NHTSA Complaint #10186418 — 2001 SAAB 9-3

CAR TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE BECAUSE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" ON INTERMITTENTLY; TOLD THERE WERE "NO PROBLEMS" AND INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO CLEAR MESSAGE. "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" AND "OIL" LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER INTERMITTENTLY; TAKEN TO 2 INDEPENDENT MECHANICS FOR CHECK; BOTH STATED THERE WAS OIL IN THE PAN, OIL IN THE ENGINE, NO OBVIOUS PROBLEM. "CHECK ENGINE" AND "OIL" LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON; CAR BEGAN MAKING NOISE. PULLED OVER AND HAD TOWED TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED BEARINGS WERE SHOT AND NEW ENGINE NEEDED. SAAB USA HAS PERSISTED IN DENYING CULPABILITY DESPITE LETTER AND MECHANIC'S STATEMENT. TOLD ME CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY RESULTING IN TOWING FROM INDEPENDENT SHOP TO DEALER; DEALER THEN SAID CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. BBB COMPLAINT FILED; NOW SAAB USA INSISTS ENGINE MUST BE TORN DOWN TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM AND I MUST ACCEPT RISK THAT IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT THEIRS, I WILL OWE $1500 FOR TEAR-DOWN; DEALER WANTS STORAGE CHARGES. CAR OUT OF SERVICE NOW 43 DAYS AND COUNTING. *JB