2000 SAAB 9-3 Electrical Systemignitionmodule Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-3. IN 2006, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V399000. THE FAILURE WAS NOT PRESENT AT THE TIME, BUT THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED AS A PRECAUTIONARY REMEDY. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND OFTEN STALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY FURTHER LIABILITY. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED CORRECTLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED PARTS FOR A RECALL WERE PURCHASED AT AN AFTERMARKET PARTS STORE. THE NHTSA RECALL WAS # 05V399000 CONCERNING THE IGNITION MODULE. WHILE APPLYING FOR REIMBURSEMENT, THE CONTACT WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE PROOF OF PAYMENT WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE PURCHASE WAS PAID FOR WITH A CREDIT CARD.

CONSUMER 2000 9-3 SAAB ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *TS ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE IGNITION CASSETTE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER ONE MONTH LATER THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM HE HAD FIXED THE PREVIOUS MONTH. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75MPH ON THE FREEWAY THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE WERE IT REMAINS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP. A RECALL, # 05V399000 WAS PERFORMED ON APRIL 26, 2006 CONCERNING THE IGNITION MODULE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLS SPORADICALLY BEFORE START UP AND WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY SPEED. AFTER SITTING A WHILE, THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART. AN NHTSA RECALL, #05V399000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: MODULE HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER THE RECALL.

SINCE PURCHASING MY 2000 SAAB 9-3 [XXX] IN 2003, I HAVE SPENT $9,000 IN VEHICLE REPAIRS WHICH HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY BECOME "RECALL NOTICES" ISSUED FROM SAAB CARS USA. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE FAILED FALL 2004 - WITH SUBSEQUENT REPAIR COVERAGE UNDER A RECALL NOTICE ISSUED 5/17/05. THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE FAILED IN 7/05, WITH REPAIRS SUBSEQUENTLY COVERED THROUGH AN IDM RECALL NOTICE ISSUED 3/31/06. AT THE TIME OF THE IDM FAILURE IN 7/05, THE SAAB DEALERSHIP ALSO DIAGNOSED CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE. DO THE MAJOR MECHANICAL ISSUES THAT EXIST WITH THIS VEHICLE CAUSE A CASCADE OF EVENTS WHICH HAVE DAMAGED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, NOW REQUIRING REPLACEMENT? *NM *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY STREET WHEN MY CAR STALLED, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG PRIOR TO THE CAR DYING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL SAAB DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE DI CASSETTE AND DID A SOFTWARE UPGRADE. I WAS NOT INJURED, HOWEVER, I AM FRIGHTENED TO THINK WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS DRIVING 65 ON A BUSY HIGHWAY! *NM

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE GSP DURING THE EVENING RUSH HOUR (5PM OR SO) IN THE LEFT LANE ON THE EXPRESS SIDE. PICKUP TRUCK APPROXIMATELY 4 FT OFF MY REAR BUMPER(NJ YOU KNOW). HEAVY RAIN. MY 2000 SAAB 9-3 VIGGEN JUST SHUT OFF.NO WARNING. NO POWER TO GET TO APPROPRIATE SHOULDER SO I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR OFF THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO THE MUD. AFTER BEING TOWED TO DEALER I GOT THE CAR BACK THE NEXT DAY. DI CASSETTE FAILURE WAS THE DIAGNOSIS.COME TO FIND OUT, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE SAAB DI CASSETTES. ONE DAY LATER, CAR BACK IN SHOP FOR 4 DAYS. DEALER NEEDED TO REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR DUE TO NO ENGINE POWER. CATALYTIC CONVERTOR FAILURE A DIRECT RESULT OF DI FAILURE. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN A...

I WAS CASUALLY DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SHUTOFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, IT DID NOT RESTART. FORTUNATELY, I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO CARRY ME TOWARDS THE CURB. BUT I HAD TO CUT ACROSS A LANE TO MAKE IT TO THE CURB. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY, THEY KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS - FAILED IGNITION CASSETTE. THE DEALER SAID THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH SAABS AND THERE IS NO WARNING BEFORE FAILURE. I FIND THIS ODD CONSIDERING THE CAR HAS A SERVICE INFORMATION DISPLAY. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO IT WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED BY THE DEALER IN 2 DAYS. BUT AT 42,000 MILES, I FIND IT SCARY AS I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE NEXT TIME IT WILL FAIL - IN ANOTHER 40,000? HAD THIS BEEN A TIME...

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. *JB

DI CASSETTE FAILURE I WAS DRIVING IN THE I80 DURING RUSH HOUR (5:30 PM NEAR SAN FRANCISCO-RICHMOND) AT ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE ENGINE DIED ON ME. I HAD TO CUT ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH A DEAD ENGINE TO GET TO THE SIDE. I AM SURPRISED THAT I COULD EVEN DO THIS GIVEN THE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC. IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY NASTY SINCE I WAS JUST COMING AROUND A CORNER WHEN IT OCCURRED. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SAAB DEALER. APPARENTLY THE DI CASSETTE HAS FAILED AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED PLUS SPARK PLUGS ($725) AND POSSIBLY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ($1,100). ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNINGS GIVEN ON THIS NOR WOULD IT BE DETECTABLE IN A NORMAL SERVICE. DOING SOME RESEARCH IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH SAAB'S AROUND THE WORLD. VERY INTERESTINGLY...

FAILED DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE LEAVES MOTORIST STRANDED. THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS THAT THE ENGINE WILL STOP WITH NO WARNING - EVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS OF TRAVEL. *LA