2000 SAAB 9-5 from North America - Comments

I have a 2000 9-5 with 104,000 miles. My average cost of repairs since I purchased the car half a year ago is $1000 per month. It is in the shop pretty much every week or so. Every time you fix something, you get maybe a few days, and then another light will fire off, or worse, none will fire off and a part will simply fail. I am scared to drive the car. It spends most of its time in the garage. When it works, I love it. I love driving it. I have already eclipsed what the car is worth in repairs. I am seriously considering getting a Hyundai.

Sorry to say that we are also likely to never buy a Saab again. Bought our current 2000 9-5 SE at 45K miles from the original owner. In under 2.5 yrs, we've had to replace some exhaust parts (intermediate pipe, muffler), brake pads/rotors, turbo charger, water pump, remove pulley/seal aluminum front cover (?), some ignition/fuel maintenance parts, filters/spark plugs, serpentine belt, and ABS module. All of the above was done through local mechanic for ~$7K. Right now, the car is at the dealer to diagnose/fix a coolant leak that our mechanic couldn't resolve. Not sure if will fetch much more than $6K in a resale (now has 67K miles)! Altogether, I figure the total ownership cost - resale has worked out to ~$500/month during my ownership!!! Should have leased a BMW!

I own a 2001 9-5 Saab Aero. Fortunately I bought it with an extended warranty 3 years ago. I have had the following replaced: water pump, radiator, Ignition Cassette module 2x, 2 batteries, heads fails and replaced 2x, etc. Now the car shutters for no reason once on my morning drive and once on my drive home (around 60 miles round trip). It feels like someone stops then quickly releases the gas flow. Today at a red light, it stopped completely. I was able to restart it, but I had taken it to mechanic last month and they couldn't find any reason for this stutter and the car drove fine for them. Has anyone else had this issue and what did you do about it? I really do want to keep this car, but...

I guess I am comforted by reading all these comments. I know I am not alone. I bought my 2002 9-5 new from the dealer. It ran great for a few years. I have only 66,000 and now it's one problem after the other. Now that I think about it, I had many issues repaired under warranty (headlamps, PID, visor, sunroof motor, sunroof deflector, turbo coolant gaskets) and lots not under warranty (2 batteries, headlamps, fog-lights, radiator, alignment again and again). After spending $1900 last week (coolant issues and more), the check engine light came on tonight as I was driving home from work. It's Friday night, of course, and the dealer is closed for the weekend. I am supposed to drive 500+ miles tomorrow for a week of vacation. Now I will either lose vacation time and money on a rented beach house waiting to get the car repaired next week or spend money on a rental car and come home to a messed up car. I was thinking of buying new earlier this year and decided to hold on to the 9-5. I really love driving he car but I recommend getting rid of a 9-5 before the warranty expires.

My first 2 Saabs in the 80's and 90's were awesome. When I bought my first new car ever, the Saab 9.3 Arc, I was thrilled! That was 2004, and since then I'm so disappointed. It's at the shop right now, A/C went out yesterday (Texas, 98 degrees) and today wouldn't start at all. I've replaced all front headlights twice, the battery 6 times, put coolant in it myself, at least every other month (dealer couldn't find a leak).

From the beginning the alarm would go off when driving, and the doors will lock, unlock randomly at will. Have replaced key battery 3 times, moonroof software reprogrammed 2 times, radio replaced and all of the icons disappear on the dash. As I drove down the highway last year, the knob flew off the stickshift and it was scary and difficult to shift gears. Then it happened again after repair. The emblem on the front turns out to just be a plastic decal that washes off at the car wash. It's been replaced several times.

What I love and will miss, the way it drives when its having a good day. It's awesome to drive and I love it, but I need a car I can depend on. It has 46,000 miles, I'm afraid all the little problems will soon get BIG.

Sadly, SAAB is not the car is once was. I will have to trade it for a more boring but safe ride. Have had no response from my calls or letters to SAAB, and the local dealer left town without warning!!

This site has been very informative- I am on the verge of buying a 2001 9-5 SE (6 cyl.) with 60k miles for $6,500.00. This car appears to be very well maintained with one older owner. But I have to say after reading so many troubling comments, I'm having strong second thoughts... Engine Sludge, blown head gaskets, turbo issues, multiple electrical failures etc. has put the fear of God into me. Has anyone put together a "check list" of what to check for if buying a Saab out of warranty? Thanks in advance. Before I abandon my Saab fantasy I figure I'd ask..

Cheers.

Before you "abandon" your "Saab fantasy" I think you should know that there are plenty of very satisfied Saab owners out there.

I certainly am one of them.

My Saab (a 2003) has been the best vehicle I've ever owned.

It is very reliable and delightful in every way.

I would suggest that you do a car check on the history of the vehicle. Have it checked out by a qualified technician and if all is well enjoy it! If the vehicle has not been abused & has been properly maintained, it should be a very enjoyable car for you.

I have a '99 Saab 9-5 turbo which I bought in approx. 2004 and it has been a "sob" story. I absolutely love the ride of the car, but with the issues the car has had and with the amount of money I have put in this car, I could have bought a new car. The amount of money would have equaled out. I bought the car with approx. 32,000 miles and it has 106,000 now. I think saying what has not been replaced would be quicker. The list includes replacing the a/c control unit resistor wiring harness & blower fan motor to a/c system, one of the units the spark plugs sit in (id module), wheel bearings in the front (more than once), some type of electrical problem that shorted out the battery, the dash display units (both), hood emblem (2x) (plus back emblem), chrome came off grill, memory seat switch replaced, alternator, water pump, timing belt, timing belt idler, timing belt tension (timing belt twice), front door guide seal out of track, and I am sure there is more. Oh, and now the car is bucking on the highway and is now giving me trouble starting - I am getting ready to sink some money in the fuel pump, I think this time.

I have never had the luxury of owning a brand new car and always have bought used. I am used to "normal" repairs for worn out parts on cars and have always gone out of my way to ensure proper maintenance, but this car has been extraordinary.

I wonder if the Saab lovers are the ones that buy the new (er) ones and trade in before all of the problems. The cars are an awesome ride. A question for the Saab lovers - Are there Saab lovers out there who have higher mileage on their Saabs in my year range and have not had all the problems many people discuss on this site?

Last month the dashboard on by '00 9-5 lit up and the speedometer stopped working. What's strange though is that it lasts anywhere from 10 seconds to 30 minutes, but never stays that way. I just had both sets of brakes replaced, and I can't figure out if that had anything to do with it. I also just plunked down nearly a grand two months ago to get some electrical work done.

Never again will I own a saab.

The 2004 9-5 Arc looked great on the showroom floor. I usually drive my cars into the ground and this is my first "nice" car. I drove my Nissan for 16 years. I bought the extended warranty with the car at 32,000 miles. Glad I did. The car is in the shop as we speak while the family is away on vacation. A throttle problem. The thing I loved most about the car was the ride. It is great! Make sure you go into the purchase knowing that it will need a lot of repairs as it gets older. Like the Space Shuttle, it may be in the VAB for quite a while, but it is one HECK of a ride!

All this doom and gloom, heck I'm 25 and owned 6 Saab's starting with a 85 900 and currently in a 99 9-5 Aero and a 2001 Viggen *my wife's*.

I have to say I have always enjoyed owning a Saab. I sold my 85 with 379,xxx miles on its original engine and tranny, and the A/C still worked.

I have to say the 95 900 with the crappy GM-OPEL V6; that thing was troublesome, so I do not drive a V6 anymore, thus why I do not have a new 9-3 Aero; as pretty as it is, they do not have the 4 cylinder, and even though the V6 has had the timing issues reworked, I do not trust the motor.

Other than that, love them, never would trade them.

I also own a 2002 Pontiac GTP; might I add that the car's general maintenance costs are actually higher than my Saabs? Now that's weird. Including it might burst into flames while sitting; how warm and fuzzy that makes me feel... nice recall.

I have owned 3 Saabs over the past 17 years, each of which has been a problem car. Each was purchased new. The cars have been unreliable and repairs have been frequent, time-consuming and expensive. My Saabs have given me more car woes than anyone else I know. Still, Saab owners like me are passionate about their cars and hang onto them (and keep buying new ones) even though keeping them is irrational. It's a love affair, not a smart business decision. I finally used my head and bought a BMW to use as a primary car... but I kept my 2000 9-3 Viggen and still love driving it. I can't rely on it, but I still love it.

Tomorrow I am donating our Saab 95 V6 to charity, since they will pick it up at no cost.

We purchased the car new in 1999 and have 108,000 miles on it. The car was well maintained, but over the last 3 years we have spent over $3000 in repairs per year to drive it 10,000 miles annually.

Two weeks ago, we had the driver's side window and air conditioning repaired for $600. We were told there was a small coolant leak ($800 repair), the rear brakes needed redone ($1200) and the SID is totally unreadable ($600 for the 4th replacement).

Four days ago car would not start. I recharged the battery (new alternator 4 months ago) and got the car going. Two days later, the check engine and gear box warning came on. The car is in limp home mode but of course, the car has to be jumped to get it started so it can be driven to the dealer. To fix this car which has been towed 7 times over the course of its life, would cost more than it is worth. So, I am taking the minuscule deduction and coming out ahead.

We loved the car at first, but will never buy another Saab. The repairs were ridiculous versus any other vehicle we have owned.

I own a 2001 Saab 9-5 Wagon. Good car at first until the warranty expired. Since then I have replaced the following things: fuel pump, turbo, Engine, throttle body, cat converter, 2 sets of brakes, many headlights and tail lights, drivers seat heater, some computer component that controls the entire car, water pump and all the other scheduled services.

This car is like the money pit! I would love to sell it but no takers... I just keep hoping that I have finally reached the end, but to my disbelief it still keeps breaking down.

I would never recommend another Saab to anyone, and apologize to the people I recommended a Saab to. Hopefully your Saab was better than mine... I keep meeting other Saab owners with similar stories to mine. It is really too bad!

Wow am I glad I read a lot of these comments. I was going to go look at a 2000 9-5 SE Wagon with 93k miles tonight, but after reading pretty much all bad things, I don't think I'm gonna waste my time or money...Wow...