KnownCarProblems2002 Saab 9-5 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 65 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Saab 9-5, most often about the electrical (51% of complaints, typically around 47,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about 9-5 model year since 2000 and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2002 Saab 9-5 problems
Electrical
33 complaints · 51%Half of these problems showed up before 47,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition.
Dt: contact stated the engine will shut off while driving. There are no warning lights or signs indicating a problem. When this happens there is no power steering or acceleration. The service dealer can not duplicate the problem. , therefore, can not repair the problem. They are going to attempt to find the problem on…
The contact owns a 2002 Saab 95. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled on a major highway. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The failure was diagnosed by an authorized dealer who stated to repair the direct ignition cassette. The failure recurred multiple times after it…
Engine
13 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 40,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
While driving the vehicle 40+MPH, the engine completely shut down without warning. The diagnosis, throttle failure. Saab replaced the throtte body on 05/14/2004. Then again on 05/17/2004, the engine shut down in the midst of driving without warning. The engine light came on. Saab has not been able to duplicate the…
The engine on my 4 cylinder Saab 9-5 (2002) has suddenly stopped while driving at least 4 times since owning the car, both on the highway and in slower traffic. The first time I reported officially (2007) to the dealer, "no cause was identified." I noticed the last time that it happened (around may 2011) that it…
Fuel system
9 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 66,500 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, fuel injection system.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Saab 9-5 arc. While driving 20 MPH, the engine misfired and the contact noticed a burning smell. Approximately ten minutes after she parked the vehicle, there were flames coming from the rear of the vehicle near the fuel tank. The flames engulfed the vehicle and caused damaged to the trees and…
Driving on highway, pressure line from fuel tank came loose and started spraying gas all over the underside of the vehicle. Stream of drips on highway alerted a passing motorist who flagged US down. Lost 5 gallons of gas in just a couple of minutes. Had to pull over and call for roadside assistance. Evacuated car due…
Other or unspecified
3 complaints · 5%At highway speed the drivers side front blinker assembly broke free from the car body. The electrical wiring remained connected between the blinker assembly and vehicle. This caused a whipping action of blinker assembly.
Car failed at 70 miles/hour on expressway. Just stopped. Cause was diagnosed as direct ignition cassette-web search shows this to be a common Saab problem. Was quite terrifying and dangerous to lose power on expressway-definite safety hazard.
Transmission
3 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
While traveling at approximately 45 MPH the transmission warning light and check engine light both came on at the same time. Vehicle went into "limp mode", where power is minimized making for a dangerous driving situation. Took vehicle to kachina Saab dealership in scottsdale, az and was told transmission was failing…
I am experiencing a transmission issue with my 2002 Saab 9-5. Judging by the number of mentions I have seen in online forums, this is a pretty wide spread issue. The Saab tsb that relates to this issue is 440-2497, october 2004. My local dealer has advised me I need to foot the bill for a new transmission valve body.…
Seat belts
3 complaints · 5%Passenger side seat belt. Just riding down the road and heard a spring popping sound near passenger door. Then passenger belt went limp with person in the seat. The belt had no tension and would not retract. Called dealer and they said no recall campaign for this problem and I have to pay to repair. Huge safety issue…
Had a head-on accident, traveling approximately 55mph, car pulled out going across intersection, hit head-on. Slammed on brakes noticing she was going, and slammed into her car, her car turned around 180 degs. My airbags did not deploy, nor did the seat belt lock up, which allowed me to go forward in the accident.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 Saab 9-5 recalls
Seats: head restraint
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, personal injury to occupants may occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a-pillar trim with improved energy-absorbing capability free of charge. The recall began on november 25, 2008. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Full defect summary
Saab is recalling 57,389 my 2002-2008 9-5 series vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact." during compliance testing, one of the upper interior occupant protection test points exceeded the standard's requirements.
Fuel system: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: Over time, this could cause the fuel lines to loosen from the pump resulting in fuel leakage. If an ignition source were present, the fuel may ignite resulting in a vehicle fire.
Fix: Dealers will develop a securing bracket that will secure the fuel lines to the fuel pump even if the plastic retaining tabs should break. The recall began on june 13, 2007. This is an expansion of previous recall campaigns - see 04v557 and 06v126. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump retaining tabs holding the fuel lines were damaged during production.
Electrical: module
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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).
Full defect 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.
Electrical: module
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will inspect to see what version idm is in the vehicle and replace the idm if it is a version built prior to the introduction of qp3. An interim letter will be mailed to owners in october 2005, informing them of the condition. Parts are now available and owners will be notified to bring their vehicles in to the dealers to have the idm replaced by letter dated march 13, 2006. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with b205/b235 4-cylinder gasoline engines and 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.
Wheels and tires: hub
Risk: These fractures would result in wheel bolt breakage, allowing the wheel to detach from the wheel hub, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners will be contacted by mail and asked whether they change between steel and alloy wheels. If they do engage in this practice, they will be instructed to bring their cars to an authorized dealer. The dealer will remove the wheels, clean any contamination from the wheel and wheel hub, and replace the wheels using new improved bolts with attached washers. Owner notification began march 31, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, if an owner changes their wheels/tires between summer and winter using a steel wheel in the winter and an alloy wheel in the summer, it is possible for rust and contamination to build up on the wheel hub during the steel wheel usage. If this occurs and the contamination is not removed, it is possible that after the tire change service, some of this contamination could flake or grind away resulting in reduced clamping force of the wheel to the hub. Over several seasons, it is possible that this reduced force could result in fractures developing in the wheel bolts due to wheel to hub movement.
Steering: arm
Risk: These knuckles can break, resulting in possible loss of steering control.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the steering knuckle for the casting number. If the knuckle was in the defective batch, the steering knuckle will be replaced. Owner notification is expected to begin during january 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Full defect summary
The steering knuckle castings on certain passenger vehicles may have been contaminated during the casting process.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Engine stall/ engine compartment fires
Summary
Odi opened pe05-017 based on 35 reports of alleged engine stalling due to the failure of the idm cassette on the subject vehicles.all complainants reported that the engine shut down suddenly without warning and most reported that the vehicle would not restart.in 3 incidents, the complainants reported smoke and/or fire resulted from the idm failure.during pe05-017, additional failure data was identified as noted in the failure report summary above.the complaint data represents incidents where the complainants alleged a stall or fire.on september 13, 2005, general motors (gm) notified NHTSA of a safety defect on 95,081 my 2000-2002 saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles with 4-cylinder gasoline engines and
Questions about the 2002 Saab 9-5
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Saab 9-5?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (33 complaints, typically around 47,000 miles); engine (13 complaints, typically around 40,500 miles); fuel system (9 complaints, typically around 66,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Saab 9-5 have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 9, 2008 (seats). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Saab 9-5?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about 9-5 model year since 2000, with 65 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.