NHTSA Complaint #10228911 — 2002 SAAB 9-5

LOSS OF REVERSING LIGHTS, TRUNK OPENING WARNING LIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION WITH NO INTERNAL WARNING INDICATIONS. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CAUSE WAS THE FAILURE OF TRUNK WIRING HARNESS AT 70K MILES - 2 WIRES WERE COMPLETELY SEVERED, ALL OTHERS (6) HAD LOST INSULATION. FAILURE IS AT THE FOLDING POINT JUST PRIOR TO ENTRY INTO THE TRUNK LID. CAUSE APPEARS TO BE EXCESSIVE TIGHTNESS OF THE INTERIOR WIRES. THE RUBBER BOOT WAS ENTIRELY INTACT, SEALED TO CONNECTORS IN THE BODY AND TRUNK LID AND THERE WAS NO VISIBLE INDICATION OF THE INTERNAL FAILURE. WIRES ARE SEPARATE INSIDE THE BOOT UP UNTIL THE TRUNK LID ENTRY WHERE THEY ARE WRAPPED WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED ONLY DURING SERVICE, NOT REPORTED BY SELF-CHECK DISPLAY WHICH ALWAYS REPORTS LIGHT BULB OUTAGES IN TEXT MESSAGES ON THE 2 LINE SAAB INFORMATION DISPLAY (SECONDARY FAILURE). PRIOR TO DISCOVERY A NUMBER OF CARS HAD ALMOST REAR ENDED THE CAR WHEN BACKING UP (REVERSING LIGHT FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED OR KNOWN). CORRECTED TEMPORARILY BY SPLICING IN WIRES AND HEAT WRAPPING, WAITING FOR APPOINTMENT WITH THE SAAB DEALER TO REPLACE THE HARNESS. *TR