NHTSA Complaint #762272 — 1997 SAAB 9000

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK GOING 25MPH WHEN THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO STOP. SINCE I WAS IN TRAFFIC, I CONTINUED TO A STOP SIGN WHERE THE CAR STOPPED AFTER A SHORT LUNGE FORWARD. I CHECKED TO BE SURE THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF AND I CHECKED THE DASHBOARD AND THERE WERE NO WARNING MESSAGES FLASHING. WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND WITH MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELELERATOR, THE CAR GAINED SPEED QUICKLY AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO SLOW IT DOWN BY KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC CAR INTO "PARK" WHERE THE CAR STARTED RACING/REVVING AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHEREBY I IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF THE CAR. I HAD THE SAAB TOWED TO MY DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME. THEY TOLD ME TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THEM IF THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN--I TOLD THEM THAT THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO DRIVE TO THEM WOULD PUT MY PASSENGERS AND ME AT RISK. THAT EVENING, I CALLED SAAB USA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER WHERE I FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH SAAB (SAAB'S FILE # FOR MY COMPLAINT IS 1-32268057).AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS TO TEST IT OUT MORE THOROUGHLY GIVEN THE RISK THAT EXISTS IF A FUTURE PROBLEM OCCURS. I ALSO EXPRESSED MY FEAR OF DRIVING THIS CAR AGAIN WITH ME AND MY FAMILY IN IT. THE WOMAN AT SAAB USA SAID SHE WOULD CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND GET BACK TO ME GIVEN MY CONCERN. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING AS OF TODAY, MAY 25, 2002. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR AND SAAB HAS DONE NOTHING TO ALLEVIATE MY FEARS AND THEY ARE OFFERING NO SOLUTION EXCEPT TO SAY THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. I PAID FOR THEIR DIAGNOSIS AND I WOULD PAY ANYTHING REASONABLE TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WHICH COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE ALSO OWNED SAABS SINCE 1983 AND IT IS SAD THAT SAAB'S RESPONSE TO THIS PROBLEM IS TO SEND ME AWAY.*AK