NHTSA Complaint #10767380 — 2009 SAAB 9-7X

MY WIFE AND I WERE ON THE DRIVE THRU LINE AT WENDYS, IT WAS RAINING OUT AND I CRACKED THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW FOR A LITLE AIR. A MINUTE LATER WE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING WE WERENT SURE WHERE THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM UNTIL MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW/LOCK/AND HEATED SEAT SWITCH STARTED TO EMIT SMOKE. OF COURSE WE WERE IN A STATE OF PANIC, WE QUICKLY EXITED THE LINE AND PULLED OVER I DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO DO OTHER THAN PULL UP THE SWITCH HOUSING FROM THE DOOR PANEL. AFTER DOING SO THE SMOKE WAS EVIDENT AND THE WIRES AND ACTUAL PLASTIC HOUSING CAUGHT FIRE. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. AFTER INSPECTING THE ENTIRE SWITCH HOUSING IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE WIRES OVERHEATED AND SHORT CIRCUITED I WOULD IMAGINE DUE TO THE LITTLE BIT OF RAIN WATER THAT LEAKED INTO IT. THE MANAGER OF THE WENDYS CAME OUT TO CHECK ON US AS HE SAW AND HEARD OUR PANIC. I CALLED GM/SAAB THIS MORNING AND THE REP MADE ME OUT TO BE A LIAR, SHE COULDNT BELIEVE THAT A FIRE ACTUALLY OCCURED. I TOLD HER I HAVE THE SWITCH HOUSING AND IT IS CLEAR AS DAY THAT THE PLASTIC DIDNT MELT AND THE ACUAL METAL TIP OF THE WIRE MELT DUE TO SMOKE OR JUST A HEAT. I SEE THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON 2008 SAAB 97X DRIVER MODULE BUT NOT MY YEAR OR THE PASSENGER SWITCH. THE REP HAD ME SO UPSET I FORGOT TO GET HER NAME AND FILE A COMPLAINT SO WHEN IM DONE ON THIS POST I AM GOING TO CALL BACK AND HAVE THEM LOOK UP MY FILE AND LODGE A COMPLAINT. ALSO THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2008 97X HEADLIGHT MODULE AND OF COURSE MY HEADLIGHTS JUST STOPPED WORKING OUT OF THE BLUE, I REPLACED THE BULBS FROM AUTOZONE TO NO AVAIL THAT IS HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE SECOND RECALL. IM UPSET BECAUSE I HAVE 3 KIDS IN COLLEGE AND 1 IN 10 GRADE AND AM NOT IN A FINANCIAL POSITION TO REPLACE ANY OF THE DEFECTIVE FACTORY PARTS ESPECIALLY AFTER A FIRE IN MY VEHICLE. NOW I AM FORCED TO NOT HAVE FUNCTIONING PASSENGER WINDOW OR LOCK OR HEATED/MEMORY SEAT.