Vacuum brake booster filled with oil leaking from defective vacuum pump resulting in brake failure. Defective ABS module causes brakes to suddenly lock up immobilizing car. This is a design failure in the electronic ABS braking system in my opinion.
1999 Saab 9-5: brake failure
5 of the 118 complaints about the 1999 Saab 9-5 describe brake failure.
- owner complaints
- 5
- of this car's complaints
- 4%
- recalls
- 0
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.
Brake failure by model year
- 20061
- 20002
- 19995
What owners say
Brakes failed on 1999 saab 9-5. Problem was due to a vacuum failure in the brake system. Apparently the vacumm pumped oil into the brake booster thus causing the brakes to fail. Fuel storage tank has had a leak in the upper seam which emits gas fumes when the tank is filled. I understand this has been a persistent problem with the saab fuel tanks.
Saab 1999 wagon- prior to event computer indicated rear light failure. Then brake failure occured, and cruise control would not disengage. Car could not be stopped, collision with highway wall. Car destroyed. No injuries.
Vacuum brake booster developed an internal leak, causing momentary loss of braking action when first stepping on brake pedal during an emergency stop. During "normal" braking the brakes worked fine. Important!...the big danger here is that you don't know there is a problem with the booster till you have to make a quick stop where you need to jam on the brakes quickly!! You suddenly fine there is virtually no brakes for a second or two!! In normal braking they work fine.
Parking brakes failed on two occasions, one incident resulted in damage to vehicle when vehicle rolled into objects.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 1999 Saab 9-5 brake failure
Is brake failure a common problem on the 1999 Saab 9-5?
5 of 118 owner complaints about the 1999 Saab 9-5 (4%) mention brake failure. The model year with the most reports is 1999.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1999 Saab 9-5?
There is no recall or service bulletin for this area of the car on record.
Other symptoms on the 1999 Saab 9-5
Stalling 27Check engine light 13Fire or smoke 9Loss of power 8Engine failure 6Won't start 6ABS 5
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