1999 SAAB 9-3 SE from North America - Comments

I too have had engine problems with my Saab 9-3. This all took place a few months ago. I just went on to a great web-site to add my name... in case of a future class action. The site is www.autosafety.org. Not sure this will help at all, but it only took a minute (you'll need your VIN #). Who knows, if we stick together maybe we can get more out of our Saabs than just aggravation. Good luck! Like most, I'll never buy a Saab again, may never buy a GM car either?!?!

Add me to the list of disgruntled Saab owners. I've spent countless hours on the phone trying to get some resolution the the 'oil sludge' problem. I even had the car towed to the nearest Saab dealer (It quit running during rush hour as my 16 year old daughter was driving it. Didn't I purchase the car on the basis of it's safety record?) and they REFUSED to service the vehicle because I had an imcomplete set of service records. I had documentation of every scheduled service from the time I took possession of the car, but because I did not have records from the previous owner the dealer wouldn't provide any services.

I ended up having the car towed to my local repair center where I waited 3 months for a replacement engine.

The total cost was nearly $6,000. A month later and the car stopped running. This again happened in heavy traffic while my daughter was driving. It's now been in the repair center waiting for a 'turbo' replacement. I've been told that because I replaced the engine, the old turbo just couldn't handle it. What does this mean? Isn't the turbo part of the engine? So now I'm looking at another $1500.00.

To date I have received NO compensation from Saab and based on conversations that I have had with their consumer reps, I doubt that the check will be in the mail anytime soon.

Add me to the list when it comes to filing a class action suit!!

I laugh every time I see the latest Saab commercial on television... something about the design of Saabs having their origins in the airline industry. Thank goodness my wheels were on the ground when the engine died... otherwise I would have fallen from the skies at least twice. Or, should I say once. How many more close encounters is my daughter going to have to experience?

OK, I here your problems and maybe I can offer some solutions to people who haven't had the sludge problem yet. First, when you buy a used car, have everything flushed and cleaned with some sort of engine flush solvent!!! And tell the auto dealership that you want to watch the work and you will sign any safety waiver you need to sign to be in the garage. Second, go to a local muffler shop and have them either remove the cat converter, move it to a different location, or have them wrap it in a high temp insulation material (remember the oil is cooking into sludge). Third, only use synth oil in the car and replace it often - after all your own a 40k car. Fourth, have a dealer install a direct flow oil injector into the turbo, allowing it to be cooled better. It costs about 300 but it is better than a new engine. Fifth, replace the oil pan with a better metal pan. Saabs aren't the only cars that can run hot, get a pan that can handle the heat, from the cat which is below the pan. Sixth, only use the best oil filters (fram) and change with every oil change!!! It is the life line in these cars. And last, but not least, add some kind of additive to the car's engine. I used the one they advertised on tv when they ran the engine with out oil. Well, I did a test using that stuff on a VW golf which the fan wasn't working. I wanted to destroy the car. Ran it without oil until I sold it to a friend of mine who replaced the oil pump that was bad. The engine won't seize if the heat isn't there. Lesss friction will reduce heat, and prevent the mental shavings from becoming metal shavings. I have owned a 9000 turbo, a 900 turbo, and also an orange 99 saab in the past. The cat converter is the problem, nothing else, if your having this problem right now ADDD THIN OIL NOT REGULAR OIL - THIN THE SLUDGE UNTIL YOU CAN GET THE ENGINE FLUSHED AND RESTORED!!! Class action suits sound great, but just having some grease monkey move the cat will solve the problem - leave it to the welder - and pay him in cash - I believe messing with the muffler system is illegal, but so is speeding.

I only had my Saab 1999 9.3 for ten months when the sludge problem appeared in spite of an oil change. My Saab was purchased used, the oil lite blinked on Christmas Eve, I pulled off the expressway and had it towed to a garage, it is May and after the garage gave it a good try I learned the engine is shot. My choices are to have a used engine put in or cover it with public service announcements and keep it parked at the house since Saab and the car dealer were not responsible enough to make good on a known defect, my unusable Saab just may serve some purpose.

I share the pain of owning a Saab with all of you. I purchased my 95 SE Saab last year in march. It had only 35k and it's of 2001. Within a 3 months I had to change the Direct Ignition. It just died and I paid 700$ to replace it. Few months later, I started to hear a rattling noise. Took it to the mechanic and he noticed that the oil pump was loosing up and it had made a whole into the engine exterior. This caused the belt to come out and then all the hell broke loose. It cost me about 2500$ to fix it. Now my engine light goes on an off. I know that it's the sludge. I took the car to the dealer with the letter from the Saab. The dealer refused to accept that it actually had the sludge although all the symptoms were there. What they said instead was that they need to open up the engine and look inside. And this would cause me 1000$ only to verify if there is sludge. If there is sludge then they would take the matter to Saab which probably would refuse to take responsibility anyway since I did not have the oil change papers before purchasing the car.

What a scam. Someone here said that Saabs are piece of crap. I agree with that. So is their customer service. I have learned my lesson. The only car I am buying next is a Honda or Toyota.

I bought a non-CPO '02 9-5 Aero Wagon and driving it home, the engine oil pressure light came on. I slowed down, but it stayed on, so I began to slow down to exit the freeway and stop at a gas station. Only then did I begin to hear the ticking/knocking sound.

I had to have the car towed 40 miles to the nearest Saab dealer. The car is out of warranty based on age, but only has 32K on it. During the test drive and 300 mile drive before the problem announced itself, the car ran great.

The engine was opened at the dealership and oil sludge confirmed. $9100 to repair, $6300 if I install a used engine. The Saab regional manager is denying to cover this under the oil sludge warranty because I do not have complete service records. On Saabnet.com, I've read of other Saab owners having repairs partially or completely covered, but their numbers are probably 1/4 of the numbers posted here.

I am interested in a class action suit, letter-writing campaign, whatever it will take to get my car up and running again.

I do not know the engine code of the 93 Viggen, but I was wondering if anyone knows if the 1999 Viggen has the same problems as the SE. I am looking at buying a 93 Viggen with 87K miles. I have test driven the car and it ran great, I am hoping the engines are different enough so that the Viggen is a more reliable car.

I have just joined the unfortunate Oil Sludge Club. The check engine light, oil light, and knocking started a few weeks ago, but usually only on longer trips. I called my local Saab service center and they had to know why I was calling, but said they had no slots available to see my car until the following week. I took it to a trusted car shop and when they drove it to try to figure out what was going on it seized up on them and they identified the oil sludge problem. I have changed my oil religiously, but like some of the others, I am a second owner. I'm working on tracking down the records, but from what it sounds with the rest of you, I'm going to be out of luck. I have about 87k on my 2000 9-3 and they have quoted me $8000 to fix it, yeah, I don't have that kind of money and fear I'll have to continue paying for a car that I cannot drive nor fix. I'm in on a class action law suit if anyone knows of one.

I also am part of this oil sludge problem with saab. beware to anyone who may buy a saab... stay away! they have numerous problems and when it's so called under a "recall" good luck in having saab usa fix it. they have taken no responsibility for the danger the engine defect poses. I am in for a class action lawsuit all the way. when I bought my saab I was planning on it being reliable, and safe, and thought it would last forever, which I needed because I'm a commuting student. it has taken a garage over five months to take apart my engine, wait for a used one, and replaced my turbo, all because of saab's negligance to pay what they screwed up in the first place. word to anyone... i will NEVER buy another saab ever again, and I will NEVER reccommend them again. my dad has a viggen and he's had numerous problems with it too, his direct ignition failed.. now he is on his second throttle plate. they're fast and nice, but they're nothing, but a headache. stay away... go for a honda or toyota. my mom has had hers and its almost 120k.

My 9-3 SE is currently on the floor of a Saab dealership 6 hours away. It died while I was moving and will now cost up to $8,100 to repair. I have very similar symptoms to all of yours: oil light on, engine died on highway then overheated apparently destroying the engine, yet Saab has failed to tell me why the car I paid 16k for 2 years ago is now worth maybe $500 (according to Blue Book - nothing). I do have all of the records from the previous owner, he was my neighbor who took great care of it, but how do I get Saab to acknowledge the fact that their faulty cars are the problem and not "my negligence" as an owner. Back in May I was due for my 100k mile service. The closest dealer from where I was living was over 1 hour away and did not have an open appointment for over a month for me. In short... where do I find suit information and how do I get out of this mess w/o going broke. I just graduated from college this past year and now I have no way of getting to work until I decide what to do about my old car and find a new, reliable one. Any advice?

I had a 2001 9-3 SE turbo with 60K as a work car.

I was driving down the highway at 75 and heard a bang and had smoke pouring out the back. Got the car to side of the road and opened the hood to find a connecting rod though the block. Never really had any warning. The oil pan had about two fists full of black burnt-up oil clogging the oil pick-up.

I bought it used and they had all the receipts for oil changes. Got a used engine and sold it. As soon as got another 9-5, I had the oil pan pulled and cleaned (wasn't dirty go figure). Saab recommended non synthetic oil and 6 or 7 thousand mile intervals. Now Saab uses full synthetic oil. The cars are good, just have the pan dropped and cleaned.

I keep reading about the oil sludge problems and the engines blowing, so that's an obvious problem. but how about the comfort and features? is it fast and nice handling or does it drive like a dump truck?

Most of you are driving 4 cylinder turbocharged Saabs, and you should've been using Synthetic oil and changing it every 3,000 miles.

As for how the Saab rides & drives: Fantastic!!!

In my opinion the Saab 9-3 convertible is a great car.

Fast, comfortable, & very well assembled. (And probably the best looking premium convertible on the market)

I believe most (if not all) of these complaints are way off base, and that people need to learn how to properly care for their vehicles.

I purchased a 2001 Saab 9-3 SE convertible 6 months ago. It started to run rough, so I took it to a mechanic who found the pistons had holes burned in them! The Saab service dealer in Billings, 300 miles away, says that this is a common problem in turbo Saab engines that are driven in mountainous regions, and said it is so common that I should consider checking to see if there is a class action suit out somewhere. Something about the fuel mixture is too lean at higher altitudes. Saab customer service said "tough luck". This car has less than 100,000 miles on it, and for the price should not be dumping engines. The LED panel situation is just as ridiculous. The Saab is truly a sob story of a car for the money.

In response to the above comment.

What are you saying about the people taking poor care of their Saabs it's not true. I have taken care of my 95, 01' Saab more than any other car. This is mostly because keeps breaking up. In two years I have spent for my Saab more than what I have spent in 10 years for other cars before that.

Direct Ignition, Fuel pump, water pump, Fuel Pump canister (gas leakage) Electrical problem, fuses blown, and goes on and on.

The point is that with the same service, Japanese cars are much more reliable and this proves Saab's poor design and parts.

Unfortunately is a fun car to drive, but is a pain in the arse to maintain it.