NHTSA Complaint #721453 — 1995 SAAB 900

STARTED AUTOMOBILE AND WENT 2 CAR LENGTHS AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. SHUT ENGINE DOWN AND OPENED HOOD. CAUSE OF SMOKE WAS A CABLE THAT WAS ON FIRE. NOT HUGH, BUT LIKE BIC LIGHTER FLAMES. ABOUT 3 TO 5. BLEW OUT FIRE. WENT INTO OFFICE GOT SOME BOTTLED WATER. CAME BACK. RESTARTED AUTO. GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT ENGINE. FIRE AGAIN. PUT OUT WITH WATER. NOTHING ON ELECTRONIC INFOR DISPLAY INDICATED FIRE. CALLED DEALER AND MECHANIC ADVISED TO HAVE CAR TOWED IN, WHICH I DID. AT FIRST SAAB REP DID NOT EVEN WISH TO PAY FOR CAUSE OF PROBLEM, THE ELECTICAL HARNESS. FINALLY DID, BUT THIS IS A FIRE. I HAVE DROVE CARS FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS. THEY (SAAB) SHOULD NOT TAKE A FIRE LIGHTLY. I THINK THEY SHOULD RECALL THE CAR AND INVESTIGATE WHY IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THEY ELECTED EASY WAY OUT. THEY SHOULD PROVIDE ME WITH A NEW REPLACEMENT AND HAVE THEIR ENGINEERS GO THROUGH TO FIND OUT CAUSE AND MAKE REMEDIES. WHY DOES IT TAKE A LOSS OF LIFE TO GET ACTION? MY DEALERSHIP PEOPLE MENTIONED THAT THIS IS THE 4TH ELECTRICAL HARNESS THAT HAS NEEDED REPLACING AND THIS IN ONLY ONE DEALER. I KNOW THIS IS THE FIRST FIRE THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS SEEN. DO THE PUBLIC A SERVICE AND TAKE SAAB TO TASK. AS MY NEW WEB PAGE STATES, A FIRE SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I CAN ONLY THINK YOU WILL AGREE. *AK