NHTSA Complaint #10129693 — 1999 SAAB 9-5

1999 SAAB 9-5 WITH V6 ENGINE. SUDDEN FAILURE OF BOTH IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULES (IDM) ON HIGHWAY RENDERED CAR INOPERABLE. ON A BUSINESS TRIP WITH TWO COWORKERS, DRIVING NORTH ON NEW YORK INTERSTATE 87 AT AROUND 65-70 MPH, CAR STARTED TO BUCK AND SURGE, WITH DRAMATIC LOSS IN ENGINE POWER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I MANAGED TO CROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO APPROACHING OFFRAMP. BUCKED AND WHEEZED MY WAY TO A BUSNIESS PARK, WHERE I CALLED FOR A TOW TO THE LOCAL SAAB DEALRSHIP. FAILURE WAS IMMEDIATE AND WITH NO WARNING. CONSEQUENCES WERE PUTTING THREE LIVES IN PERIL ON THE INTERSTATE BY SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND FORCED CANCELLATION OF BUSINESS TRIP DUE TO LACK OF TRANSPORTATION. DEALER DIAGNOSED CRITICAL FAILURE OF BOTH IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULES (ALSO REFERRED TO AS DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTES). BOTH MODULES REPLACED ALONG WITH 6 SPARK PLUGS, AT A TOTAL COST OF $835.33 TO ME.