Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 76-90, 91-105, 106-120, 121-135, 136-150, 151-165, 166
To the Saab die-hard that accused those with bad Saab stories of being poor maintainers of their vehicles let me say this. I regretfully own a 2000 V6 9-5 with 101,000 miles. The car has always received the best of care at or before all recommended intervals. Oil always changed at 2k. After 50,000 miles it started falling apart. I won't spend the time listing the countless repairs of countless engine parts. But I roughly calculated the car has cost me about 8-9k beyond regular wear/tear type items. SAAB should be ashamed of these pieces of crap. I would like to trade it at a Saab dealer for a box of windshield washer fluid but cannot get it running long enough to make it to the lot. NEVER, EVER buy a SAAB until GM gets their grimy hands off the company.
I bought a 1999 9-5 back in 2003 with 69k, and also have had a miserable experience with the car. I am now at 150k and am on pace to replace the turbo for a second time due to repeated coolant leaks that have ruined the turbo. It basically looks like a big blue smoke screen coming out of the rear when I start it up in the morning.
Some of the other notable problems are:
- SID pixel issues on both the ACC and temp/clock display.
- Blown serpentine belt + pulley (twice, with second breakdown last Friday)
- Headlights burning out constantly, seemingly once every 8 weeks, sometimes more frequently.
- Steering wheel controls have broken twice now due to a faulty clock spring, a $400 repair. (this also affects the airbag function unfortunately)
- ACC blend door broke, which has created the problem numerous owners have quoted on this site and is the culprit behind the inability to adjust the temp. Mechanic quoted a price of $1.2k alone in labor.
- SERVICE THEFT ALARM - warning comes up constantly now, and even sets the alarm off at random times in the night. Apparently there is a LiION battery soldered into the theft alarm circuit board (front wheel well) that only lasts a few years. I will have to have it replaced.
- Replaced hood emblem 3 times now @ $35 each, seems to chip apart each and every winter.
- Replaced both fog lights due to shattering (prob normal for a car with fog lights with highway driving however)
- Sunroof won't close due to a broken clamp on the wind deflector, I got it closed finally and haven't opened it in 2 years.
- Sun visors sag.
I paid $10.5k for the car and have probably put $5-6k back in, it's a disgrace. Sadly I love the way the car looks, it's a blast to drive and the seats are super comfortable. If not for the terrible reliability this would be my favorite car of all time. I will definitely not buy a Saab again due to all the problems. While I still have 1.5k left on my loan, I'm hoping to make it through the rest of this year and then trade it in for something reliable like an Accord.
I, too, have a SAAB story. I own a 2001 SAAB v-6 Aero. It is very fun to drive, but annoying to fix. I've fixed headlights, taillights, 2 batteries, serpentine belt, 2 heads, 2 ignition cassettes, 2 radiators, pixel display on radio, (I haven't fixed the security system yet), etc. -- only because I bought an extended warranty that covered all this with a $50 charge per repair -- thank goodness. Now my warranty has expired at 97,000 and my driver side window will not come down!!!
Does anyone else have this problem and know how much this is going to cost me?
I don't think you have a 2001 9-5 Aero V6. The 2001 Aero has the 230HP 2.3L turbo 4cyl. That's the car I have.
Overall my experience has been OK, not great, not disastrous. Just got back from a $1250 repair at 151K miles, consisting of water pump, idler pulley, and throttle body.
I'm now on my 3rd throttle body. I'm also on the 3rd DI cassette. I've replaced the ABS controller once. Replaced the rear shocks once (but early in the car's life). 3 engine mounts replaced. Had the crankcase blow through modification to guard against sludge. Replaced rear high mount stop light which overheated and melted its housing. Replaced the fuel pump once with broke a small plastic clip, sending fuel spilling all over. But Saab only sells the whole fuel pump rather than a cheap clip. Finally, I've got the SID problem, but I'm putting up with missing pixels for now.
The most aggravating problem is unfixable excess camber on the rear wheels, mostly on the left rear (they basically lean inward too much, riding on the inside edge). Amazingly the car has no alignment adjustment for this common suspension item. It would cost some $3K to get the rear suspension into alignment, so I put up with frequent tire changes and rotations. You can buy a lot of tires for $3K. The car still drives and tracks well, although toward the end of life the tires tend to make noise from uneven wear, and I've blown a few letting them stay on too long.
Saab has been awful with recalls. DI cassette and fuel pump were recalled after I paid for my own repairs. I submitted receipts, called them, never refunded for anything. Finally I gave up, too much trouble to get them to pay.
Still, I've put over 150K miles on the car and it looks good and drives well. And all repairs are for more minor components, no tranny, engine, cooling, braking (except normal pads/rotors) or exhaust system repairs yet (knock on the fake wood dash).
Wow.. scary because, I owned 3 pre GM Saabs, (2 900's, and 9000) they were like tanks - great in the winter.. every option worked.. Obviously brakes and other things to keep them going, but never engine, trans, or electrical seemed to go. We kept them as a great second car. Safe for our kids etc...
Haven't owned one if a few years, Now we just purchased a used 1999 95 V6 3.0 SE (135,000 km). We have owned it for about 4 months now. It has cost us over $2500.00 for timing, ignition coils - in the last 4 weeks. The SID computer has gone, the headlights blow, the drivers seat went crazy with the memory setting and had to remove the connection, and it rattles on the highway now. Saab was such a great car - I should have done my research.
Put a complaint email into GM - got a call back. They asked for the VIN number - gave it.. "no recalls should be a great car". I mentioned some of the research I had just done - they said they don't look at blogs, they do all their research through GM dealers.. people just complain, I explained, people complain on their own time, about something they bought because they wanted to purchase it, not to complain - to warn others. Her attitude on the phone was terrible, didn't get it at all, didn't care.
Hope this helps others looking to relive the Saab car again - doesn't look good if touched by GM. How much should our taxes go up to get some quality back in Saab?
SAAB dealers (assuming there are any left) should post the sign - "Abandon hope, all ye who enter here..." over the door. Own a 1999 9-5 with 75k miles. Feel compelled to add my tiresome list of repairs, all the usual suspects (DI cartridge, tensioner pulley, heater bypass valve, SID x3, throttle, head gasket, window rollers twice, literally dozens of headlights, etc, etc)
BUT... there's just something about the car, peppy to drive, classic styling has held up well and the interior is really well done, and mileage continues to be lovely (35mpg on the hi-way, after 10 years).
To those considering buying one, a couple of thoughts:
1. Stick with the 4-banger, they seem to dodge a few of the problems (sludge) that crop up more on the bigger engine and the mileage is simply spectacular
2. Drive gently, this is a hi-way car and hard stop/go traffic will eat it up
3. Don't believe everything a dealer tells you. like others, I've had the periodic blue smoke for about the last 3 years, was told to replace the turbo, decided to wait. It has not gotten any worse - in fact, a little better!
Have a 2001 9-5 SE 2.3t with over 190,000 km. Replaced first DI cassette last year; suspect first muffler leaking; some oil from turbo but not too bad; alarm batteries died last year - removed unit - bought Toshiba replacements myself and had electrical friend replace them - $40 all up, instead of $X00's; plastic moulding around RH fog light broken - considering simple repair rather than replace; drive up/down small mountain each day to/from work (Melbourne Australia) and the car loves it. Have '89 classic 900 as well. Just love Saabs...
I'm at the Saab Service Center while I write this. I have a 2001 9-5 with 74,000 miles, although at 65,000 I received a new engine because of the sludge recall. I'm waiting for my $800 throttle body replacement; although YouTube shows how to remove it from "limp home mode" so perhaps I should have tried that first. At least there is free wifi in the waiting area.
My experiences with this car have been similar to those with my two prior Fords (Explorer and Escort); about 2-3x per year you can expect a hefty mechanic bill. Forget being handy - it is all about plug in diagnostics. This last issue happened during a 5hr. drive home at 9:00 p.m. Not fun when you're a woman alone far from home, especially when driving a car believed to be in good working condition and well maintained. I'll wait for the new hybrid cars that are powered by a DC motor - I know how to change batteries!
I have a 2002 9-5 Aero sedan (5 spd). I have never had a single problem with the car! It's got almost 180k on it at this point and it not only looks new (mostly because I wash and wax it by hand all the time), but it DRIVES like new.. Yes, I only put full synthetic oil in it (M1), and I do so every 3k. Believe me, it's worth the extra cost in the short run to save you all the trouble in the long run. The SAAB dealer has always been courteous and consistent with quality service. This is the best car I've ever owned by a long shot. I will definitely buy SAAB again.
We own two Saabs. One is an Aero 9-5, the other an Aero 9-3. The 9-5 has been one thing after another. I love it. I really do, and I love the 9-3 too. I don't know how to explain it. The car is comfy, luxurious and great to drive, but holy hannah when the thing decides not to work -- patience...
The 9-3 is a dream, no issues ever.
The 9-5 in the last 8 months has been ABS module, throttle body, heated seats, switches, A/C repair, oil change, new tires, lights that come on and off and on again... weird stuff. Some of the things are to be expected -- oil change, the rest is annoying.
I am afraid of what I am reading. I see my 9-5 in all of your comments. I've owned Buick, Chevy, Ford, Hyundai, Kia (just like the 9-5, always something). I would buy a Hyundai again, never a problem, reliable, only the oil change to worry about, and that was included for the life of the vehicle -- but it just isn't the same.
How do you explain that you want your lemon to taste more like lemonade because it's just so sweet to drive when it's drivable?
I have a 2000 SE Saab convertible, 94,000 miles.
My driver's window would not go up. It cost $850 to repair, and when I left the shop, my air bag light came on. That just cost me $275. Said there was a short in the wiring.
When I left the shop today, my air conditioner starting blowing hot air. At least it is getting close to winter so I will wait a while and see what else happens.
After reading all these comments, I am sure something else will go wrong.
I had one of the best SAABs ever built - the mid 90s 900. I had to replace it in 2006, so I did some research before committing to anything. I discovered the following... Just because the 1996 900 was one of the best pieces of automotive engineering ever to go into production, this doesn't mean that the early 2000s 95 in not one of the worst pieces of automotive engineering ever to go into production. I also researched some other vehicles... the mid 2000s Ford Mondeo (Europe model) is a superb piece of engineering. I now drive one; in fact I am on my second one since 2006. They don't break down, they just wear out.
Well as most of you know, Saab was bought out by GM in the early 90s and has went down hill ever since. I too own a "money pit" or as my dad likes to call it "S**t All About Belts" since I have thrown mine 3 times in 6 months. But if the rumors are true, you will be happy to know that Koenigsegg bought Saab. And are planning on producing fewer cars and take more time designing them. Quality or quantity unlike domestic brands.
The comment about Saab going downhill ever since GM bought into them is not entirely true.
The Saab 9000 was pre-GM and a collaborative effort with Fiat and even this model series has numerous problems and issues dogging it.
Don't forget that had GM not intervened, Saab would have become history by 1992, like it or not.
As for their recent buy out by Koeni-whatever, it remains to be seen how Saab will remain in the popular price classes as once you shave volume, then the price each car has to be sold at increases dramatically as it is not inexpensive to design, engineer and manufacture platforms and components without anyone else to share these costs with.
Future Saabs may be more "pure", but at what cost?
I own a 1999 Saab 95. I bought it about 4 years ago for 8k which I thought was a good deal but it did have high miles. Since then I have spent more on it in repairs than I paid for it. I could have almost paid for a near new Honda or Toyota by now.
Don't get me wrong, when it runs I love it but it is constantly one thing after another. Anyone with one of these cars make absolute sure to get the sludge checked by 100,000. It can be picked up, go through the turbo and starve the engine of oil. Mine seized almost instantly. Check engine light never came on, I heard the lifters, and started heading to the side of the road, and boom $4k later and a new short block/turbo and 3 weeks in the shop.
It eats lights (lamps) I carry extras and have to replace them every few months. In fact at lunch today, I just changed a headlamp. I've had to replace more things than I care to remember. Moon roof broke one little piece of plastic that guides the rails and you can't replace just it. Need a $260 complete replacement plus another $250 for labor. Driver side window starting to move slow, plastic connector for rear window brake light snapped off going over a bump.
So much money... like I said, when it runs I love it and the seats are awesome. However, looking or something that doesn't cost me on avg $200 a month to keep running.