NHTSA Complaint #10137685 — 2003 SAAB 9-5

CAR STALLED WHILE CRUISING AT 75 MILES PER HOUR ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. CAR COULD NOT BE RESTARTED, EVEN AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NO PRIOR INDICATION OF IMMINENT FAILURE WAS GIVEN'THE ENGINE SIMPLY CUT OUT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS THE FAILURE OF AS A BAD THROTTLE BODY. THIS IS A KNOWN WEAKNESS IN THE CAR FOR WHICH SAAB HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR YEARS. THE SERVICING DEALER WAS SURPRISED THAT THE PART WAS NOT IN STOCK SINCE IT FAILS OFTEN. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THROTTLE BODY PROBLEMS WHICH TRIGGER LIMP HOME MODE AND REQUIRE A CLEANING AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODY. REPORTEDLY NEWER SOFTWARE TRIGGERS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE. THIS EARLY WARNING WAS NOT GIVEN THIS CASE. IT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT THIS SHOULD STILL BE AN ISSUE ON A 2003 MODEL YEAR VEHICLE WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST SHOWED ITSELF IN 1998. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE IN A REAR END COLLISION BEFORE SAAB OR THE NHTSA WILL ACT ON THIS? *NM