2001 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE Recalls, Complaints & Safety

HAD THE ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR THREE MONTHS THEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY YESTERDAY AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE WOULDN'T TAKE GAS. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER OFF THE HIGHWAY SLOWLY AND IT STOPPED COMPLETELY AFTER I MADE THE EXIT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I NEED A NEW IGNITION CASSETTE! SO DANGEROUS! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED; THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 46,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY, MOTOR FAILED DUE TO LACK OF OIL CIRCULATION BROUGHT ON BY PLUGGING OF OIL PUMP INTAKE SCREEN FROM DEGRADATION OF OIL, DUE TO DESIGN OF SAAB 9/3 THAT COOKS OIL IN TURBOCHARGER AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER DIRECTLY BENEATH OIL PAN. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS LONG OIL CHANGE INTERVAL, (10,000 SAAB RECOMMENDATION), VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 7,000 MILES SINCE LAST OIL CHANGE. COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED. VEHICLE DISABLED. I HAD IT TOWED TO A PEP BOYS LOCATION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE LOST 2 CYLINDERS AND NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATED FOR 3 WEEKS. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V399000 PE05017 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE05017 COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK AND THE POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED PER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN NOR YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF HER VEHICLE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. IN 2006, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 103-7-22538. THERE WERE NO FAILURES AT THE TIME; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE TO PREVENT THE RECALL CONSEQUENCE. IN 2007, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL THE NEED TO FILE A COMPLAINT AT THAT TIME. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2009, THE VEHICLE HAS FREQUENTLY BEEN STALLING AND IS A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE. ON JUNE 10, 2009, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE STALLING ISSUE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANK SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE FEELS THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR SERVICES THAT WERE PERFORMED IN 2006, WHICH WERE SUPPOSED TO REMEDY THE FAILURES IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH. I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. VEHICLE CONTINUED ON AT HIT HEAD FIRST INTO CONCRETE WALL IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AND SUFFERED BROKEN COLLARBONE. *TR

Crash 1 injured

AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT I HAVE SPENT $494.97 ON WHAT WAS A RECALL PREVIOUSLY, I HAVE A SAAB 93 CONVERTIBLE AND WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED LOSING POWER. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NEED THE DI-CASSETTE REPLACED. ON THIS VEHICLE I HAVE ALSO HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY, MOTOR FAILED DUE TO LACK OF OIL CIRCULATION BROUGHT ON BY PLUGGING OF OIL PUMP INTAKE SCREEN FROM DEGRADATION OF OIL, DUE TO DESIGN OF SAAB 9/3 THAT COOKS OIL IN TURBOCHARGER AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER DIRECTLY BENEATH OIL PAN. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS LONG OIL CHANGE INTERVAL, (10,000 SAAB RECOMMENDATION), VEHICLE HAD 8,000 MILES SINCE LAST OIL CHANGE. ALSO -3*F TEMPERATURE FURTHER IMPEDED OIL CIRCULATION. COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED. VEHICLE DISABLED. ENGINE SHORTBLOCK WAS REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP

THE SEAT BELT ON MY 2001 SAAB 93 WILL NOT WORK. I AM UNABLE TO PULL THE STRAP OUT FROM THE SIDE OF THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL SAAB DEALER THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $700.00 TO FIX. MY CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD, NOT ONLY DID THE SEAT BELT STOP WORKING BUT THE ABS SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3200.00. ALL OF THESE REPAIRS SEEM TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COST AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY. I THINK THAT SAAB SHOULD REPAIR AT THE VERY LEAST THE SEAT BELT WHICH I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING WITHOUT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED GASOLINE LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE DUE TO LOOSENED FUEL LINES ON THE FUEL PUMP. THERE WAS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 06V126000 REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 9/15/2006 - *NM

HAD JUST HAD AN UPDATE FRIDAY OF ANOTHER INCIDENT WITH GASOLINE / FUEL PUMP RUPTURE AND FAILURE LEADING TO EXCESSIVE GAS BEING PUMPED OUT . THEN ON SUNDAY, IT HAPPENED TO ME, A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL, ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN STOPPED FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME. UPON ARRIVAL (10 MIN) TO DESTINATION, I LOOKED UNDER CAR, ESPECIALLY AFTER BEING ALERTED FROM ".MYCARSTATS.COM/SAFETYSTATION". GAS WAS EVERYWHERE! AND PUMPING OUT LIKE CRAZY, EVEN THOUGH IGNITION WAS OFF.. RESIDUAL PRESSURE I SUSPECT.. A LOT MORE CAME OUT.. THOUGH I LIVE IN CANADA , THIS IS A US CAR, I BOUGHT EARLY LAST YEAR: A 2001 SAAB 9-3 VIGGEN CONV'T, SAAB USA , SAID IT WOULD BE COVERED FOR BEING FIXED, >>04V557000. 15018.. BUT SAAB CANADA, HAS NO RECALL AND IS QUESTIONING IT, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE REPLACED CLIPS IN OTHER 9-3S.. CAR IS UNDRIVABLE. *JB

CONSUMER 2001 SAAB 93 STALLED. *TS PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE, THE CONSUMER HAD ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIRS AND HAS SINCE REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER REQUESTED A COPY OF THE CONSUMERS CHECK AS PROOF THAT THE REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CONSUMER REFUSED TO SEND THEM A COPY OF HIS CHECK. *JB

DRIVING 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY MY 2001 SAAB SE CONVERTIBLE ENGINE JUST STOPPED - ALL OF THE DASH LIGHTS LIT UP - SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. I, FORTUNATELY, WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER PRIOR TO BEING HIT BY ANY CARS ON THIS 3-LANE HIGHWAY. PREVIOUSLY, I HAVE HAD MY IGNITION CASSETTE REPLACED - IT SEEMS THAT IT HAS FAILED AGAIN. IN ADDITION, ALTHOUGH I HAVE UNDER 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR (NO ACCIDENTS) I HAVE SPENT OVER $4,000 IN REPAIRS TO DATE (NOT COUNTING THE NUMEROUS TIMES IT WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP HAVING REPAIRS DONE UNDER WARRANTY). I HAVE GONE PAST THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON THE LEMON LAW - OTHERWISE I WOULD FILE FOR THAT. CONSTANTLY THE DASH IDIOT LIGHTS COME ON - EVERY TIME I BRING IT IN, THEY TELL ME NOTHING IS WRONG (YET I HAVE TO PAY THE DIAGNOSIS CHARGE).*JB

DIC FAILURE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILUER DI CASSETTE FAILURE. THOSE ARE THE TERMS I'VE HEARD FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS ALL SAABS IN THE MODEL YEARS 99-04. I HAVE A 2001 9-3 CONVERTIBLE AND IT LOST POWER ALL OF A SUDDEN BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE PART THAT IS IN EVERY SINGLE SAAB FOR MANY YEARS. LOSING POWER AT HIGH SPED IS NOT ONLY INCONVENIENT, BUT DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING. SAAB NEEDS TO BE FORCED TO RECALL ALL SAABS AND REPLACE THE DI CASSETTE WITH ONE THAT WORKS. PLEASE ORDER THIS IMMEDIATELY. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF CARS. THANK YOU.

NOT A FAILURE, BUT MISLEADING INFORMATION TO CONSUMERS WHICH MIGHT LEAD TO PROBLEMS. I WAS SOLD DUNLOP SP SPORT FM901 TIRES FOR MY SAAB 9-3 (I AM FAIRLY SAFETY CONSCIOUS) AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE SNOW LEGAL BY JUST TIRES, A GOODYEAR OWNED DEALER. RECENTLY, I CHECKED INFLATION AND LOOKED FOR THE M&S RATING ON THE SIDEWALL--NOT THERE. I LOOKED ON THE DUNLOP WEB SITE...IT SHOWED THAT THE TIRES RATED A "5" FOR SNOW ON THEIR 1-10 PERFORMANCE SCALE (INDICATING TO A REASONABLY INTELLIGENT PERSON THAT THEY WOULD BE AVERAGE, I.E., WHAT ONE WOULD EXPECT FOR AN ALL- SEASON TIRE). JUST TO BE SURE, I SENT A WEB-BASED INQUIRY TO DUNLOP. GOODYR CAME BACK TO TELL ME THEY WERE NOT M&S BUT THAT THEY DID SCORE A 5 RATING. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT HAVING ANY SNOW RATING, NOT TO MENTION A 5, FOR A TIRE WHICH IS NOT M&S RATED IS DANGEROUS AND MISLEADING. I KNOW THAT THE DEALER WILL DENY THAT THEY TOLD ME THE TIRES WERE RATED, SO ALL I CAN DO IS TO POINT OUT THE PROBLEM TO NHTSA AND CONSUMER OUTLETS. HOPE YOU CAN CONVINCE GOODYEAR-DUNLOP TO STOP THE MISLEADING PRACTICE. THANKS. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAS A FUEL LEAK. THE FITTING THAT GOES ON THE FUEL PUMP IS CRACKED. WHEN THE VEHICLE LEAKED IT WOULD RUN ALONG THE GAS LINE WHICH WAS NEAR THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST COULD CAUSE A FIRE IF CONTACT WAS MADE. *AK *SC

VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL AT AN ALARMING RATE. *PH THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP LINE. FUEL PRESSURE WAS FOUND AND THE HOSE AT THE PUMP BLOWN (CLIP BROKEN). THE FUEL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE MANUAL GEAR SHIFT BECAME STUCK. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

MY SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE BEGAN POURING FUEL AT AN ALARMING RATE (MORE THAN 1/2 A TANK POURED OUT FROM THE BOTTOM-REAR). NO ACCIDENT, BUMP, OR ROAD DEBRIS WAS INVOLVED. WHEN THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF, THE FUEL SPILL STOPPED. THIS IS CLEARLY A FIRE-HAZARD. AT THE RATE IT WAS FLOWING OUT, A LIT CIGARETTE IN THE ROAD, A SPARK FROM ROAD DEBRIS, OR OTHER FLAME SOURCE WOULD HAVE LIT THE CAR UP LIKE AN EXPLOSIVE TORCH. I WAS ALSO INFORMED BY SAAB ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD NEED TO CERTIFY THE CAR WAS OK TO TOW - AND WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE WEARY FIREFIGHTERS THAT BECAUSE THE LEAK WAS NOT ACTIVE (THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF) THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE CERTIFICATION - WHICH WAS READILY ACCEPTED BY THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THEY HAVE HEARD THIS STORY BEFORE. MY SERVICE TEAM WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM - EVEN PREDICTING IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A CLIP NEAR THE FUEL LINE & TANK THAT, WHEN IT BREAKS, LEADS TO A FLOOD OF GASOLINE. I AWAIT THEIR FORMAL DIAGNOSIS. IF THE SERVICE DEALERS KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM - AND THE APPARENT SCOPE OF IT - IT SEEMS DEPLOYING A PLAN TO CORRECT IT WOULD BE THE REASONABLE, AND SAFE, THING FOR SAAB TO DO. IT WOULD BE A TRAGEDY TO LOOSE A PERSON TO THIS KNOWN DEFECT. *LA

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR PROBLEMS RECURRING WITH PIRELLI TIRES AND FACTORY RIMS.*MR SAAB REFUSED TO PROVIDE A WARRANTY EXPLANATION ON THE CONSUMERS TIRES AND RIMS THAT WERE REPLACED AND REFUSED TO OFFER ANY TYPES OF EXPLANATION ON THE INTEGRITY AND SAFETY OF THESE SPECIFIC TIRES AND RIMS. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED ONE PAYMENT BUT WANTS TO REMIND SAAB ABOUT THE REMAINDER OF PAYMENTS WHICH HE WAS ENTITLED TO. *CB THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TIRES BALLOONED OUT 12 INCHES ON THE INSIDE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE RIMS AND THE TIRES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB

AT 75 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, MY CAR SIMPLY SHUT DOWN, ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD TO COAST ACROSS THREE LANES OF BUSY TRAFFIC TO GET TO SHOULDER. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART, BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL AND SMOKE CAME FROM ENGINE. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE FAILED THE CASSETTE WAS DIAGNOSED. IS STILL IN SHOP 4 DAYS LATER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON FOR 8 MONTHS, HAVE BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY BY SAAB THAT IT'S BECAUSE I AM NOT TIGHTENING THE GAS CAP ENOUGH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, AS USUAL, BUT I IGNORED IT, AS IT'S ON HALF THE TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. DEALERSHIP SEEMED TO KNOW IMMEDIATELY THAT THE CASSETTE WAS BLOWN. THIS DEFECT NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED. VERY DANGEROUS. *LA

CAR WAS POURING FUEL (OVER 1/4 TANK) ONTO GROUND AFTER BACKING CAR OUT OF GARAGE. SAAB ROADSIDE TOLD ME TO CONTACT FIRE DEPT. TO CERTIFY THE ABILITY TO TOW THE CAR. FIRE DEPT. STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AFTER ARRIVING ON THE SCENE. SAAB ROADSIDE TOWED THE CAR TO SANTA ANA, CA SAAB DEALER. DEALER WAS VERY NONCHALANT ABOUT THE REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH THE FIRE DEPT. HAD TO BE CALLED. DEALER STATED IT WAS A BROKEN BRACKET AT THE GAS TANK. I HAVE CONTACTED SAAB LEGAL DEPT. AND THEY STATE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FROM A LEMON LAW STATUS. AFTER SOME OF THE COMMENTS I HAVE SEEN ON THE NHTSA SITE, I BELIEVE THEY HAVE FUEL LINE ISSUES, AND DON'T WANT TO FACE THEM. DON'T BUY THIS CAR. IT IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.*AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN NOTHING, BUT PROBLEMS SINCE DAY ONE. THE RIMS HAVE BENT ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE REAR STRUTS HAD TO BE REPLACED, BRAKE FLUID NEEDED TO BE ADDED AND THE BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED ALL WITHIN ONE YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUITE CONCERNIG THE WHEEL RIMS. EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN WE ARE FEARFUL THAT THE WHEEL RIMS ARE GOING TO BEND AGAIN. THIS CAUSES PROBLEMS ON THE WEAR AND TEAR OF THE TIRES AS WELL.ALSO THE FUEL TANK IS LINKING FLUID. THIS VEHCILE IS A LEMON. IT LOOKS GOOD, BUT IT IS NOT SAFE.*AK. THE WHEEL PROBLEM HAS CAUSED THE TWO FRONT TIRES TO WEAR OUT.

AT 70MPH IGNITION SWITCH WAS BUMPED, AND VEHICLE CUT OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK