NHTSA Complaint #10148050 — 2000 SAAB 9-5

IDM CASSETTE FAILURE ON A 2000 SAAB 9-5 SE (6-CYLINDER). THE CAR HAD REDUCED POWER AND ROUGH OPERATION, LURCHING WITH ACCELERATION, AND NEARLY STALLING. I WAS AFRAID THIS PREGNANT WOMAN WAS GOING TO BE LEFT STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A DARK, COUNTRY HIGHWAY ON A COLD WINTER NIGHT! THE NEXT DAY, POWER WAS REDUCED EVEN FURTHER AND EVENTUALLY, THE CAR STALLED AND WILL NOT START UP. IT WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO THOUGHT THE RECALL ON THE PART (RECALL 05V-399) WOULD REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE IDM CASSETTE. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT. THIS PART IS NOT COVERED IN A 2000 9-5 SE. THE RECALL ONLY APPLIES TO 2000-2002 SAAB 9-5'S WHICH ARE 4-CYLINDER AND 2001 9-5'S WITH THE 6 CYLINDER. THIS IS THE SAME PART AS IN THOSE RECALLED VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AND INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS WELL. *NM