEAKEN OVER TIME AND FAIL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I AM LOOKING FOR A PERMANENT FIX WITH A LUG NUT THAT WILL NOT RUST / FAIL. NONE OF MY OTHER CARS (OTHER BRANDS) HAVE EVRY HAD THIS PROBLEM. CLEARLY THEY ARE EITHER MIS-MANUFACTERED OR NOT SPECED PROPERLY. YOUR ASSISTANCE IS REQUESTED TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION, WITH A PERMANENT FIX.

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