The defect
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 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 JANUARY 2003. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007. NOTE: THIS RECALL IS AN EXPANSION OF A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN (PLEASE SEE 05V399).
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Saab 9-5 | 2002, 2003 |
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 9-5 | 2002 | 53 | 6 |
| Saab 9-5 | 2003 | 47 | 4 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2006
47 of the 490 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2006 concerned the electrical system; SAAB CARS USA, INC. filed 88 campaigns in all.
| 06V476000 19 Dec 2006 | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY |
| 06V481000 19 Dec 2006 | MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES, INC |
| 06V484000 15 Dec 2006 | GENIE INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 06V459000 30 Nov 2006 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 06V444000 20 Nov 2006 | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY |
| 06V439000 15 Nov 2006 | NEWMAR CORPORATION |
| 06V421000 2 Nov 2006 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 06V403000 23 Oct 2006 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2006