2001 SAAB 9-3 Electrical System Problems

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.

Mileage: 150,000

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.

Mileage: 186,000

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

Mileage: 89,801

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

Mileage: 89,801

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

Mileage: 110,048

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.

Mileage: 60,000

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

Mileage: 93,000

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

Mileage: 82,347

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

Mileage: 15,949

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

Mileage: 90,714

2001 9-3 ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO A CRACKED CYLINDER. *TS WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, SHE WAS TOLD THE SERIAL NUMBER ON THE MODULE WAS NOT THE ONE THAT WOULD BE REPLACED. A FEW MONTHS HAD PASSED AND THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FROM THE RECALLED PART WHICH HAD A NOTICEABLE CRACK. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE MODULE MAY HAVE SHOWN PROBLEMS IN THE PREVIOUS INSPECTION, BUT THE MODULE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL BASED ON THE SERIAL NUMBER.*JB

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.

Mileage: 55,600

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

Mileage: 75,800

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

Mileage: 19,725

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

Mileage: 48,488

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

Mileage: 52,700

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

Mileage: 68,000

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.

Mileage: 24,000

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

Mileage: 56,000

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

Mileage: 61,550

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

Mileage: 61,550

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

Mileage: 61,550

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

Mileage: 44,100

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

Mileage: 49,000

WITHOUT ANY WARNING, CAR LOST ENGINE POWER, INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HAPPENED IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC CIRCLE, CAUSING NEAR MISSES FROM BUSES AND TRUCKS. SAAB ROADSIDE SERVICE TOOK NEARLY 5 HOURS TO SEND A TOW TRUCK. CAR PUSHED TO SIDEWALK BY PASSING POLICEMAN. JSW. *AK

Mileage: 22,500

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. LOSING ALL POWER, RESULTING IN NO STEERING, BRAKES ETC,. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK