1997 Saab 900

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SAAB 900. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED HAPHAZARDLY. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO BECOME CRACKED AND THE CONTACT TO SUFFER MINOR HEARING LOST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

MY DRIVER SIDE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE, MASSACHUSETTS WILL NOT PASS IT DUE TO IT BEING A SAFETY HAZARD. WE TOOK THE DOOR APART FIXED THE DOOR AND THEN TESTED THE LOCKS TO MAKE SURE THEY STILL WORK. IT WAS THEN THAT THE DEADLOCK WAS ENGAGED. WE REALIZED THAT LAST NIGHT IF A CHILD WAS IN THE CAR THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO LET THEMSELVES OUT OF THE CAR NOR CAN YOU GET IN. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THIS FEATURE FAILING AND NOT RELEASING FROM A KEY. *TR

RE: SAAB 900 1997. UPON TURNING THE IGNITION KEY IN AN ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BELTS TENSIONED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN AND THE RADIO POPPED OUT OF THE DASH. THIS IS EVENT IS VERY MUCH ALIKE TO DEFECTS DESCRIBED IN RECALLS OF SAAB 900 1995 AND 1998 MODEL YEARS. I HAVE ALREADY FILED A REPORT AT SAAB. SAAB HAS INFORMED ME THAT AT THIS TIME THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. *JB

THREE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR, THE CLUTCH CABLE ON MY CAR HAS BROKEN. THANKFULLY, EACH TIME I WAS WITHIN FOUR MILES OF MY HOME. WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO SHIFT, I WAS REQUIRED TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE HOME OR TO THE SERVICE STATION WITH NO STOPPING. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO BLOW THROUGH STOP SIGNS AND AVOID TRAFFIC. I DO NOT LOOK FORWARD TO THREE MONTHS FROM NOW WHEN THE CABLE BREAKS AGAIN LEAVING ME STRANDED IN A LESS CONVENIENT LOCATION. *NM

1997 SAAB 900 SE TURBO 2.0, CAR BEGAN TO STALL, AND WOULD ONLY RESTART ONCE BROUGHT TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE KEYS REMOVED. STALLING CONTINUED RANDOMLY AT HIGH OR LOW SPEEDS. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT STALLED AT HIGH SPEEDS - THE POWER STEERING CUT OUT, POWER AND ABS BRAKES - IT WAS AS IF THE KEY HAD BEEN REMOVED AND ALL POWER CUT TO THE CAR.*AK FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH (ELECTRICAL PORTION BELOW KEYS) REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, STALLING FIXED. CAR BASICALLY THOUGHT THE KEYS WERE BEING REMOVED (THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS ON THE IGNITION SWITCH WERE BAD AND WOULD CUT ON AND OFF). ~$400 AFTER PARTS AND LABOR TO REPLACE SWITCH, HAD TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELLY DUE TO HIGH RISK OF A DANGEROUS FAILURE AT HIGH SPEEDS.

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1997 SAAB 900S CONVERTIBLE - THE CLUTCH CABLE HAS BROKEN 3 TIMES IN 3 YEARS. EACH TIME, I HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD ONLY TO HAVE THE CABLE SNAP AND THE CLUTCH GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. ON SEPT 8, 2004 - THE CABLE BROKE FOR THE 3RD TIME - MY 5 YEAR OLD AND I WERE ON THE HIGHWAY - NARROWLY ESCAPING A MAJOR ACCIDENT OCCURING. MY IMPORT MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE SAAB MANUFACTURER WHO ATTRIBUTES IT TO A POOR DESIGN. EACH FIX IS COSTING - $300 FOR LABOR AND PARTS AS WELL AS THE USE OF A RENTAL CAR FOR 1 WEEK BECAUSE OF A LONG DELAY IN GETTING PARTS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I AM PURCHASING ANOTHER CAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY CHILD. HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP MY SAAB (FOR SUNNY DAYS) AS WELL. IS SAAB ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE? APPARENTLY THERE IS A PLASTIC PART AT THE END OF THE CABLE WHICH SNAPS OFF BECAUSE IT CAN'T TAKE THE CONSTANT PRESSURE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! WHAT IS THE FIX?*AK