36 of the
662 complaints filed about the Saab 9-5
are about the braking system —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
MY 2011 SAAB 9-5 IS CURRENTLY IN THE SAAB REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE BRAKE PEDAL REPLACED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT RETURN TO ITS PROPER POSITION AND WAS LOCKING THE BRAKES ON AND ALSO LOCKING THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON. IT FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE A FLAT TIRE AND THE CAR FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS HOLDING IT BACK. IN MY CASE I RUINED THE BRAKE ROTORS AND DISCS AS THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED. THIS COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE AND MADE THE CAR HARD TO HANDLE AND OF COURSE REDUCED THE PROPER BRAKING ABILITY. GM SHOULD PUT OUT AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL CASES LIKE MINE. IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR ME TO BE AWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. MOSTLY IN HOT AND HUMID WEATHER. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE FIXED RIGHT AWAY. GM SAFETY RECALL NEEDED NOW! CONTACT SAAB IM AUTOHAUS, 551 N WASHINGTON ST, FALLS CHURCH, VA 22046, AT (703) 534-0770, FOR MORE INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION.
NHTSA complaint #11124540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT COMPLETELY RELEASE. NOTICED BY EXCESSIVE WEAR ON REAR BRAKE PADS/ROTORS, VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING AND POOR GAS MILEAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10806185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER FILLED WITH OIL LEAKING FROM DEFECTIVE VACUUM PUMP RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE. DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE CAUSES BRAKES TO SUDDENLY LOCK UP IMMOBILIZING CAR. THIS IS A DESIGN FAILURE IN THE ELECTRONIC ABS BRAKING SYSTEM IN MY OPINION.
NHTSA complaint #10435656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DURING DRIVING, I EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURES OF THE ABS SYSTEM. OVER TIME IT BECAME CONSTANT. APPARENTLY, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED, AS SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM CAUSES THE SPEEDOMETER TO SHUT OFF, THE ODOMETER TO STOP CLOCKING MILES, THE ABS SYSTEM TO SHUTDOWN AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO SHUT OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10260805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PURCHASED THE CAR USED 5/23/08 WITH 42,700 MILES FROM SAAB DEALERSHIP. WITHIN A MONTH THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED RANDOMLY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON RANDOMLY. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULDN'T HURT ANYTHING AND SHOULD IT BECOME MORE FREQUENT, BRING THE CAR IN. 8/18 TOOK THE CAR IN TO DEALERSHIP WHEN THE LIGHT WAS COMING ON MORE FREQUENTLY. HEADLIGHT RELAY REPLACED, ENGINE LIGHT WAS DUE TO A DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE. SAAB DEALERSHIP ORDERED THE PART WHICH WAS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER, PART CAME IN 10/9. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN 10/6 DUE TO STEAM COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER MOVED ABOVE THE MIDDLE. BYPASS VALVE REPLACED ($450 PARTS/LABOR). VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 48,500 MILES AND IS OUT OF MANUFACTURER WARRANTY AND REPAIR IS NOT COVERED UNDER DEALERSHIPS LIMITED WARRANTY. AFTER AN INTERNET SEARCH FOR INFORMATION RELATING TO THE DI CASSETTE FAILURE I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2000-2002 MODELS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 SAAB 9.5 AERO SEDAN.
NHTSA complaint #10245621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOSCH ABS MODULE ON 2001 SAAB 9-5 SE V6 WITH 88,000 MILES FAILED WITH ABS, TCS, BRAKE, AND /!\ FAILURE LIGHTS DISPLAYED ON DASH. ABS NO LONGER OPERABLE. TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM NO LONGER OPERABLE. ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM NO LONGER OPERABLE. SPEEDOMETER NO LONGER OPERABLE. FROM READING MANY (OVER EIGHT!) MESSAGE BOARDS, THIS AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM WITH THE BOSCH ABS SYSTEMS IN MANY BMW, SAAB, CADILLAC CATERA, VW CARS. WHY CAN'T THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE? ABS IS BRAKES AND BRAKES ARE A SAFETY SYSTEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. CONTACT BBA-REMAN IN TAUNTON, MA, THEY HANDLE FIXING THESE SYSTEMS AND THEIR LOAD IS VERY HEAVY.
NHTSA complaint #10241404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 SAAB 9-5 WITH ENGINE STALLING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE HAS HAD THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED TWICE. SHE FEELS THAT HER VEHICLE IS A LEMON. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS FAULTY WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. THERE WAS A LOUD ROARING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE UPON BRAKING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10213895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 SAAB 9-5 WITH ENGINE STALLING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE HAS HAD THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED TWICE. SHE FEELS THAT HER VEHICLE IS A LEMON. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS FAULTY WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. THERE WAS A LOUD ROARING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE UPON BRAKING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10213895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 2000 SAAB 9-5 AERO SEDAN. ON JUNE 14, 2007, I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR WHEN I EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS LOSS OCCURRED COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE CAR WAS BY ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION BY A MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP AND BRAKE BOOSTER HAD FAILED. I WAS FORTUNATE IN THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED AND THAT I DID NOT DRIFT OUT INTO THE 5 LANE HIGHWAY THAT I WAS APPROACHING. I WAS ALSO FORTUNATE IN THAT I DID NOT HIT OTHER CARS OR PEDESTRIANS IN THIS INCIDENT. SAAB HAS RECALLED OTHER MODELS THAT HAVE HAD SIMILAR BRAKE PROBLEMS AND I BELIEVE THAT THE 9-5 SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.
NHTSA complaint #10196682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING IN THE 2000 9-5 THE DASHBOARD LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE ; ABS, TCS, BRAKES, ETC.. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS ADVISED THAT I NEEDED A NEW ABS CONTROLLER . THE COST TO REPLACE IT WAS $2,700. I ASKED IF THEY COULD INSTALL A REBUILD OR AN AFTERMARKET PART ,AND THEY ADVISED THAT IT WOULD COST $1,600. STILL AGHAST, I DID SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE BOSCH ABS MODULE FAILE D ROUTINELY, AND COULD BE REPAIRED FOR APPROXIMATELY $150 TO $250. ASIDE FROM THE POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE OF THIS PART COMMONLY FAILING THERE ALSO APPEARED TO BE QUITE A MARK UP FROM THE DEALER/MANUFACTURERS ON THIS PART.
NHTSA complaint #10194915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN PARKED ON HILL OVERNIGHT WITH CAR POINTED DOWN HILL, WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED AND SHIFT LEVER MOVED TO DRIVE AND HAND BRAKE RELEASED, THE FOOT BRAKE IS UNABLE TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM ROLLING AND HAND BRAKE MUST BE USED TO STOP VEHICLE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING, THE FOOT BRAKES APPEAR TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR A WOMAN UNABLE TO WORK HAND BRAKE OR EXERT ENOUGH BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TO ASSIST IN STOPPING THE CAR. SAAB EXPERT MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A COMMON DESIGN PROBLEM AND I SHOULD REPORT IT AS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10189203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
JUST AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED: DASH LIGHTS CAME ON: ABS, TCS OFF, WARNING TRIANGLE AND BRAKE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BECAME PERMANENT. SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER CEASED TO OPERATE. RESEARCHED TO DISCOVER A COMMON PROBLEM WITH LIKE VEHICLES (SAABNET.COM). SERVICE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THAT ABS ECU WAS INOPERATIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ARROWAY SAAB DEALER ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE ISSUE WITH SAAB USA TO REPLACE $3500 PART. I WOULD PAY LABOR. SAAB DEALER REFUSED TO GUARANTEE REPLACEMENT OF ABS COMPUTER WOULD FIX PROBLEM. CURRENTLY WORKING WITH PURCHASING A USED UNTIL FOR $900. WISH I HAD KNOWN ABOUT THE REBUILD OPTION. THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WHICH IS 1) EXPENSIVE AND 2) POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AS IT AFFECTS KEY SAFETY FEATURES.
NHTSA complaint #10185109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
JUST AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED: DASH LIGHTS CAME ON: ABS, TCS OFF, WARNING TRIANGLE AND BRAKE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BECAME PERMANENT. SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER CEASED TO OPERATE. RESEARCHED TO DISCOVER A COMMON PROBLEM WITH LIKE VEHICLES (SAABNET.COM). SERVICE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THAT ABS ECU WAS INOPERATIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ARROWAY SAAB DEALER ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE ISSUE WITH SAAB USA TO REPLACE $3500 PART. I WOULD PAY LABOR. SAAB DEALER REFUSED TO GUARANTEE REPLACEMENT OF ABS COMPUTER WOULD FIX PROBLEM. CURRENTLY WORKING WITH PURCHASING A USED UNTIL FOR $900. WISH I HAD KNOWN ABOUT THE REBUILD OPTION. THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WHICH IS 1) EXPENSIVE AND 2) POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AS IT AFFECTS KEY SAFETY FEATURES.
NHTSA complaint #10185109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I OWN A 2000 SAAB 9-5. I HAVE FOUND THERE TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. THIS ISSUE IS PRESENT AND KNOWN ON MANY DISCUSSION BOARDS FOR THE VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE ABS CONTROL MODULE ON THESE VEHICLES HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED? THE PROBLEM CAUSES THE SPEEDOMETER TO SHUT OFF, THE ODOMETER TO STOP CLOCKING MILES, THE ABS SYSTEM TO SHUTDOWN AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO SHUT OFF. THIS IS A FAIRLY SERIOUS ISSUE THAT MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH. IT IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AMONG 2000 SAAB 9-5 OWNERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. TO REFERENCE ONE OF MANY KNOWN INSTANCES OF THIS SAAB ISSUE, PLEASE VISIT: HTTP://WWW.SAABCENTRAL.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=73456.
NHTSA complaint #10184754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH., THE ABS MODULE FAILED, CAUSING FAILURE TO THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER. THE MODULE HAD BEEN REPLACED ONCE BEFORE THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
NHTSA complaint #10163056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
NO SPECIFIC EVENTS LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS MARGINALLY FUNCTIONAL AND HAS BEEN SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW. THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS BEGAN TO WEAR SHOWING VISIBLE GROOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 1200 MILES WHILE THE FRONT ROTORS STILL SHOW NO SIGNS OF WEAR OR GROOVING AT 4800 MILES. IMPROPER BRAKE PERFORMANCE IS FURTHER EVIDENCED BY THE RAPID ACCUMULATION OF BRAKE DUST ON THE SURFACE OF THE REAR WHEELS WND ONLY SLIGHT ACCUMULATION OF BRAKE DUST ON THE FRONT WHEELS. THE VEHICLE IS ALSO QUITE UNSTABLE AND DIFFICULT TO KEEP WITHIN THE TRAFFIC LANE DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING MANEUVERS FROM SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH OR HIGHER. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND REPORTED THAT OTHERS HAVE FILED THE SAME COMPLAINT. THE FRONT/REAR BRAKING FORCE IS AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED BY THE VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS LEASED TO ME UNDER A THREE YEAR CONTRACT. I THEREFORE HAVE NO OPTION TO SELL IT OR TERMINATE THE LEASE AND AM LEGALLY BOUND TO MAINTAIN PAYMENTS ON THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER 36 MONTHS.
NHTSA complaint #10162871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
SUDDEN MULTIPLE DISPLAY OF DASH LIGHTS INDICATING FAILURE OF THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM INCLUDING DISABLEMENT OF THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED LESS THAN ONE MONTH AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD ON CAR EXPIRED. SAAB DEALER REQUESTED $3000 TO REPLACE THE ABS UNIT AS A START, TO FIND OUT WHY ABS SYSTEM IS DISABLED. DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS (TWO INDEPENDENT SHOPS) INDICATE NO COMMUNICATION WITH ABS SYSTEM COMPUTER SO DIAGNOSTIC OF ACTUAL CAUSE OF FAILURE IMPOSSIBLE. I FOUND OUT INDEPENDENTLY FROM PRIVATE CONSUMER GROUP: WWW.SAABNET.COM , THAT THIS IS COMMON FAILURE WITH SAAB 95S THAT ARE SEVERAL YEARS OLD AND THAT SEVERAL INDEPENDENT COMPANIES CAN REBUILD THE ABS CONTROLLER FOR LESS THAN $300. I REMOVED THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND SENT IT FOR REBUILD. I AM AWAITING RETURN OF PART FOR REINSTALLATION.
NHTSA complaint #10161050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.