NHTSA Complaint #10150470 — 2000 SAAB 9-5

WHEN EXITING THE INTERSTATE, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WAS THEN A SMELL LIKE AN OVERLOADED OR BURNING ELECTRICAL OR ELECTRONIC PART. WE DROVE TO THE FIRST SAFE PLACE TO STOP THE CAR, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND NO FIRE BUT THE SMELL WAS VERY STRONG. WE CALLED THE NEAREST SAAB DEALER AND HAD THEM MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO TOW THE CAR IN. AFTER CHECKING THE CAR, THEY FOUND THAT THE IGNITION MODULE HAD BURNED-OUT WHICH IN TURN ALLOWED RAW GAS IN THE EXHAUST TO DAMAGE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V399000) WHICH SEEMS TO DESCRIBE THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED, BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SAAB THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL. I FEEL THAT THIS INCIDENT AND FAILURE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. *JB