NHTSA Complaint #10166145 — 2004 SAAB 9-5

I HAVE A 2004 SAAB 9.5 THAT I BOUGHT NEW ON APRIL 1, 2004. FROM DAY 1 THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS WORKING ERRATICALLY. DEALER SAID HE COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM. THEN CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. THEN THE ELECTRIC TRUNK LOCK STOPPED WORKING. I CONTACTED THE DEALER TELLING IT THAT EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOW BEYOND THE 50,000 MILE PORTION OF THE 4 YEAR WARRANTY (OF WHICH ONLY 28 MONTHS HAD ELAPSED) I WANTED THE TRUNK AND CRUISE ISSUES FIXED ALONG WITH A LAUNDRY LIST OF ITEMS THAT WERE NOT ADDRESSED PREVIOUSLY THE LAST TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR IN UNDER WARRANTY. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ADDRESS ANY OF THE ISSUES. I FOUND A SITE ON THE INTERNET CALLED SAABNET. A PARTICULAR POST HIT THE PROBLEM ON THE HEAD. HTTP://WWW.SAABNET.COM/TSN/BB/9-5/INDEX.HTML?BID=125557 IT SAID: TURNS OUT TO BE A BADLY WORN WIRING LOOM WERE THE CABLES RUN FROM THE CAR TRUNK INTO THE TRUNK LID. 6 WIRES HAD BROKEN THROUGH THE INSULATION AND TWO HAD COMPLETELY SNAPPED. THIS CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD!!!! THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR - ITS A DESIGN FAULT. THE WIRES SEEM TO CATCH ON THE SHARP EDGE OF THE PLASTIC PROTECTOR (!) THAT FITS INTO THE LID. THEY RUB AGAINST THIS AS THE LID IS OPEN AND CLOSED. YOU CAN CHECK TO SEE IF YOURS IS OK SIMPLY BY PULLING OFF THE PROTECTIVE RUBBER BOOT THAT ATTACHES TO THE END OF THE PLASTIC PROTECTOR. I DID THE VERY SIMPLE CHECK THE POSTER RECOMMENDED ABOVE BY PULLING THE RUBBER COVER BACK AND WAS SOMEWHAT AMAZED TO SEE 4 WIRES COMPLETELY CUT AND THE OTHER 3 WITH BROKEN INSULATORS. AS THE POSTER ON SAABNET INDICATED, THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND APPEARS AS IF IT COULD LEAD TO FIRE. LOOKING FURTHER ON SAABNET, I SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS DISCUSSED QUITE FREQUENTLY. I BELIEVE THIS SITUATION PRESENTS A POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL AND FIRE HAZARD AND THAT THE NHTSA SHOULD IMMEDIATELY ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ITEM. *NM