NHTSA Complaint #10161880 — 2001 SAAB 9-3

DEC. 10, 2005 WHILE DRIVING ON THE PA TURNPIKE OIL LIGHT CAME ON THEN WENT OFF. OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN CAR LOST ALL POWER. SAAB TOWING LEFT US ON BUSY TURNPIKE FOR 2 1/2 HOURS IN FREEZING COLD. TOWED TO PURCHASE DEALER WAS TOLD NEEDS NEW ENGINE IT THROUGH A ROD. AFTER 2 MONTHS OF NO HELP FORM DEALER OR SAAB TOOK TO INDEPENDENT SAAB MECHANIC. WAS TOLD BENT ROD OR CRANK SHAFT FROM SLUDGE BUILD UP NEED SMALL BLOCK ENGINE. 7 MONTHS AND SAAB WANTS TO ONLY GIVE $500 TOWARDS REPAIR DEALER CHARGING $6,000. SAAB IS AWARE OF SLUDGE PROBLEM IN THESE ENGINES (SEE WEB ON CONSUMER REPORTS AND CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY) YET, WON'T STAND BY THEIR WORD TO EXTEND WARRANTY 8 YEARS UNLIMITED MILES. WE HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALER SINCE PURCHASE ABOUT ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON AND STALLING. NO ISSUES FOUND BY THEM. IDM WAS REPLACED 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS WITH ENGINE LIGHT REMAINING ON. NO CALL BACK FROM DEALER. HAVE RECEIVED NO HELP FROM SAAB OR DEALER, WITHOUT IT RESULTING IN THEM MAKING MONEY OFF OF US. *JB