Two 2011 Saab 9-5 Saloons Catch Fire

The 2011 Saab 9-5 is an extremely important vehicle for the Swedish automotive producer, as it sits at the core of the brand’s new identity. However, it seems that not everything is going according to Saab’s plan. To be more specific, two Saab 9-5 saloons recently went up in flames in Sweden, with the incidents taking place in the same area over a short period of time, as Corren reports.

More info on the incidents, one of which involves a Saab-branded (we are referring to stickers here) vehicle came from the SaabsUnited community website, which reports that the fires might have been caused by an aftermarket device.

It seems that the incidents were caused by an engine heater produced by Defa, which could have been installed improperly.

Here’s what a topic from the Saab Turbo Club of Sweden reveals: “I have heard that the engine heater from Defa (http://www.defa.com) can do damage if they are installed wrongly and bulletins have been sent out how to install it correctly. This is nothing that comes installed from the factory but is installed at the dealer.”

We’ll have to wait and see if more info regarding this situation surfaces.

Meanwhile, we’ll remind you that Saab’s UK division recently introduced an upgrade for the 9-5 range. The 9-5 Vector SE models now come with a full leather finish for the interior and use 18-inch rims, while the models powered by the 160 hp 2.0 liter TiD engine using a manual transmission now come with a comfort setup for the chassis.