HEATER BOX FROZE UP UPONE TURNING THE CONTROL DIAL TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD...INTERNET DISCUSSION BOARDS SAY SAAB KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO FIX PROPERLY AND PERMANENTLY...PROBABLY TAKING THIS TO SMALL CLAIMS BASED UPON WHAT I'VE READ...
2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
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 MOST COMMENTS DESCRIBE CIRCUMSTANCES SIMILAR TO MINE WHERE THE ENGINE DIES WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS HAS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE OCCUPANTS AND OTHER USERS OF THE HIGHWAYS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. OPTIONS WOULD BE A FULL RECALL OR A PROPER WARNING SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS THE PART TO BE REPLACED BEFORE CATASTROPHE. *JB