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I took my 1999 Saab 9-5 (164k miles, standard transmission)  to a tire shop and got 4 new tires put on.  After the work was complete, I picked up my car and drove approximately 5 freeway miles.  I exited the freeway, stopped at a stop sign, and when i pulled into the street I shifted cleanly from 1st to 2nd gear, and cleanly to 3rd gear; but there was no 3rd gear; I was in neutral...I shifted to 4th, still neutral...I shifted to 5th, still in neutral!

To summarize, I now only have 1st and 2nd gear in my car (and reverse).  This car has never shown any signs that something like this would happen.  The car has always been amazing.  Never a hint.  Even in the moment, there was no indication that something had just gone wrong.  No strange noise, absolutely nothing.  I simply all of a sudden did not have 3rd, 4th or 5th gear.  

I Took it to a Saab mechanic, and he says my linkage is fine, and that the problem involves my transmission, which he claims will be more costly than the car is worth.

Is it possible that the tire shop screwed up my car?  They took it for a drive on the freeway to make sure the tires were good.  I have also since learned that this franchise shop has a reputation for screwing up vehicles.  They have a bunch of inexperienced kids working there.

What do you think?  Just old age, or did they screw my car up?   Please, anybody.  

It sounds like the linkage inside the trans that slides into 3 different positions to operate the various shift forks is broken.I saw the same problem on an older Saab 9000 5 speed.Once the trans was out and the case halves separated all i had to do was fix a broken weld on that linkage piece.I dont think the shop could have caused that.Its probably just a coincidence.Of course thats just one possibility.