WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT ON SEAT BELT, THE RETRACTOR FAILED AND THE SEAT BELT IS EXTENDED TO IT'S LARGEST CAPACITY AND WILL NOT RETRACT. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED AT A REPAIR SHOP FOR SWEDISH CARS AND WAS TOLD THAT FIXING IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. I WAS TOLD THAT RECALL APPLIED TO ONLY SEDANS. I WAS QUOTED A COST OF OVER $800 TO FIX THE PART. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THE 2004 SAABS. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 BIG PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS TO SOME LITTLE OLD LADY, IT'S DEFINITELY A PROBLEM AT SPEED. WITH THE ADVANCED ON BOARD DIAGNOSTICS AND INFORMATION DISPLAYS, THERE IS NO WAY THIS SHOULD HAPPEN.*AK