CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH B205/B235 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND B308 6-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE OVERHEATING AND BURNOUT OF THE ISOLATED GATED BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR (IGBT) WITHIN THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE (IDM) DUE TO INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ELECTRICAL LOADS.
Safety risk
OVERHEATING OF THE IGBT OCCURS MOST OFTEN AT ENGINE START-UP, BUT IT MAY ALSO OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. ENGINE STALLING MAY OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE WHAT VERSION IDM IS IN THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE IDM IF IT IS A VERSION BUILT PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTION OF QP3. AN INTERIM LETTER WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS IN OCTOBER 2005, INFORMING THEM OF THE CONDITION. PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AND OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN TO THE DEALERS TO HAVE THE IDM REPLACED BY LETTER DATED MARCH 13, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE AIR BAG ALERT LABELS MAY NOT BE PERMANENTLY AFFIXED AS REQUIRED BY THIS STANDARD.
Safety risk
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE SUNVISOR SURFACE AND APPLY A NEW AIR BAG ALERT LABEL ON BOTH SUNVISORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 30, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Electrical system: ignition: module
12
53,534 mi
Air bags
10
131,000 mi
Electrical system
9
73,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition
9
66,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling
8
93,118 mi
Seat belts
3
99,999 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine
2
54,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys
2
106,178 mi
Fuel system, gasoline
2
125,200 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch
1
114,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system
1
94,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger
1
72,000 mi
Equipment
1
111,180 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner
1
106,178 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights
1
—
Fuel system, other
1
87,000 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly
1
87,000 mi
Parking brake
1
—
Power train: clutch assembly: pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)
1
—
Seats
1
—
Tires
1
—
Unknown or other
1
—
Vehicle speed control
1
—
Wheels
1
—
The 1999 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2001 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.