NHTSA Complaint #10086627 — 2000 SAAB 9-3

DI CASSETTE FAILURE I WAS DRIVING IN THE I80 DURING RUSH HOUR (5:30 PM NEAR SAN FRANCISCO-RICHMOND) AT ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE ENGINE DIED ON ME. I HAD TO CUT ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH A DEAD ENGINE TO GET TO THE SIDE. I AM SURPRISED THAT I COULD EVEN DO THIS GIVEN THE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC. IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY NASTY SINCE I WAS JUST COMING AROUND A CORNER WHEN IT OCCURRED. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SAAB DEALER. APPARENTLY THE DI CASSETTE HAS FAILED AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED PLUS SPARK PLUGS ($725) AND POSSIBLY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ($1,100). ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNINGS GIVEN ON THIS NOR WOULD IT BE DETECTABLE IN A NORMAL SERVICE. DOING SOME RESEARCH IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH SAAB'S AROUND THE WORLD. VERY INTERESTINGLY MOST COMMENTS DESCRIBE CIRCUMSTANCES SIMILAR TO MINE WHERE THE ENGINE DIES WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS HAS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE OCCUPANTS AND OTHER USERS OF THE HIGHWAYS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. OPTIONS WOULD BE A FULL RECALL OR A PROPER WARNING SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS THE PART TO BE REPLACED BEFORE CATASTROPHE. *JB