NHTSA Complaint #10160629 — 2002 SAAB 9-5

I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHEN MY ENGINE STARTED TO STALL AND LOST POWER. I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND COULD NOT RE-START IT. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED A FAILED IGNITION MODULE. MY CAR IS A 2002 SAAB 9-5 AND HAD BEEN RE-CALLED BECAUSE OF FAILURES OF THIS COMPONENT. HOWEVER, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE CAR ENGINE WAS OF THE TYPE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE RECALL, WHEN SAAB NOTIFIED ITS' DEALERS IT LIMITED THE MODULES TO BE REPLACED TO ONLY CERTAIN SERIAL NUMBERS. THIS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT ACCORDING TO NHTSA ALL ENGINES NOT HAVING THE QP3 MODIFICATION, WHICH MY CAR DOES NOT, SHOULD HAVE BEEN RE-CALLED. THUS, SAAB REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE PART EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME PART THAT WAS FAILING AND PROMPTED THE RECALL INITIALLY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A HAZARD DUE TO THE OVERHEATING OF THE PART WHICH LED TO STALLING AND COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE. SAAB SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO LIMIT THE SERIAL NUMBERS REPLACED BECAUSE OTHER SERIAL NUMBERS APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. *JB CONSUMER CALLED ON 9/12/06 TO REPORT A SECOND IDM FAILURE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON 8/18/06. THE FOLLOWING IS PER A CONVERSATION W/ MRS. ALDER ON 9/14/06: DURING THIS INCIDENT, HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. AS SHE WAS PULLING OFF THE HWY, SHE SMELT A BURNING SMELL AND SAW SMOKE COMING INTO THE CAR. PULLED OVER AND STARTED TO CALL HUSBAND WHEN SHE SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT FIRE AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED. SHE REPORTED THAT THE DEALER SAID HER CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD BURNED. *CAR