The defect
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.
The 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.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Saab 9-3 | 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| Saab 9-5 | 2000, 2001, 2002 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
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 9-3 | 2000 | 50 | 2 |
| Saab 9-3 | 2001 | 59 | 4 |
| Saab 9-3 | 2002 | 37 | 4 |
| Saab 9-5 | 2000 | 102 | 3 |
| Saab 9-5 | 2001 | 82 | 4 |
| Saab 9-5 | 2002 | 53 | 6 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2005
42 of the 562 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2005 concerned the electrical system; SAAB CARS USA, INC. filed 88 campaigns in all.
| 05V566000 21 Dec 2005 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 05V531000 18 Nov 2005 | THOR CALIFORNIA INC. |
| 05V529000 17 Nov 2005 | VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC. |
| 05V518000 9 Nov 2005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 05V500000 2 Nov 2005 | KEYSTONE RV COMPANY |
| 05V492000 24 Oct 2005 | HINO MOTORS SALES U.S.A., INC. |
| 05V456000 5 Oct 2005 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER COMMERCIAL BUSES NC |
| 05V382000 31 Aug 2005 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2005