NHTSA Complaint #10495004 — 2010 SAAB 9-3

THERE HAVE BEEN TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE ALSO SUDDENLY RAN OUT OF GAS TWICE IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS I OWNED IT. AFTER THE FIRST SERVICE AT THE DEALER, THE FUEL GAUGE HAS BEEN WORKING CORRECTLY, ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM OR A REPAIR MADE. THE SECOND INCIDENT OF STALLING OCCURRED TODAY ON THE ON-RAMP OF A BRIDGE WITH NO SHOULDER, ON A CURVE GOING UPHILL, AND NO EXIT FOR TWO MILES OF BRIDGE. THE VEHICLE SIMPLY SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, WITH NO NOISE OR WARNING. THERE WAS HALF A TANK OF GAS. I COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION OR RESTART THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. I CALLED 911 AND WAITED IN A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION ON THE RAMP, WITH CARS SPEEDING AROUND THE CURVE, AND MY VEHICLE HALF IN THE LANE. WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO START UP THE CAR AND IT DROVE SEEMINGLY NORMALLY. I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM MYSELF ONLINE, AND IT BECAME IMMEDIATELY APPARENT THAT THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP, AND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL AND NUMEROUS BULLETINS REGARDING THE NECESSITY OF REPLACING THE FAULTY PARTS TO ENSURE SAFETY. I WAS NEVER CONTACTED BY SAAB OR THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR. ALL OF MY CONTACT INFORMATION WAS AND IS CORRECT. I WAS NEARLY KILLED TODAY AS A RESULT. I WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS IS TO BE HANDLED. THANK YOU. *TR