NHTSA Complaint #10294828 — 2005 SAAB 9-3

MY 2005 SAAB 93 44,500 MILES. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON A SIX LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY (I495) IN THE RIGHT TRAVEL LANE THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND SHRED THE TIRE CAUSING A BLOW OUT. THE DRIVER HAD NEVER BEFORE EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOW OUT AND WAS STARTLED AND JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT IN A MOMENT OF PANIC AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS WHILE SCRUBBING OFF SPEED. THE CAR REMAINED MOSTLY IN THE RIGHT TRAVEL LANE. THERE WASN'T MUCH TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD AT 5AM AND THE CAR DID NOT HIT ANY OTHER VEHICLES OR OBJECTS. THE DRIVER REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OFF THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO EXAMINE THE DAMAGE. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT SO THE DRIVER JACKED THE CAR UP AND REMOVED THE TIRE. IMMEDIATELY APPARENT WAS THE BROKEN COIL SPRING. THE DRIVER DID NOT WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY FOR A TOW TRUCK. INSTEAD, THE DRIVER DECIDED TO INSTALL THE TEMPORARY SPACE SAVER SPARE TIRE AND LIMP THE CAR HOME BY DRIVING ON THE SHOULDER FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AT 30MPH WITH THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO WORK. LATER A MECHANIC WAS HIRED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WHERE IT WAS PARKED IN THE OWNER'S DRIVEWAY. BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND THE DAMAGED TIRE WERE REPLACED AT A TOTAL COST OF APPROXIMATELY $600.