NHTSA Complaint #10130043 — 1999 SAAB 9-5

2 DIRECT IGNITION MODULES FAILED ON MY SAAB 95 SE V-6 CAR WHICH CAUSED RAW GAS TO RUIN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. REPAIR COST ~$2600. TOOK CAR IN FOR SERVICE IN APRIL COMPLAINING OF SURGING AND JERKING WHILE DRIVING. THREE DAYS LATER SAAB SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM - THEY RESET THE COMPUTER WHICH ALLEVIATED THE SITUATION FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE PROBLEM RETURNED. IN JULY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY IDENTIFIED THE DIRECT IGNITION PROBLEM. WITH THE FREQUENCY THAT SAAB'S DI'S ARE FAILING, WHY HAVEN'T THEY RECALLED THE PART? IT CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION - BOTH FROM THE CAR FAILING AT HIGHWAY SPEED TO POTENTIAL FIRE. ALSO,IF MY PROBLEM HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED PROPERLY IN APRIL, I WOULD HAVE AVOIDED THE EXPENSE OF A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER ($1400 PLUS LABOR & TAX). AFTER INVESTIGATING SAAB USER NETS, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. WHY ISN'T SAAB DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?