1999 SAAB 9-3 SE from North America - Comments

SID pixels blew at 20,000.

Turbo Failed at 51,000.

Engine seized and failed at 53,000.

I once loved this car, as did I love the 900s I owned. Now, my love has turned to hatred and anger- towards SAAB USA, GM and my local dealership. SAAB admits to a fatal design flaw with their engines, but refuses to accept responsibility for 1999 9-3 SE. They tell me it is not covered by their "recall." I've maintained the vehicle above and beyond manufact. specs, but GM does NOT want to have to deal with their mistake. SAAB OWNERS REVOLT! CLASS ACTION SUIT! Please contact me if you have had sludge problems.

I purchased a 2001 Saab 93 in Aug., 2004 with 61,000 km. and a factory warranty until March 2005. I immediately took the car to a Saab dealership for a safety inspection and asked that all fluids be changed. I was informed that there was sludge in the engine. Subsequently, the engine was cleaned and the Turbo system replaced under warranty. 10,000kms. later, the oil warning light appeared and to make a long story short the engine seized because of a sludge problem! Now the car requires a rebuilt engine to the tune of $9500!! The Service Adviser admitted that when the engine was cleaned in Sept.,the pan was not dropped and therefore the residual sludge circulated back into the engine. When I left the garage that day, I assumed that I had a clean engine. If the Service Adviser had warned me about the risk of residual sludge to the engine I would have insisted they drop the pan. I take care of my vehicles and he had plenty of opportunity to consult with me, but he failed to advise me. However, the dealership is accepting no responsibility for their failure to remove and clean the pan, which would have prevented this disastrous situation and informed me that unless I had documentation from the previous owner that the oil was changed at regular intervals with synthetic oil the repairs would not be covered under the warranty. Fortunately, the previous owner was a former neighbour who currently resides in Barbados and was able to provide me with the necessary records. Now, this is where things get interesting... My car has been at the dealership since Jan.24th and the repairs have not begun because of the unavailability of parts and/or parts incorrectly ordered! Furthermore, I submitted the records as they requested more than 2 weeks ago, but have had response. Repeated calls to the dealership and Customer Assistance has not been helpful. The garage could care less. So much for "Customer Satisfaction" Also, I submitted several articles that I found on the internet and yet the dealership and Customer Assistance deny having any knowledge about a recall notice. I'm attempting to go "up the chain" but they refuse to provide the name of our District Manager. I don't know what to do next, short of legal action. Any suggestions?

I thought I was alone with this Saab 9.3 problem, but I guess not. I was just informed today by my Saab dealer that the engine on my '99 Saab 9.3 was "unsalvageable." I can't believe that at 76K miles the engine would seize up. I was told that the engine had no oil in it, and there were no signs of any leakage, but I know this not to be true. Now I am looking at putting $4200 into a rebuilt engine with 80K miles on it? I don't think so. Your comments are very interesting. I did not know anything about an engine design or sludge problem. Could someone please direct me to a site to obtain more information on this problem so that I can be informed when I walk into the dealer to pay $350 for the labor to diagnose my engine as completely shot? I will never own another Saab. Not an automobile nor any jet engine! Never again.

My 2000 Saab 9-3 lost oil pressure and started knocking just a few days ago. Not knowing of any special programs and beliving that my car was out of warranty (61,000 miles), I had the pan pulled and the pickup screen cleaned at an independent repair facility. The engine still seized. I went to the Saab dealer after reading about the sludge problem on the Internet. I was told that the sludge program only applies to original owners. I called customer service and they have agreed to look at my car. I'm nervous because I had the pick up screen cleaned and I think it may affect my claim. How many of these things are in this condition? Please help.

Your stories are exactly the same as mine... I have a Saab 9-3 convertible... changed the oil religiously and the engine started knocking and they are telling me I need to replace it with a $5K rebuilt engine. I found out about the design flaw on the internet and managed to track down the maintenance records and now SAAB USA will not give me an answer about whether they will pay for it or not... I agree we should all look into a class action suit!!!

We are a small family owned auto repair shop. We have had 2 customers with this same engine problem in the last 2 months. First was a 2000 9-3 w/2.0 turbo engine with 55k. The second was a 2000 9-5 2.3 turbo engine with 98k. I searched nationwide for a used engine on both, none to be found. (that tells me something right there) The first customer went to a Saab dealer. I was told over the phone they would be able to help her out because the mileage was so low. Turns out they charged her $7000 to replace the engine. My second customer refuses to be screwed over by Saab. I warned her about the 1st customer's experience. We have been working together to find info to arm her with to fight this. A class action suit sounds like a great idea. Good luck to all who choose this route. Squeaky wheels everyone!! Make a fuss. Dealers like this make "all" auto techs look bad. It hurts those of us who are running an honest business and truly do care about our customers.

I have a 1999 Saab 9-5 that had the same problem. My engine started knocking and seized up at 86,000. I took it to a Saab dealer to get it diagnosed and they accused me of lack of oil changes. I had no oil getting to the top of my engine, my timing chain was done, the dealer noted that "main bearing at crankshaft dry" and he told me on the phone that the metal shavings in the oil clogged the screen so no oil could pump. He did not put those notes in the invoice so when I went to Saab to get reimbursement under the "oil sludge" extended warranty, I was denied because the dealer did not use the words oil sludge. That was 2 days ago when I was denied. I put a used engine in with 40K on it, but I am looking for a new car this weekend. I do not plan on putting another engine in this car for $5K. I will go in on a class action.

This is absurd!!! I've had my SAAB 9-3S convertible with the 2.0L low pressure turbo motor for two weeks and the engine seizes. I haven't had the engine ripped apart yet to see what the exact diagnosis is, but I suspect that its the same problem that everyone else is having. I was driving on the highway when my oil pressure light went on. I pulled over and noticed that I was about 1 quart down so I filled it. I then started my car and noticed the light was off. About an hour later I was coming home and the light went on again. I was about to pull over, but I heard the engine start to knock really bad. As soon as I pulled over the engine died. From then on the engine has been seized. I'm am so aggravated with the fact that I can't find an engine for it, but I'm also aggravated that I've never heard of this problem before. If I had then I wouldn't be driving a New Generation Saab. They really don't make SAAB's like they used to anymore. Do they?

No, Gm can't make a saab like the Swedes used to...

I am the original owner of a 1998 Saab 900 Conv. This is my second Saab... the first I loved, but put a lot of money into big repairs without question.

Without warning and while driving this car, it began to make awful noises. At the advise of my mechanic over the phone, I had the oil checked immediately and I was told it was fine. I drove home & the noise just got worse.

The dealer tells me that I have/had a slow oil leak and need a new engine... at 40,000 MILES!! Customer service tells me I am out of warranty -- end of story. Corporate in Detroit has not responded at all to me.

I just had the car flat-bedded to an independent engine mechanic. After sitting all these months, the oil is only down one third a quart. So, if I had a slow leak (he said they all do that some comparing a Saab to a Harley) the engine did not seize as IMPLIED by the dealer due to no oil. It seized for another reason, currently not known.

The car was maintained.

To open up the engine will cost more... money I don't have right now. And should he find sludge, apparently a common problem, that doesn't mean Saab will do anything about it. In fact, the field rep (mystery person) via dealer offered me a $500 voucher towards repair (quote $8,000) or $1,000 towards a new car (in their dreams). I clearly told the dealer that the offer was insulting, esp since the car is still financed and I continue to pay insurance to look at it sit in my driveway.

I would like the thoughts of others on this. I am willing to participate in a class-action suit. Meanwhile, I have decided to post signs on the 20 year old pick up I am driving back & forth to work... on major highways... and maybe next weekend, I will further inform the world in front of the dealer's showroom that Saab / GM does not stand by their repeat customers or their product.

I recently got a 99 9-3 and the compressor ceased up withen 8 days. I returned the car to the dealer and they were responsible for fixing it. I live in Ontario, Canada and when you purchase from a dealer (except if sold as is) you have a implied warranty, which is about 30 days. And if work is done on your car, you have a 90 day warranty. these are all regulation within the ontario government.

I have a 2000 Saab 93 I am having the same problem that other owners are having with engine. I was told that my engine did not have enough oil and that is why it seized.

I would be interested in a class action law suit.

Well, I have yet another Saab story. Check my puncuation, wording... whatever you want... my story is much the same as those posted. I have a 2000 9/5 which suddenly stopped on the interstate as my sixteen year old daughter was driving. So much for the safety features! I had the car towed to a Saab dealer who wouldn't touch the car as I could not produce service records from day 1 (I am the second owner.) I had the car towed to my local repair shop and have now been informed that it is indeed an oil sludge problem... metal shavings in the oil pan. I'm still waiting to see if an engine can be found (it's been about 3 weeks) and IF it is affordable. Count me in on a suit.

In August, I bought a 2000 Saab 9-5 with 90K miles on it. It has been running great. However, just the other day, the oil pressure and central warning lights went on. I stopped, checked the oil level and it was fine. No engine clatter either. I started the car and the lights went out. This happened again two days ago so I took it to a Saab dealership yesterday, thinking it might be a sensor, but a bit worried it might be something worse. That is when the mechanic mentioned that there were oil sludge problems with this model. At this moment, he is looking the car over. I read the letter from Saab Cars, Inc. and numerous accounts such as those on this website that highlight problems of engines seizing. Mine, thankfully, has not done so yet, but we shall see. I understand that any claims must be submitted before 31 December...that's only a few days away. Should I look for legal counsel?

I used to drive a 99 Saab 9-3 up until last night when my car stopped. I had triple A take my car to the local dealer and it turns out that it is going to cost around $8000 to replace an engine that was running fine a few days before. In response to the last comment how do I get involved with the class action lawsuit? Also the last post made reference to the deadline being dec 31 2005. Any information that anyone could post would be very helpful. Thank you.

From

MySaabIsDead.

How can I get more information about the lawsuit? I will appreciate any pointers to the information. My car is running good at the moment. What happens it it dies later?

Please help.