NHTSA Complaint #10184987 — 2003 SAAB 9-3

WEDNESDAY MARCH 3, 2007, MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR SPORTS SEDAN (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) WITH 61,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WAITING TO SWITCH FROM RED TO GREEN. ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO PROCEED ACROSS THE INTERSECTION. THE INITIALLY ACCELERATED TO 20 MPH AND CEASED TO ACCELERATE. I NOTICED THAT I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND STEERING HAD BECOME HEAVY, I GLANCED AT THE TACHOMETER AND IT SHOWED THAT THE ENGINE HAD SHUT DOWN BUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WERE FUNCTIONING. I COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START FOR OVER 15 MINUTES. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS RUNNING, ONBOARD DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED OK, BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AFTER THE INTERVAL OF NO STARTS, THE CAR STARTED. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSTIC CODES INDICATED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. DEALER PROVIDED NO REAL EXPLANATION FOR FAILURE. WITHIN 3 WEEK PERIOD, VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN FOR FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT. PRIOR TO THAT REPAIR THE CAR HAD 60K SERVICE PERFORMED ON 12/13/07. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENT ON ALL REPAIRS REQUIRED BY PRIOR RECALLS. *JB