NHTSA Complaint #10116893 — 2000 SAAB 9-5

I USED THE CAR ONLY FOR WEEK END SKI TRIPS TWICE A MONTH OR LESS THROUGH THE WINTER. THIS OCCASIONALLY REQUIRED JUMP STARTS. THE WEEK OF THE FAILURE THE CAR STARTED OKAY TO MOVE IT TO THE GARAGE SO I COULD TAKE THE SNOW TIRES OFF, I THEN MOVED IT BACK TO ITS SPOT. THAT FRIDAY, I DROVE OVER 100 MILES FROM CT TO BRATTLEBORO, VT, WHERE I WENT TO A SUPERMARKET, THEN A RESTAURANT. IT RAN PERFECTLY, UNTIL I FINISHED DINNER, AND IT WOULD NOT START. IT WOULD CRANK, BUT THERE WAS NO COMBUSTION. AFTER A FEW LONG WALKS AND MANY PHONE CALLS, NO ONE COULD HELP WITH IT AND THERE WAS NO PLACE TO STAY FOR THE NIGHT OR CARS TO RENT. I TOOK A TAXI 20-30 MILES TO MY FAMILY SKI HOUSE IN NEWFANE. THE NEXT MORNING, I CALLED SEVERAL SHOPS AND FOUND ONE THAT COULD LOOK AT IT. (NO DEALERS IN THE AREA) THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THEM, AND I GOT A RIDE FROM MY NEIGHBOR DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AND BACK INTO TOWN. THE SHOP DETERMINED IT WAS NOT A SIMPLE FIX, AND COULD NOT GIVE IT ANY MORE TIME UNTIL LATER IN THE WEEK. I CALLED SOME DEALERS BACK IN CT, AND HAD IT TOWED THERE. I GOT MY UNCLE TO COME BRING ME AND MY DOG HOME. TUESDAY, I CALLED THE DEALER IT WAS AT, AND THEY TOLD ME THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED, AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SPARK PLUGS. THE REPAIR COST $619.01, AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. *AK