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2001 Saab 9-3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Saab 9-3 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 61.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

48 reports with mileage · 11 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

59 reports
75,800 miles · Mar 7, 2006
Electrical System

WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RE-START ONCE TURNED OFF AND THE KEY TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO RE-START THE VEHICLE AND ALSO HEARD A "THUNK" SOUND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE WHICH ORIGINATED DIRECTLY BELOW THE INSERTED KEY. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE TH…

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WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RE-START ONCE TURNED OFF AND THE KEY TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO RE-START THE VEHICLE AND ALSO HEARD A "THUNK" SOUND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE WHICH ORIGINATED DIRECTLY BELOW THE INSERTED KEY. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM UNDER CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION MOUNTING SCREW/BOLTS HAD "WORKED THEMSELVES LOOSE" AND CAUSE THE HOUSING TO UNSEAT. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY RE-INSTALLING THE BOLTS. THE PROBLEM IS NOTICEABLE IF YOU HAVE A STANDARD-SHIFT VEHICLE (NOT AN AUTOMATIC) AND ARE ABLE TO SHIFT DIRECTLY FROM NEUTRAL TO REVERSE WITHOUT NEEDING TO LIFT UP ON THE SAFETY MECHANISM NEAR THE SHIFTER KNOB. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON HOWEVER THE GREATEST CONCERN WAS THAT WHEN I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER I WAS UNABLE TO EASILY SHIFT INTO GEAR AND HAD NOTICEABLE DIFFICULTY SHIFTING OUT OF REVERSE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10152150

43,444 miles · Feb 27, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

MY 2001 SAAB 9-3 BEGAN LEAKING FUEL, CULMINATING WITH A MAJOR LEAK OF FUEL FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE ON 2/26. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH TABS HOLDING IN THE FUEL PUMP. RECALL NUMBER 04V557 WAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, EXACT SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR BUT DID NOT COVER MY VIN. SAAB …

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MY 2001 SAAB 9-3 BEGAN LEAKING FUEL, CULMINATING WITH A MAJOR LEAK OF FUEL FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE ON 2/26. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH TABS HOLDING IN THE FUEL PUMP. RECALL NUMBER 04V557 WAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, EXACT SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR BUT DID NOT COVER MY VIN. SAAB MUST NOT HAVE COVERED ENOUGH VEHICLES IN ITS RECALL. VIN ENDS WITH 12050281. I THINK NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10151335

125,000 miles · Nov 7, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

DT CONTACT STATED THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING. THERE WAS RECALL 04V557000. WHEN SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF A QUART OF GASOLINE WILL POUR OUT UNDER THE VEHICLE. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE WITH …

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DT CONTACT STATED THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING. THERE WAS RECALL 04V557000. WHEN SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF A QUART OF GASOLINE WILL POUR OUT UNDER THE VEHICLE. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE WITH THE RECALL REPAIR KIT. THE KIT WAS A CLAMP TO SECURE THE FUEL LINE FROM COMING LOOSE. *AK PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATE: ESTIMATED LEAKAGE RATE WAS ABOUT ONE QUART OF FUEL EVERY 5 MINUTES.

NHTSA ODI #10141948

83,000 miles · Nov 4, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL LINE CAME OFF THE FUEL PUMP. THE CAR WAS SPURTING GAS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST GARAGE. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. HE FOUND NHTSA RECALL 04V557000/SAAB RECALL 15018 WHICH DEALT WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM AS HIS VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN …

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL LINE CAME OFF THE FUEL PUMP. THE CAR WAS SPURTING GAS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST GARAGE. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. HE FOUND NHTSA RECALL 04V557000/SAAB RECALL 15018 WHICH DEALT WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM AS HIS VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. WHEN THE CONTACT TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURERS, THEY TOLD HIM THAT BECAUSE HE DID NOT TAKE THE CAR TO A GM OR SAAB DEALERSHIP TO HAVE RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE THE REPAIR WORK WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. *AK PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATE: THE COMPLAINANT WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN HE SMELLED FUEL ODOR. THE REPAIRING GARAGE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP BECAUSE THE FUEL LINE RETAINING TAB ON THE PUMP IS BROKEN WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL LEAK.

NHTSA ODI #10141780

19,725 miles · Oct 29, 2005
Electrical System

I WAS TRAVELING IN A ROTARY THAT IS AN ON-RAMP TO 128 IN READING, MA. AND WAS ABOUT TO ACCELERATE UP THE ON-RAMP WHEN THE CAR DIED, BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, POWER STEERING FAILED. THIS WAS DURING RUSH HOUR AND THERE WAS NO SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER, LUCKILY A STATE TROOPER PULLED UP WITHIN ABOUT 2 MINUTES AND WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE C…

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I WAS TRAVELING IN A ROTARY THAT IS AN ON-RAMP TO 128 IN READING, MA. AND WAS ABOUT TO ACCELERATE UP THE ON-RAMP WHEN THE CAR DIED, BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, POWER STEERING FAILED. THIS WAS DURING RUSH HOUR AND THERE WAS NO SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER, LUCKILY A STATE TROOPER PULLED UP WITHIN ABOUT 2 MINUTES AND WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR TO A SAFER LOCATION. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED, CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED WITH A DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE (DIC) FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10141189

50,300 miles · Oct 24, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

A FUEL LEAK FROM THE BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE FUEL TANK TOGETHER. A RECALL HAS BEEN FILED ON SAAB 9-3 2001 -2004 CARS. THIS IS SAAB 9-3 2001, RECALL NUMBER IS 04V557000, VIN NUMBER [XXX], IT SEEMS IF THIS HAS A RECALL ON SOME CARS, IF A CAR HAS THE PROBLEM YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE FIXED BY THE RECALL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED …

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A FUEL LEAK FROM THE BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE FUEL TANK TOGETHER. A RECALL HAS BEEN FILED ON SAAB 9-3 2001 -2004 CARS. THIS IS SAAB 9-3 2001, RECALL NUMBER IS 04V557000, VIN NUMBER [XXX], IT SEEMS IF THIS HAS A RECALL ON SOME CARS, IF A CAR HAS THE PROBLEM YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE FIXED BY THE RECALL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED FOR FIRE POSSIBILITIES. IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE SAAB DEALER IN FAIRFIELD OH. THE DEALER IS CLAIMING THAT THIS CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED BY RECALL. I FEEL THAT THIS IS THE RECALL PROBLEM. AND IT SPECIFICALLY STATES SAAB 9-3 2001 - 2002. *NM UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #10140672

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

DT: 2001 SAAB 93. THE CONSUMER STATES GAS STARTED COMING OUT WHERE THE FUEL LINE WAS. THIS STARTED LAST NIGHT,ON OCTOBER 4, 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE, AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE FUEL CLIP. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A RECALL 04V557000 ON THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER CALLED SAAB, AND THEY TOLD HIM…

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DT: 2001 SAAB 93. THE CONSUMER STATES GAS STARTED COMING OUT WHERE THE FUEL LINE WAS. THIS STARTED LAST NIGHT,ON OCTOBER 4, 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE, AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE FUEL CLIP. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A RECALL 04V557000 ON THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER CALLED SAAB, AND THEY TOLD HIM THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN FIXED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10138659

61,000 miles · Aug 15, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, I SMELLED GAS AND WHEN I GOT IT BACK TO MY JOB SITE, I LOOKED UNDERNEATH TO SEE GAS LEAKING FROM UNDER MY CAR. I CALLED MY GARAGE AND THEY HAD TO TOW IT IN DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUES. THEY PUT IN A NEW SEAL AND SNAPPED THE FUEL LINE BACK TOGETHER BECASUE THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING ELSE WRONG WITH IT. 3 WEE…

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WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, I SMELLED GAS AND WHEN I GOT IT BACK TO MY JOB SITE, I LOOKED UNDERNEATH TO SEE GAS LEAKING FROM UNDER MY CAR. I CALLED MY GARAGE AND THEY HAD TO TOW IT IN DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUES. THEY PUT IN A NEW SEAL AND SNAPPED THE FUEL LINE BACK TOGETHER BECASUE THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING ELSE WRONG WITH IT. 3 WEEKS LATER, I'M DRIVING MY CAR AGAIN AND SMEELLED GAS AGAIN. I PULLED OVER SOMEWHERE SAFE AND LOOKED UNDER ONLY TO FIND GAS LEAKING AGAIN. I CALLED MY GARAGE AND HAD IT TOWED A SECOND TIME. SINCE IT HAPPENED A 2ND TIME AND THERE WAS NO CLEAR REASON WHY IT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED EITHER TIME, MY GARAGE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THEY TOLD HIM THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT PROBLEM AND THEY HAD NEW CLAMPS PRODUCED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. BUT HTYE ALSO TOLD HIM THAT MY CAR'S VIN DIDN'T FALL WITHIN THE RECALL. THEY SOLD MY GARGAGE THE PART TO PUT ON MY CAR BUT THAT'S ALL THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO WITH IT. I CALLED SAAB USA AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING. MY VIN WASN'T IN THE SELECTION FOR THE RECALL AND THAT'S WHY I WASN'T NOTIFIED AND NHTSA LETS THEM KNOW THE RECALL NUMBERS AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR. MY CAR HAD THE SAFELTY PROBLEM ACTUALLY HAPPEN AND JUST BECAUSE MY VIN WASN'T ONE OF THE ONES SELECTED, I'M NOT COVERED. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT IT DIDN'T RESULT IN A CAR FIRE. I FEEL I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR MY GARAGE BILLS FOR A PROBLEM THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN RECTIFIED IF RECALLED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10132842

48,488 miles · Jul 29, 2005
Electrical System

1) I STOPPED AT HOME ON THE WAY TO ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. THERE WERE NO INDICATORS THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE GARAGE ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT MADE NO NOISE AND GAVE NO INDICATION EXCEPT IT WAS MYSTERIOUSLY COMPLETELY UNABLE TO START. THE LIGHTS WOULD STILL TURN ON, SO I…

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1) I STOPPED AT HOME ON THE WAY TO ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. THERE WERE NO INDICATORS THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE GARAGE ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT MADE NO NOISE AND GAVE NO INDICATION EXCEPT IT WAS MYSTERIOUSLY COMPLETELY UNABLE TO START. THE LIGHTS WOULD STILL TURN ON, SO IT WAS NOT A BATTERY. I PAID TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SAAB INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. LUCKILY I WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT STOPPED WORKING; IT WAS A COMPLETE FLUKE I HAD STOPPED THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES. IT HAD STARTED FINE THE OTHER 3 TIMES THAT DAY. 2) THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS 2 MONTHS OUT OF THE 4-YEAR WARRANTY. LUCKILY, I WAS AT HOME AND WAS NOT INJURED. 3) WHEN THE REPAIR SHOP CHECKED THE CAR, THEY SAID THE IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY REPLACED IT. THE CAR NOW STARTS. HOWEVER, IT IS AN EXPENSIVE PART AND SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED SO SOON. I HAVE ONLY ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE READ STATEMENTS FROM OTHER SAAB 9-3 DRIVERS THAT THE IGNITION CASSETTES ON THEIR CARS FAILED WHILE DRIVING, WHICH LOST THEM CONTROL OF THE CAR IN BAD SITUATIONS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND I CONSIDER I HAD A CLOSE CALL. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10130582

52,700 miles · Jul 29, 2005
Electrical System

DIRECTION IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE. CAR SUFFERED COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER, WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX 65 MPH. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10130581

Official recalls

4

06V126000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Apr 20, 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINES WERE DAMAGED DURING PRODUCTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OVER TIME, THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL LINES TO LOOSEN FROM THE PUMP RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL MAY IGNITE RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL DEVELOP A SECURING BRACKET THAT WILL SECURE THE FUEL LINES TO THE FUEL PUMP EVEN IF THE PLASTIC RETAINING TABS SHOULD BREAK. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 12, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.

05V399000 · Electrical System:ignition:module

Sep 14, 2005

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

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.

04V557000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Nov 19, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINES WERE DAMAGED DURING PRODUCTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OVER TIME, THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL LINES TO LOOSEN FROM THE PUMP RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL MAY IGNITE RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL DEVELOP A SECURING BRACKET THAT WILL SECURE THE FUEL LINES TO THE FUEL PUMP EVEN IF THE PLASTIC RETAINING TABS SHOULD BREAK. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 14, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.

01V168000 · Air Bags

May 18, 2001

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

RQ05003 · Fuel Line Leakage

Opened Dec 20, 2005 · Closed Apr 28, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

ON NOVEMBER 19, 2004 GM NOTIFIED ODI OF A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE AT THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTIONS IN APPROXIMATELY 17,400 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 AND 2002 SAAB 9-3 PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE UUSIKAUPUNKI, FINLAND ASSEMBLY PLANT BETWEEN MAY 2000 AND JULY 2002 (GM RECALL NO. 14101, NHTSA RECALL NO. 04V-557).ACCORDING TO GM, PLASTIC FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINES WERE DAMAGED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS FOR SOME OF THE 9-3 VEHICLES BUILT AT THE FINLAND PLANT.GM INDICATED THAT, OVER TIME, THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL LINES TO LOOSEN FROM THE PUMP RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULDCAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.THE RECALLED VEHICLES WERE FITTED WITH A SECURING BRACKET TO HOLD THE FUEL LINES TO THE FUEL PUMP EVEN IF THERETAINING TABS SHOULD BREAK. RQ05-003 WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF FUEL PUMP RETAINING TAB FAILURE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IN MY 2001 SAAB 9-3 VEHICLES BUILT AT THE TROLLHATTEN, SWEDEN PLANT.IN ITS RESPONSE TO RQ05-003 GM INDICATED THAT CONCERNS WITH THE RETAINING TAB FAILURE IN MY 2001 SAAB 9-3 VEHICLES WERE NOT LIMITED TO VEHICLES PRODUCED IN FINLAND.IN AN APRIL 20, 2006 LETTER (COPY ATTACHED), GM INFORMED NHTSA THAT IT WAS EXPANDING ITS RECALL TO INCLUDE THE MY 2001 9-3 VEHICLES BUILT IN SWEDEN (GM RECALL NO. 14101, NHTSA RECALL NO. 06V-126).SAAB PLANS TO BEGIN MAILING OWNER LETTERS FOR THE ADDITIONAL VEHICLES IN MAY 2005.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

PE05017 · Engine Stall/ Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Apr 7, 2005 · Closed Sep 23, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System; Electrical System:ignition; Electrical System:ignition:module

ODI OPENED PE05-017 BASED ON 35 REPORTS OF ALLEGED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IDM CASSETTE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MOST REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.IN 3 INCIDENTS, THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED SMOKE AND/OR FIRE RESULTED FROM THE IDM FAILURE.DURING PE05-017, ADDITIONAL FAILURE DATA WAS IDENTIFIED AS NOTED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY ABOVE.THE COMPLAINT DATA REPRESENTS INCIDENTS WHERE THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED A STALL OR FIRE.ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2005, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT ON 95,081 MY 2000-2002 SAAB 9-3 AND 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND 8,117 MY 2001 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 6- CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES (RECALL 05V-399).THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES WITHIN THESE POPULATIONS MAY EXPERIENCE OVERHEATING AND BURNOUT OF THE ISOLATED GATED BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR (IGBT) WITHIN THE IDM DUE TO INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ELECTRICAL LOADS.OVERHEATING OF THE IGBT OCCURS MOST OFTEN AT ENGINE START-UP FOR BOTH A 4-CYLINDER AND 6-CYLINDER ENGINE, BUT IT MAY ALSO OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.WHEN THE IDM FAILS ON A 4-CYLINDER WHILE IT IS RUNNING, THE ENGINE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING, WITH NO ABILITY TO BE RESTARTED.WHEN THE IDM FAILS ON A 6-CYLINDER ENGINE WHILE IT IS RUNNING, THE DRIVER WILL INITIALLY EXPERIENCE REDUCED POWER AND ROUGH OPERATION BECAUSE THE ENGINE WILL ONLY BE RUNNING ON THREE CYLINDERS.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH.IF THE DRIVER CONTINUES, UNBURNT FUEL IN THE EXHAUST CAN CAUSE THERMAL DAMAGE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.THE ENGINE MAY STALL AND NOT RESTART.THERMAL DAMAGE TO OTHER UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS AND THE UNDERBODY MAY ALSO RESULT FROM PROLONGED DRIVING.THE RECALL POPULATION ENCOMPASSES 84% OF THE STALLING AND FIRE COMPLAINTS (215 FOR VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES AND 36 FOR VEHICLES WITH 6-CYLINDER ENGINES).THE 36 MONTHS IN SERVICE (MIS) STALLING RATES FOR EACH MODEL YEAR OF RECALLED VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES WERE ALL GREATER THAN TWO PERCENT.ALTHOUGH THE 36 MIS STALL RATE FOR THE RECALLED MY 2001 VEHICLES WITH V6 ENGINES WAS LOWER, AT 1.3 PERCENT, THESE VEHICLES ALSO HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF CONFIRMED (OPEN FLAME VERIFIED) FIRES AT 62 PER 100,000 VEHICLES.GM WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER FOR IDM INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT, IF NECESSARY.CONSEQUENTLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCOPE AND REMEDY OF GM'S ACTION AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.

Additional source detail variants (6)

Electrical System:ignition:module

ODI OPENED PE05-017 BASED ON 35 REPORTS OF ALLEGED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IDM CASSETTE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MOST REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.IN 3 INCIDENTS, THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED SMOKE AND/OR FIRE RESULTED FROM THE IDM FAILURE.DURING PE05-017, ADDITIONAL FAILURE DATA WAS IDENTIFIED AS NOTED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY ABOVE.THE COMPLAINT DATA REPRESENTS INCIDENTS WHERE THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED A STALL OR FIRE.ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2005, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT ON 95,081 MY 2000-2002 SAAB 9-3 AND 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND 8,117 MY 2001 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 6- CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES (RECALL 05V-399).THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES WITHIN THESE POPULATIONS MAY EXPERIENCE OVERHEATING AND BURNOUT OF THE ISOLATED GATED BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR (IGBT) WITHIN THE IDM DUE TO INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ELECTRICAL LOADS.OVERHEATING OF THE IGBT OCCURS MOST OFTEN AT ENGINE START-UP FOR BOTH A 4-CYLINDER AND 6-CYLINDER ENGINE, BUT IT MAY ALSO OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.WHEN THE IDM FAILS ON A 4-CYLINDER WHILE IT IS RUNNING, THE ENGINE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING, WITH NO ABILITY TO BE RESTARTED.WHEN THE IDM FAILS ON A 6-CYLINDER ENGINE WHILE IT IS RUNNING, THE DRIVER WILL INITIALLY EXPERIENCE REDUCED POWER AND ROUGH OPERATION BECAUSE THE ENGINE WILL ONLY BE RUNNING ON THREE CYLINDERS.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH.IF THE DRIVER CONTINUES, UNBURNT FUEL IN THE EXHAUST CAN CAUSE THERMAL DAMAGE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.THE ENGINE MAY STALL AND NOT RESTART.THERMAL DAMAGE TO OTHER UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS AND THE UNDERBODY MAY ALSO RESULT FROM PROLONGED DRIVING.THE RECALL POPULATION ENCOMPASSES 84% OF THE STALLING AND FIRE COMPLAINTS (215 FOR VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES AND 36 FOR VEHICLES WITH 6-CYLINDER ENGINES).THE 36 MONTHS IN SERVICE (MIS) STALLING RATES FOR EACH MODEL YEAR OF RECALLED VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES WERE ALL GREATER THAN TWO PERCENT.ALTHOUGH THE 36 MIS STALL RATE FOR THE RECALLED MY 2001 VEHICLES WITH V6 ENGINES WAS LOWER, AT 1.3 PERCENT, THESE VEHICLES ALSO HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF CONFIRMED (OPEN FLAME VERIFIED) FIRES AT 62 PER 100,000 VEHICLES.GM WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER FOR IDM INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT, IF NECESSARY.CONSEQUENTLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCOPE AND REMEDY OF GM'S ACTION AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.

Electrical System:ignition:module

ODI OPENED PE05-017 BASED ON 35 REPORTS OF ALLEGED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IDM CASSETTE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MOST REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.IN 3 INCIDENTS, THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED SMOKE AND/OR FIRE RESULTED FROM THE IDM FAILURE.DURING PE05-017, ADDITIONAL FAILURE DATA WAS IDENTIFIED AS NOTED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY ABOVE.THE COMPLAINT DATA REPRESENTS INCIDENTS WHERE THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED A STALL OR FIRE.ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2005, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT ON 95,081 MY 2000-2002 SAAB 9-3 AND 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND 8,117 MY 2001 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 6- CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES (RECALL 05V-399).THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES WITHIN THESE POPULATIONS MAY EXPERIENCE OVERHEATING AND BURNOUT OF THE ISOLATED GATED BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR (IGBT) WITHIN THE IDM DUE TO INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ELECTRICAL LOADS.OVERHEATING OF THE IGBT OCCURS MOST OFTEN AT ENGINE START-UP FOR BOTH A 4-CYLINDER AND 6-CYLINDER ENGINE, BUT IT MAY ALSO OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.WHEN THE IDM FAILS ON A 4-CYLINDER WHILE IT IS RUNNING, THE ENGINE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING, WITH NO ABILITY TO BE RESTARTED.WHEN THE IDM FAILS ON A 6-CYLINDER ENGINE WHILE IT IS RUNNING, THE DRIVER WILL INITIALLY EXPERIENCE REDUCED POWER AND ROUGH OPERATION BECAUSE THE ENGINE WILL ONLY BE RUNNING ON THREE CYLINDERS.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH.IF THE DRIVER CONTINUES, UNBURNT FUEL IN THE EXHAUST CAN CAUSE THERMAL DAMAGE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.THE ENGINE MAY STALL AND NOT RESTART.THERMAL DAMAGE TO OTHER UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS AND THE UNDERBODY MAY ALSO RESULT FROM PROLONGED DRIVING.THE RECALL POPULATION ENCOMPASSES 84% OF THE STALLING AND FIRE COMPLAINTS (215 FOR VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES AND 36 FOR VEHICLES WITH 6-CYLINDER ENGINES).THE 36 MONTHS IN SERVICE (MIS) STALLING RATES FOR EACH MODEL YEAR OF RECALLED VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES WERE ALL GREATER THAN TWO PERCENT.ALTHOUGH THE 36 MIS STALL RATE FOR THE RECALLED MY 2001 VEHICLES WITH V6 ENGINES WAS LOWER, AT 1.3 PERCENT, THESE VEHICLES ALSO HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF CONFIRMED (OPEN FLAME VERIFIED) FIRES AT 62 PER 100,000 VEHICLES.GM WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER FOR IDM INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT, IF NECESSARY.CONSEQUENTLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCOPE AND REMEDY OF GM'S ACTION AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.

Electrical System:ignition

ODI OPENED PE05-017 BASED ON 35 REPORTS OF ALLEGED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IDM CASSETTE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MOST REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.IN 3 INCIDENTS, THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED SMOKE AND/OR FIRE RESULTED FROM THE IDM FAILURE.DURING PE05-017, ADDITIONAL FAILURE DATA WAS IDENTIFIED AS NOTED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY ABOVE.THE COMPLAINT DATA REPRESENTS INCIDENTS WHERE THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED A STALL OR FIRE.ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2005, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT ON 95,081 MY 2000-2002 SAAB 9-3 AND 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND 8,117 MY 2001 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 6- CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES (RECALL 05V-399).THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES WITHIN THESE POPULATIONS MAY EXPERIENCE OVERHEATING AND BURNOUT OF THE ISOLATED GATED BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR (IGBT) WITHIN THE IDM DUE TO INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ELECTRICAL LOADS.OVERHEATING OF THE IGBT OCCURS MOST OFTEN AT ENGINE START-UP FOR BOTH A 4-CYLINDER AND 6-CYLINDER ENGINE, BUT IT MAY ALSO OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.WHEN THE IDM FAILS ON A 4-CYLINDER WHILE IT IS RUNNING, THE ENGINE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING, WITH NO ABILITY TO BE RESTARTED.WHEN THE IDM FAILS ON A 6-CYLINDER ENGINE WHILE IT IS RUNNING, THE DRIVER WILL INITIALLY EXPERIENCE REDUCED POWER AND ROUGH OPERATION BECAUSE THE ENGINE WILL ONLY BE RUNNING ON THREE CYLINDERS.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH.IF THE DRIVER CONTINUES, UNBURNT FUEL IN THE EXHAUST CAN CAUSE THERMAL DAMAGE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.THE ENGINE MAY STALL AND NOT RESTART.THERMAL DAMAGE TO OTHER UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS AND THE UNDERBODY MAY ALSO RESULT FROM PROLONGED DRIVING.THE RECALL POPULATION ENCOMPASSES 84% OF THE STALLING AND FIRE COMPLAINTS (215 FOR VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES AND 36 FOR VEHICLES WITH 6-CYLINDER ENGINES).THE 36 MONTHS IN SERVICE (MIS) STALLING RATES FOR EACH MODEL YEAR OF RECALLED VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES WERE ALL GREATER THAN TWO PERCENT.ALTHOUGH THE 36 MIS STALL RATE FOR THE RECALLED MY 2001 VEHICLES WITH V6 ENGINES WAS LOWER, AT 1.3 PERCENT, THESE VEHICLES ALSO HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF CONFIRMED (OPEN FLAME VERIFIED) FIRES AT 62 PER 100,000 VEHICLES.GM WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER FOR IDM INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT, IF NECESSARY.CONSEQUENTLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCOPE AND REMEDY OF GM'S ACTION AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.

Electrical System:ignition

ODI OPENED PE05-017 BASED ON 35 REPORTS OF ALLEGED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IDM CASSETTE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MOST REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.IN 3 INCIDENTS, THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED SMOKE AND/OR FIRE RESULTED FROM THE IDM FAILURE.DURING PE05-017, ADDITIONAL FAILURE DATA WAS IDENTIFIED AS NOTED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY ABOVE.THE COMPLAINT DATA REPRESENTS INCIDENTS WHERE THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED A STALL OR FIRE.ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2005, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT ON 95,081 MY 2000-2002 SAAB 9-3 AND 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND 8,117 MY 2001 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 6- CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES (RECALL 05V-399).THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES WITHIN THESE POPULATIONS MAY EXPERIENCE OVERHEATING AND BURNOUT OF THE ISOLATED GATED BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR (IGBT) WITHIN THE IDM DUE TO INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ELECTRICAL LOADS.OVERHEATING OF THE IGBT OCCURS MOST OFTEN AT ENGINE START-UP FOR BOTH A 4-CYLINDER AND 6-CYLINDER ENGINE, BUT IT MAY ALSO OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.WHEN THE IDM FAILS ON A 4-CYLINDER WHILE IT IS RUNNING, THE ENGINE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING, WITH NO ABILITY TO BE RESTARTED.WHEN THE IDM FAILS ON A 6-CYLINDER ENGINE WHILE IT IS RUNNING, THE DRIVER WILL INITIALLY EXPERIENCE REDUCED POWER AND ROUGH OPERATION BECAUSE THE ENGINE WILL ONLY BE RUNNING ON THREE CYLINDERS.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH.IF THE DRIVER CONTINUES, UNBURNT FUEL IN THE EXHAUST CAN CAUSE THERMAL DAMAGE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.THE ENGINE MAY STALL AND NOT RESTART.THERMAL DAMAGE TO OTHER UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS AND THE UNDERBODY MAY ALSO RESULT FROM PROLONGED DRIVING.THE RECALL POPULATION ENCOMPASSES 84% OF THE STALLING AND FIRE COMPLAINTS (215 FOR VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES AND 36 FOR VEHICLES WITH 6-CYLINDER ENGINES).THE 36 MONTHS IN SERVICE (MIS) STALLING RATES FOR EACH MODEL YEAR OF RECALLED VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES WERE ALL GREATER THAN TWO PERCENT.ALTHOUGH THE 36 MIS STALL RATE FOR THE RECALLED MY 2001 VEHICLES WITH V6 ENGINES WAS LOWER, AT 1.3 PERCENT, THESE VEHICLES ALSO HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF CONFIRMED (OPEN FLAME VERIFIED) FIRES AT 62 PER 100,000 VEHICLES.GM WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER FOR IDM INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT, IF NECESSARY.CONSEQUENTLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCOPE AND REMEDY OF GM'S ACTION AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.

Electrical System

ODI OPENED PE05-017 BASED ON 35 REPORTS OF ALLEGED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IDM CASSETTE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MOST REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.IN 3 INCIDENTS, THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED SMOKE AND/OR FIRE RESULTED FROM THE IDM FAILURE.DURING PE05-017, ADDITIONAL FAILURE DATA WAS IDENTIFIED AS NOTED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY ABOVE.THE COMPLAINT DATA REPRESENTS INCIDENTS WHERE THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED A STALL OR FIRE.ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2005, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT ON 95,081 MY 2000-2002 SAAB 9-3 AND 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND 8,117 MY 2001 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 6- CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES (RECALL 05V-399).THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES WITHIN THESE POPULATIONS MAY EXPERIENCE OVERHEATING AND BURNOUT OF THE ISOLATED GATED BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR (IGBT) WITHIN THE IDM DUE TO INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ELECTRICAL LOADS.OVERHEATING OF THE IGBT OCCURS MOST OFTEN AT ENGINE START-UP FOR BOTH A 4-CYLINDER AND 6-CYLINDER ENGINE, BUT IT MAY ALSO OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.WHEN THE IDM FAILS ON A 4-CYLINDER WHILE IT IS RUNNING, THE ENGINE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING, WITH NO ABILITY TO BE RESTARTED.WHEN THE IDM FAILS ON A 6-CYLINDER ENGINE WHILE IT IS RUNNING, THE DRIVER WILL INITIALLY EXPERIENCE REDUCED POWER AND ROUGH OPERATION BECAUSE THE ENGINE WILL ONLY BE RUNNING ON THREE CYLINDERS.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH.IF THE DRIVER CONTINUES, UNBURNT FUEL IN THE EXHAUST CAN CAUSE THERMAL DAMAGE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.THE ENGINE MAY STALL AND NOT RESTART.THERMAL DAMAGE TO OTHER UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS AND THE UNDERBODY MAY ALSO RESULT FROM PROLONGED DRIVING.THE RECALL POPULATION ENCOMPASSES 84% OF THE STALLING AND FIRE COMPLAINTS (215 FOR VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES AND 36 FOR VEHICLES WITH 6-CYLINDER ENGINES).THE 36 MONTHS IN SERVICE (MIS) STALLING RATES FOR EACH MODEL YEAR OF RECALLED VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES WERE ALL GREATER THAN TWO PERCENT.ALTHOUGH THE 36 MIS STALL RATE FOR THE RECALLED MY 2001 VEHICLES WITH V6 ENGINES WAS LOWER, AT 1.3 PERCENT, THESE VEHICLES ALSO HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF CONFIRMED (OPEN FLAME VERIFIED) FIRES AT 62 PER 100,000 VEHICLES.GM WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER FOR IDM INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT, IF NECESSARY.CONSEQUENTLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCOPE AND REMEDY OF GM'S ACTION AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.

Electrical System

ODI OPENED PE05-017 BASED ON 35 REPORTS OF ALLEGED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IDM CASSETTE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MOST REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.IN 3 INCIDENTS, THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED SMOKE AND/OR FIRE RESULTED FROM THE IDM FAILURE.DURING PE05-017, ADDITIONAL FAILURE DATA WAS IDENTIFIED AS NOTED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY ABOVE.THE COMPLAINT DATA REPRESENTS INCIDENTS WHERE THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED A STALL OR FIRE.ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2005, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT ON 95,081 MY 2000-2002 SAAB 9-3 AND 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND 8,117 MY 2001 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 6- CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES (RECALL 05V-399).THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES WITHIN THESE POPULATIONS MAY EXPERIENCE OVERHEATING AND BURNOUT OF THE ISOLATED GATED BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR (IGBT) WITHIN THE IDM DUE TO INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ELECTRICAL LOADS.OVERHEATING OF THE IGBT OCCURS MOST OFTEN AT ENGINE START-UP FOR BOTH A 4-CYLINDER AND 6-CYLINDER ENGINE, BUT IT MAY ALSO OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.WHEN THE IDM FAILS ON A 4-CYLINDER WHILE IT IS RUNNING, THE ENGINE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING, WITH NO ABILITY TO BE RESTARTED.WHEN THE IDM FAILS ON A 6-CYLINDER ENGINE WHILE IT IS RUNNING, THE DRIVER WILL INITIALLY EXPERIENCE REDUCED POWER AND ROUGH OPERATION BECAUSE THE ENGINE WILL ONLY BE RUNNING ON THREE CYLINDERS.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH.IF THE DRIVER CONTINUES, UNBURNT FUEL IN THE EXHAUST CAN CAUSE THERMAL DAMAGE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.THE ENGINE MAY STALL AND NOT RESTART.THERMAL DAMAGE TO OTHER UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS AND THE UNDERBODY MAY ALSO RESULT FROM PROLONGED DRIVING.THE RECALL POPULATION ENCOMPASSES 84% OF THE STALLING AND FIRE COMPLAINTS (215 FOR VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES AND 36 FOR VEHICLES WITH 6-CYLINDER ENGINES).THE 36 MONTHS IN SERVICE (MIS) STALLING RATES FOR EACH MODEL YEAR OF RECALLED VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES WERE ALL GREATER THAN TWO PERCENT.ALTHOUGH THE 36 MIS STALL RATE FOR THE RECALLED MY 2001 VEHICLES WITH V6 ENGINES WAS LOWER, AT 1.3 PERCENT, THESE VEHICLES ALSO HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF CONFIRMED (OPEN FLAME VERIFIED) FIRES AT 62 PER 100,000 VEHICLES.GM WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER FOR IDM INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT, IF NECESSARY.CONSEQUENTLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCOPE AND REMEDY OF GM'S ACTION AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.