Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Sedans Saab 9-5 Saab 9-5 Sedan
2231 messages, Last post on Oct 06, 2009 at 5:47 PM
You are in the Saab 9-5 Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
|
Replying to: carrot (Jul 28, 2004 9:27 am) Starting with key problems I still remember I had with my 2003 SAAB Linear. I picked up the car in the afternoon, and the nightmare began in the evening. - Malfunction light ON the same evening I picked the brand new SAAB with less than 100 miles on it) - Interior light OUT (this I would not blame GM/SAAB 100%, but definitely blamed the dealer in Acton, MA which obviously did not check the car thoroughly before they gave me the key) - Noise from roof (a part was loosen) - Hand Brake could not be released (This is VERY serious. SAAB knew about this and did NOT proactively recall my car because it had automatic transmission. They wanted to fix the cars with manual transmission first. How could SAAB assume that people with auto transmission do not use hand brakes??? I almost could not get to work one day. Luckily, I was not alone trying to get home in a snow storm!) - Brake noise (come on! This was a NEW car!!) - Front passenger side seatbelt did not retract appropriately (SERIOUS safety issue!) - Malfunction light was on almost on a bi-weekly basis for same or different reasons (= going to the dealer on a bi-weekly basis), etc, etc. Within 5 months I had the car, I knew I had to do something about it BEFORE the lemon law protection on my car expired (you need to find out the lemon law of your OWN state. Lemon Law varies by state and it DOES EXPIRE after certain miles and months…). HOW? Couple tips here. The key is to be VERY proactive and organized. I do not have a law degree and did not hire a lawyer thru the process but I took this matter very seriously like doing a part time job. The good thing is a lot of resources are avail on line and I got what I wanted at the end. - Gather ALL related info: All details are necessary. The date and mile when your car break down in every single incidence, all receipts, invoice, etc. All the evidence. - Put things on paper in a formal manner: Write a formal letter to SAAB (templates specific to lemon cars are avail on a lot of websites) indicating explicitly that you car is a "lemon" under the Massachusetts (in my case, it’s MA, check out the law in your own state) Lemon Law with reasons of course. - CERTIFY EVERYTHING you mail: Do not be cheap on the postage, make sure ALL letters sent to SAAB are CERTIFIED mail. You need to know someone at SAAB has received your mail. They HAVE to return your letter if it's lemon related. - Follow Up by phone Regularly: SAAB will assign your case with a case number if it's qualified case for repurchase or replace. Call them at least on a WEEKLY basis to follow up. I called them so often that the receptionist recognized me and I recognized them. Do NOT lose temper to the people including the receptionists who are handling your car though it could be hard some time. You need people to be willing to work with you on your case. - WRITE EVERYTHING down: the time you make the call, the receptionist's name who takes your call, everyone you speak with, the date you send the letters, everything that's related to your case. - Know what you are asking for: Want $ or another SAAB which can potentially breakdown again? You can certainly take the risk of having another SAAB but I did not. ---A: Considerations on another new SAAB: The newer model SAAB actually has fewer options than the 2003 one even though new models are more expensive. Since the car you want to return has depreciated, it means you will need to pay more (depends on the mileage that's already on your car) to have a car with fewer options (putting aside that it could be another lemon after all). That math did not work for me. ---B: Considerations on getting money back: You will not be getting the total you have paid for but you really have used the car for couple months after all. In my case, the option was clear. I did not want another SAAB ever again. The experience and inconveniences was way too unpleasant. -IMPORTANT: DO YOUR MATH RIGHT even after you get the check: Good that can I am pretty good in math. When SAAB cut me the check, it was missing the couple $K I put down as down payment. Had I not double check the math EVEN AFTER I receive the check, I would have missed couple $K. The whole process took about 2-3 months. Be PERSISTENT. NO ONE else cares if you can return your car for cash except for yourself. I got the impression that my car dealer and SAAB certainly wanted me to give up perusing the refund. The SAAB dealer in Acton, MA provided absolutely NO support to me which added pain to my experience. I asked them to proof that I had made X $K on the down payment and they refused. Luckily I paid by credit card and ended up sending SAAB (again, certified mail!) the proof of payment. Even when I picked up the car from them the interior was dirty (finger prints on ceiling) with small paint chip on the rear bumper. Anyway, all’s water under the bridge now. One more note. Definitely, I had to return my lemon SAAB to a dealer (I did not go back to Acton then) in order to pick up the check. I KNEW that the dealer was RESELLING the lemon I returned… I got a Japanese car and moved on... Hope this is helpful. ###
|
|
|
|
| Its kind of discouraging to read some of these posts. But when you go off line and get out on the road things look better. I came down from Montreal last night in a light rain. Everyone just chugging along down I89 in various Far Eastern vehicles, radios on, cell phones in use, planning to stop in White River or West Lebanon to refuel. Suddenly out of the gloom came a late model black AERO with Quebec plates in the passing lane. He just blew by. Going so fast, he looked like was after the guy who spent the weekend with his girlfriend! It made me feel good. | |
|
own two saabs 99 9-3 base auto 93k miles running great. Some warranty work over the years. Little since warrranty expired 04 9-3 linear one or two minor things under warranty. Runs great 21,000 miles. Great overtaking power. Excellent fuel economy. Good handling. Safest cars on the road. My next car will be either a 9-3 sportcombi or the end of the line 9-5 sportcombi |
|
|
Replying to: carrot (May 12, 2006 2:25 pm)
|
|
|
Replying to: sa29 (May 20, 2006 8:59 pm) I now try to reduce as much monetary risk as I can when leasing and have a couple of rules I live by. - no downpayment, no security fees, I will walk first. - lease through the dealer (ie GMAC) this keeps the organization financially interested. - remind the dealer when you need to that it is 'their' car and 'their' problem - your just borrowing it. - be prepared to park it at the dealer and stop payment on the lease - it usually gets their attention - but of couse has consequences. Try to always keep the ledger in your favor - sometimes, thats the only way they will listen.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: stmss (May 23, 2006 11:09 am) Saab owners have high expectations and somewhat quirky personalities. Thats OK. But lets be business-like. If you feel that the dealer is nor performing as contracted, sue him. Don't futz around by leaving your 35K car at his dealership thinking that he will lie awake in his McMansion thinking about it. What he is lying awake at night pondering is how he can get out of such a loser brand and into a Bimmer franchise before he loses any more money on these sleds.
|
|
|
I have recently replaced the entire audio system in my 03 Aero. Unfortunately, my onstar is on but I cannot hear it when activated. My tech says that he has almost exhausted all possible places to find a "cure" for the problem. Does anyone have any suggestions either how to fix this or where to go to find a fix? Dave P |
|
|
Replying to: blckislandguy (May 23, 2006 6:33 pm) 1. Being 'business like' requires two parties and the dealer/manufacturer does not always cooperate with this - sorry 'your' problem. 2. Sueing costs me more money. 3. On a lease - It's not 'my' 35k car, on a loan - it is. 4. The house is 'my' house.
|
|
| Top marks for the 9-5 in this study done by the people who know the goods - the warranty industry. The usual suspects, asian appliances led by Honda, inhabit the top 12. The 9-5 is the fourth best european on the list and easily outclasses its arch rival BMW 5 series which lands in 93rd place and 3 series in 65th. This 10 year study covers the entire run of the 9-5, very impressive result.Top 100 most reliable in past 10 years | |
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2009 Saab 9-5
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
