1999 SAAB 9-3 SE from North America - All Comments

I have the exact same situation currently happening with my 99 95 se. Today I received a call from my indy that reported the noise I heard was from a faulty oil pump, that has sludge and metal shavings in the pan. Is there still time to get in this lawsuit? Any further bits of info for this would be greatly appreciated. I can see why GM is having so many issues.

If anyone knows any information about a class action law suit - please post here. A month after buying my immaculate 2001 9-3 I'm told it will need a new motor - sludge. If there is a lawsuit - I want to be a part of it.

I wanted to let you saab owners with this engine problem know that saab issued a bulletin to saab dealers in April of 2005. It decribes a procedure for cleaning, repairing or replacing the engines damaged by the sludge problem. It covers 98-03 9-5 and 9-3 with most 4 cyl engines.

The tsb for the oil sludge issue can be found here:

http://genuinesaab.com/psi/index.htm

Check under 2 Engine.

/From Sweden.

Four days ago my 2002 SAAB 9-3 was brought in to the dealer with sludge build-up. We are waiting to hear if they will fix this and how much it will cost. What is happening with the suit described here?

In response to the many complaints about sludge found in Saab 93 and 95 engines, my mechanic in Santa Fe, New Mexico has found that the problem lies in the design: the catalytic converter is located directly under the oil pan. The catalytic converter's operating temperature is 750 degrees F. thus cooking the oil and carbonizing it (sludge). The result is a clogged the oil screen restricting the flow. The oil pressure light will not come on because it does not measure flow. The first thing to go is usually the turbo unit (30-40,000 RPM) which is robbed of fresh oil.

Saab announced last March that it will extend their engine warranties to 8 years and unlimited miles when the car was new. Unfortunately, this engineering design started in 1994 in the 9000 and 900 models where the catalytic converter was moved directly below the oil pan.

Email: haydnfestivalintl@hotmail.com.

Oh my god. I just stumbled on this and I'm pretty spooked by it all. I swapped a lease on a 2002 Saab SE and I'm scared to death by all this talk of seizing engines. If this is a design flaw, has it ever been corrected in later Saab models? Should I run out and have my mechanic check for sludge? What should the next plan of action be?

I have had the same experience with my Saab 93 2002. At 59,000 miles the engine seized. We were forced to accept $3000 toward the purchase of a new Saab which we didn't want. I could not afford the $5800.00 for a new engine. Later the letter came from Saab regarding the sludge problem and offering reimbursement. When we sent in the paperwork we were told that no reimbursement would be given because they had given us the money toward a trade in. I am currently contacting lawyers to file a suit, but would rather join a class action suit. It is time for Saab to accept responsibility and reimburse everyone.

I am not an employee of an auto manufacturer or supplier. I have a 99 Saab 9-5 and the engine began making clattering noises yesterday on the freeway. Towed to dealer, need new engine. I have regularly, more frequently than recommended by the manufacturer, changed the oil. I received recall notice and took car in for inspection ($314) just three weeks ago. "Engine looks good. And we cleaned oil pan and pickup tube." Now this. Saab is destroying its reputation.

I am not an employee of an auto manufacturer or supplier. I have a 99 Saab 9-5 and the engine began making clattering noises yesterday on the freeway. Towed to dealer, need new engine. I have regularly, more frequently than recommended by the manufacturer, changed the oil. I received recall notice and took car in for inspection ($314) just three weeks ago. "Engine looks good. And we cleaned oil pan and pickup tube." Now this. Saab is destroying its reputation.

Is there a class action suit?

Please post any details of it here.

Hello fellow Saab owners- previous and current. I posted my entry on 22nd Dec 2005 regarding my 2000 Saab 9-5. The mechanic determined there was indeed an oil sludge problem. I filed a claim with Saab Corp. in conjunction with the letter released in March 2005. However, because I had bought the car used, and had no receipts or records of oil changes, Saab Corp. refused to cover the cost of a replacement engine. They told me that there was no way to prove that there was an inherent defect in the engine. Their offer? A measly $1500 towards the purchase of a new car. I could not afford to do that so I did what the average hard working citizen would do when facing a greedy multi-billion dollar company: I researched, reviewed my options and decided that hiring a lawyer would not only be too costly, but also time consuming and ultimately futile. So, I found a used engine with 92K miles on GoldWing. com and paid $4K for parts and labor. I just got my car back two weeks ago today and am writing Saab Corp. a letter, which I suggest ALL Saab owners do as well. You would be surprised what can happen when a group of people put their minds together. To clarify, to my knowledge there has been no class action suit filed. I am going to talk to a friend who is a lawyer about his opinion on the feasibility of a class action suit and will post my findings here.

I was researching Saab as a possible choice for a convertible that I was going to use in the summer, but Saab does not appear to be the best option. Any other suggestions?

You can forget about the class action. Everyone likes to talk about these things, but no one will actually do it...

The Saab service bulletin TSB 210-2554 from April 2005 discusses these issues. One thing it mentions in particular is recommending switching to fully synthetic oil. If you've got a Saab 93 or 95 with the B205 or B235 engines, this sounds like it should be high on your priority list - looks like it's about the only preventative measure you can take.

I also am an unfortunate Saab owner. (2001 9.5 SE) After multiple trips, to the dealership, while under the 50,000 mile warranty. I was told nothing was wrong with my car. At 57,000 miles the engine just seized. I was told that the engine mount broke and thus resulted in the timing belt slipping into the (something or other) after it snapped. Well without any hesitation, I was offered $2,000.00 toward the $4,500.00 repair bill. (hesitation, I hadn't even said a word. Are the folks at Saab just that nice?) Subsequently the model and make I own have issued a recall for the (IDM). This could have caused all my problems. Anyway my Saab has been sitting unrepaired for over a year now. I am making my payments, but I just don't have enough money to match what their willing to help with. If someone will inform me of a class action suit, I would gladly join. My dealership went so far as to put my engine parts in a box, at least most of them. (A man came running after my towtruck to bring an armful of other various parts they had overlooked.) I am going to give Saab another call and see if this new recall will bump up their repair offer. If this nets a positive result, I will post it. Good luck to us all!! I will never buy a Saab again.