Saab 9-5 overheating problems

Filed Feb 5, 2016 · Lights · 87,000 miles · FL

The rear tail lights overheat, causing the bulbs to burn out and wiring to melt. We have had the bulbs and sockets replaced multiple times on both sides since 2013, but the only thing that fixes the problem is replacing the entire assembly. Just had the socket and bulb for passenger side replaced twice in one month, and it is gone again.

Filed Jul 19, 2012 · Engine · 77 miles · WA

Check engine light was sporadically on for about two weeks. On 7/14 coolant level low indication came on. Coolant reservoir was empty. Filled, started engine, coolant leaked in a steady stream from the car. Towed to dealer. Diagnosed ignition cassette as faulty and water valve (part servicing heater core) as faulty and the source of the leak. Check engine light was due to ignition cassette. Good there is a warning, but it could be more specific, as failure of this part shuts down the engine. Water valve leak could cause overheating. Both parts are critical and failure in a car with so little mileage is unacceptable. The ignition cassette for model years 1999-2002 was recalled due to overheating. This was reportedly fixed. Now the part that has failed in a fairly young car is not available through normal channels (saab parts USA) and shops are charging inflated prices for the part (in my case $850 as opposed to $465 list price; and my dealership claims they are not able to sell it for less. My extended warranty will not pay more than list and I am being asked to make up the difference). There is clearly a problem when a part standard to over a million vehicles is not available except from shops who have collected the parts in inventory and are now selling them on something not unlike a black market.

Filed Sep 9, 2011 · Electrical, Engine · 95,000 miles · OH

The ignition cassette cracks causing ignition problems, stalling, acceleration problems. It makes it unpredictable. This is the same problem as the previous recall pasted below. Why does it not cover these other model years? The federal safety agency campaign number: 06v410000 www.the federal safety agency.dot.gov manufacturer saab cars USA, inc. Recall date: oct 23, 2006 potential number of units affected: 5078 description electrical system:ignition:module summary certain passenger vehicles equipped with b308 6-cylinder gasoline engines may experience overheating and burnout of the isolated gated bipolar transistor (igbt) within the ignition discharge module (idm) due to increased susceptibility to electrical loads. Consequence overheating of the igbt occurs most often at engine start-up, but it may also occur while the engine is running. Engine stalling may occur, which could result in a crash. Remedy dealers will inspect to see what version idm is in the vehicle and replace the idm if it is a version built prior to january 2003. The recall is expected to begin during december 2005. Owners may contact saab at 1‑800‑955‑9007. Note: this recall is an expansion of a previous campaign (please see 05v399).

Filed Sep 27, 2010 · Electrical · 134,000 miles · MD

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 saab 9-5. The contact was driving approximately 30 MPH when the temperature gauge indicated that the vehicle was overheating. The vehicle was safely driven to the side of the road and the engine was shut off. After waiting for the engine to cool, the contact dispensed oil into the reservoir. The vehicle resumed and the temperature gauge increased rapidly to the hot level reading. The engine began to overheat and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. There was a recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number: 05v399000 (electrical system: ignition: module) however, the dealer advised the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall campaign. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 134,000.

Filed Jul 10, 2008 · Electrical · 120,000 miles · CA

2001 saab 9-5 v6. Direct ignition cassette failure. Recall was issued, (recall 05v399000: ignition discharge module overheating) for this car year and type. Mine failed and they will not replace, even though the part # matches the recalled part #. All I wanted was the part replaced. Thank you

Filed Sep 14, 2007 · Electrical · 93,780 miles · MD

I have a saab 9-5 1999 wagon. My direct ignition cassette is overheating causing the car to miss. I checked online and found a recall on these cassettes. The recall though only covers years 2000-2002. My car is a few months before the recall and is having the same problem.

Filed Aug 2, 2007 · Electrical · 121,000 miles · MN · fire

My son just passed his drivers test and we were going home when the car started making noises and then stalled. Smoke was coming out of the car and smelled like burnt rubber. My son luckily was able to get the car to the side (avoided an accident). Lifted hood thought car overheated. I tried starting the car and it sparked and started smoking again. Found out it was the electrical system, ignition discharge module. My car is a 1999 9-5 saab. I found that the 2000's had a recall due to this overheating and could cause a crash. This could of caused an accident.

Filed Jun 26, 2007 · Electrical · 83,320 miles · CO

Electrical system:ignition:module failure caused overheating of the engine. The engine stalled while on the interstate highway. This could have caused an accident as lost all power steering and power brakes. Auto mobile was 2000 saab 9-5 with a v-6 reference recall notice 05v399000, saab denies this vehicle was under the recall.

Filed Jan 31, 2007 · Electrical · 60,000 miles · OH

Tl* - the contact called regarding a 2000 9 5 saab. The contact was making a left hand turn and lost power as she was turning. The check engine light started blinking. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road. The contact stated that she pressed down on the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle barely had any power. The vehicle did not lose power steering or brakes. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the mechanic. The contact stated it took the mechanic three attempts before they could duplicate what had happened . The mechanic diagnosed the problem as the ignition discharge module overheating. Therewas a recall for the same problem, and the same year/make and model. Ve however, when the contact called saab she was told the vehicle was not a part of the recall. *ak updated 04/12/07.

Filed Jun 23, 2006 · Electrical · 81,285 miles · NY

I was driving in traffic when my engine started to stall and lost power. I noticed a burning smell coming from the engine compartment. I pulled the car over and could not re-start it. It was towed to the dealer who diagnosed a failed ignition module. My car is a 2002 saab 9-5 and had been re-called because of failures of this component. However, despite the fact that the car engine was of the type that should have been covered by the recall, when saab notified its' dealers it limited the modules to be replaced to only certain serial numbers. This, despite the fact that according to the federal safety agency all engines not having the qp3 modification, which my car does not, should have been re-called. Thus, saab refuses to pay for replacement of the part even though it is the same part that was failing and prompted the recall initially. I believe that this is a hazard due to the overheating of the part which LED to stalling and could have started a fire. Saab should not be allowed to limit the serial numbers replaced because other serial numbers appear to have the same defect. *jb consumer called on 9/12/06 to report a second idm failure incident that occurred on 8/18/06. The following is per a conversation w/ mrs. Alder on 9/14/06: during this incident, his wife was driving the vehicle on the highway in heavy traffic when the vehicle started to lose power. As she was pulling off the hwy, she smelt a burning smell and saw smoke coming into the car. Pulled over and started to call husband when she saw flames coming from underneath the front of the vehicle. Fire department put out fire and vehicle was towed. She reported that the dealer said her catalytic converter had burned.