NHTSA Complaint #10078583 — 2004 SAAB 9-3

PULLED INTO A STANDARD, PAVED, PARKING SPACE TURNED ELECTRONIC IGNITION KEY TO OFF POSITION AND REMOVED KEY. CAR DID NOT TURN OFF, ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTINUED TO FUNCTION AS THOUGH KEY WAS IN IGNITION.*AK ONBOARD COMPUTER DISPLAYED "STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE: CONTACT SERVICE." TURNED STEERING WHEEL, CHECKED FOR OBSTRUCTIONS, AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN CAR OFF BY REINSERTING KEY INTO IGNITION. WHEN KEY INSERTED INTO IGNITION, ONBOARD COMPUTER TOGGLED TO "KEY NOT RECOGNIZED: CONTACT SERVICE" AND THEN BACK TO PREVIOUS MESSAGE. WAS ONLY ABLE TO TURN CAR OFF BY REMOVING FUEL PUMP FUSES, AND THEN BY REMOVING BATTERY TERMINAL TO PREVENT BATTERY DRAINAGE AS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTINUED TO FUNCTION. CAR ONLY HAS 4000 MILES AND WAS BROUGHT IN INITIALLY BY TOW TRUCK TO SAAB DEALERSHIP ON 6/15 AND IGNITION WAS SAID TO BE REPLACED. ON 6/16, DROVE CAR HOME AND TURNED OFF WITHOUT PROBLEM. ON 6/17, DROVE TO WORK AND EXACT SAME SITUATION WAS REPEATED, WITH A TOW REQUIRED. CAR CONTINUES TO BE IN SERVICE, NEW RELAY ORDERED, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS, AND OTHER DIAGNOSTICS ARE BEING RUN BY SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NO RECORD OF SIMILAR OCCURRENCE IN 2004 SAAB 9-3 SPORT SEDAN. WILL MOST LIKELY NEVER BUY ANOTHER SAAB OR VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN.