1999 SAAB 3-Sep

9-3 SE: ENGINE OIL COOLER LEAKING OIL. CONCERNED ABOUT SLUDGE ISSUE

9-3 S: two weeks after I bought the car 1st the Serp Beat needed to be replaced 8/27/ 10 Then 8/31/10 A.C. Comp Compressor failed that needed to be replaced. Than 12/3/ 10 The Belt Tensioner Pulley failed and the Serp Belt failed again and had to replace it. 12/31/10 the engine and the exhaust failed. They said the engine failed because it was 2 quarts low on gas. and the exhaust needed to be replaced. We had to buy a new engine. The engine is not firing right so they are saying we need a new Computer Chip and a new Turbo. Please help. I don’t know what to do!!!!!

Oil sludge problem – complete engine replacement recommended by the local Saab dealer. The problem is well documented on Internet and Saab has issued an “extended warranty” in effect, recognizing the problem as a design defect, not a maintenance issue. Saab is playing hardball with the requirements for the warranty claim in the hopes that most owners will go away.

engine sludgeIt\’s not as much an \"oil problem\" or even an \"owner problem\" as much as it is a horrible engineering problem by the rocket scientists… I mean jet engineers at Saab. They are great driving cars… until they break that is. Mostly due to poor engineering of a few major engine and exhaust components and a foolish recommended maintenance shedule from Saab. It IS Saab\’s fault plain and simple. I\’ve been involved in automotive repair for over twenty years and seen people go WAYYYYYYYY over the recommended oil change schedule without having any where near the adverse effects that these particular cars have had. If anyone would care to wager over the repair bill for my wife\’s 9-3 I\’d be more than happy to take that bet with you that I am right and you are wrong. The BIGGEST problem is that Saab even in it\’s own customer provided literature recommended using SEMI-synthetic oil at intervals up to 10 thousand miles. I will say though that anyone who has ever spent five minutes around cars knows that you should in a turbocharged car use synthetic oil and change it anywhere from 5-8 thousand miles depending on driving habits and climate. So how many of the effected cars were serviced even at dealers improperly? What about all of the 6 TSB\’s (yes that\’s SIX revisions to the PCV systems) Saab has issued for the PCV systems and the Special Policies that Saab has issued for sludge for \"some\" customers… is that the unsuspecting owners fault? What a load of horse manure from those of you blaming JUST the owners. There\’s a literal TON of info to wander aimlessly through on the Saab message boards but the only info I\’ll bother passing along to unsuspecting consumers and potential victims of Saab Sludge is… http://www.saabpros.com/saab/nines/ (I am not related to nor do I have any affiliation with this website but it has a few good articles for the average Joe.) I would NEVER EVER suggest a person to purchase a 98-2002 Saab 9-3 or 9-5 with a 4cylinfer engine unless you have a thick wallet, extremely good credit or the patience of a Saint… you\’ll most likely need all three. Shame on you Saab… there was a right way and a wrong way to go about this… you chose poorly. Oh… and if any you are curious… Saab denied our sludge claim as well because I didn\’t have the \"proper documentation\". Well… I\’d like to see the internal documents from Saab that ignored the proper and improper way to design, engineer and build an oiling system and the PCV system on an automobile.C.S.

At 51,900 miles, my Turbo failed and was replaced. A few months later, after replacing the oil, filters, turbo, etc., the engine failed, supposedly due to \"oil starvation\" due to sludge. Saab USA refuses to cover any of the damage, although they have announced a voluntary recall of 400,000 vehicles for this very problem. They respond that this model does not have the problem, which it clearly does.