The defect
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IF AN OWNER CHANGES THEIR WHEELS/TIRES BETWEEN SUMMER AND WINTER USING A STEEL WHEEL IN THE WINTER AND AN ALLOY WHEEL IN THE SUMMER, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR RUST AND CONTAMINATION TO BUILD UP ON THE WHEEL HUB DURING THE STEEL WHEEL USAGE. IF THIS OCCURS AND THE CONTAMINATION IS NOT REMOVED, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT AFTER THE TIRE CHANGE SERVICE, SOME OF THIS CONTAMINATION COULD FLAKE OR GRIND AWAY RESULTING IN REDUCED CLAMPING FORCE OF THE WHEEL TO THE HUB. OVER SEVERAL SEASONS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS REDUCED FORCE COULD RESULT IN FRACTURES DEVELOPING IN THE WHEEL BOLTS DUE TO WHEEL TO HUB MOVEMENT.
The risk
THESE FRACTURES WOULD RESULT IN WHEEL BOLT BREAKAGE, ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO DETACH FROM THE WHEEL HUB, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
OWNERS WILL BE CONTACTED BY MAIL AND ASKED WHETHER THEY CHANGE BETWEEN STEEL AND ALLOY WHEELS. IF THEY DO ENGAGE IN THIS PRACTICE, THEY WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO BRING THEIR CARS TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER WILL REMOVE THE WHEELS, CLEAN ANY CONTAMINATION FROM THE WHEEL AND WHEEL HUB, AND REPLACE THE WHEELS USING NEW IMPROVED BOLTS WITH ATTACHED WASHERS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 31, 2003. 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Saab 9-5 | 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Components: WHEELS:HUB
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saab 9-5 | 1999 | 118 | 2 |
| Saab 9-5 | 2000 | 102 | 3 |
| Saab 9-5 | 2001 | 82 | 4 |
| Saab 9-5 | 2002 | 53 | 6 |
| Saab 9-5 | 2003 | 47 | 4 |
Other wheels recalls in 2003
11 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the wheels; SAAB CARS USA, INC. filed 88 campaigns in all.
| 03V468000 25 Nov 2003 | DUTCHMEN MANUFACTURING, INC. |
| 03V437000 4 Nov 2003 | FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. |
| 03V434000 4 Nov 2003 | VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC. |
| 03V366000 6 Oct 2003 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 03V307000 22 Aug 2003 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 03V300000 12 Aug 2003 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 03V279000 5 Aug 2003 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 03V212000 5 Jun 2003 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003