NHTSA Complaint #10398885 — 2005 SAAB 9-3

I HAVE A 2005 SAAB 9-3 THAT BECAME UNDRIVEABLE AFTER THE FRONT LEFT COILS/SPRINGS BROKE, PUNCTURING THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN A POPPING SOUND WAS HEARD, FOLLOWED BY GRINDING AND A BURNING RUBBER SMELL. AT THAT POINT THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEN TO A SAAB DEALERSHIP TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE IS A CAMPAIGN OUT FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT NOT A RECALL. THE SPRINGS/COILS WERE REPLACED FOR FREE BUT THE TIRE COST WAS PRORATED AND THE CAR REQUIRED AN ALIGNMENT AFTER THE REPAIRS WHICH WAS NOT COVERED IN THE COST. THIS CAR HAD BEEN IN THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE AND THE COILS/SPRINGS WERE SPECIFICALLY CHECKED DUE TO THE CAMPAIGN. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE PARTS DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGN OF DAMAGE AND SO WERE NOT REPLACED. BOTH TOW TRUCK DRIVERS AND THE REPAIR SHOP OWNER COMMENTED THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY, CONSIDERING HOW QUICKLY IT RENDERED THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE AND WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN GOING AT A FAST RATE OF SPEED, SURROUNDED BY OTHER CARS. I AM SHOCKED THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT A RECALL AS IT IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK. *TR