2005 SAAB 9-2X Steering Problems

WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, I SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE BAY AND COULDN'T TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO EXIT THE DRIVEWAY. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE RUBBER RING (INNER RING) OF THE ENGINE'S CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BECOMING MISALIGNED WITH THE METAL RING (OUTER RING), CAUSING THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY. THIS CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME SUDDENLY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHICH COULD HAVE POSED A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I WERE DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD. PLEASE NOTE MY VEHICLE'S ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN IS IDENTICAL TO THE MORE POPULAR AND BETTER-SELLING 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA, SO THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THAT VEHICLE AS WELL. MY MECHANIC HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON MULTIPLE IMPREZAS, BUT SUBARU REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. *TR

PURCHASED CAR APPROX 2 MONTHS AGO. ODOMETER READ 24,200 MILES. WITHIN TWO MONTHS, AND 2,000 MILES, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR A WHINING NOISE, ALARM, POWER STEERING, AND AN AIR COMPRESSOR. AFTER 3 WEEKS BACK AND FORTH, I AM NOW ON MY THIRD DIFFERENTIAL, SECOND AIR COMPRESSOR, SECOND POWER STEERING PUMP, AND SECOND ALARM SPEAKER. TOMORROW I GO BACK TO THE SHOP FOR THE SAME WHINING NOISE, THE ALARM SPEAKER (OUT AGAIN), THE AIR COMPRESSOR (EXTREMELY NOISY), AND FUEL ECONOMY ONLY REACHING 12 TO 13 MPG(RATED 19 TO 26). THE DEALERSHIPS "TECH CENTER" SAID THAT THE NOISES WERE INHERENT, BUT IF SO, WHY WOULD THEY REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL TWICE, AND WHY WOULD IT GET PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER IN A WEEKS TIME. I LOVED THE CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT, BUT NOW IT FEELS AS IF I BOUGHT A LEMON. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING LOAN CARS LONGER THAN MY OWN. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2005 SAAB 9-2X AND SHORTLY AFTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN MY CAR BEING TOTALED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURED WHEN THE STEERING FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY RESULTING IN THE CAR JUMPING A MEDIAN AND LANDING ON ITS SIDE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CAR IGNITED INTO A FIRE STARTING IN THE ENGINE, WHICH QUICKLY SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR. LUCKILY THE PASSENGER AND I MADE IT OUT QUICKLY AND SAFELY.