NHTSA Campaign 05V399000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

Issued by SAAB CARS USA, INC. · Reported Sep 14, 2005 · 103,202 vehicles affected

What's wrong

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

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.

Vehicles affected by this recall

Make Model Year Units
SAAB 9-3 2000 103,202
SAAB 9-3 2001 103,202
SAAB 9-3 2002 103,202
SAAB 9-5 2000 103,202
SAAB 9-5 2001 103,202
SAAB 9-5 2002 103,202

Source: NHTSA Campaign 05V399000 on nhtsa.gov. To check the current repair status for a specific vehicle, use our free VIN decoder.