NHTSA Complaint #10234649 — 2004 SAAB 9-3

I PURCHASED A 2004 SAAB 9-3 AROUND MARCH 15, 2007. A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO, I WAS VACATIONING IN FLORIDA WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL SAAB DEALERSHIP IN ORLANDO, FL WHERE I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO PURCHASE A SPEED SENSOR. THIS WAS DONE AND THE COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $515.00. THE DAY AFTER THE REPAIR, I NOTICED THE CAR CONTINUED TO HAVE ROUGH AND INAPPROPRIATE SHIFTING. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL SAAB DEALERSHIP IN DUBLIN, OH WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGED AND THE TRANSMISSION REPROGRAMMED. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS, 'MILKY AND DARK IN APPEARANCE.' THEY SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE THE CAR, DRIVE IT FOR 2 WEEKS AND BRING IT BACK TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 2 WEEKS I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST FOR THIS IS $7000.00. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE COUPLINGS HAD GONE BAD AND CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THESE SAME COUPLINGS WERE RECALLED BY SAAB IN 2003-2004. HOWEVER, BY VIN NUMBER, MY VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE DATES OF THE RECALL. THE RADIATOR AND COUPLINGS WERE MANUFACTURED DURING THAT RECALL PERIOD AND ARE CONSIDERED TO BE DEFECTIVE PARTS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP TO CONTACT GM/SAAB TO TRY AND OBTAIN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. I HAVE BEEN IN THAT PROCESS FOR ALMOST 1 MONTH NOW. ORIGINALLY, THEY OFFERED TO PAY 25% TOWARDS PARTS AND LABOR FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION (ADMITTING GUILT) WHICH WOULD DECREASE THE COST FOR ME TO $5000.00. I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE. *TR