Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 20:18:19 GMT From: bakernopsamnet (Tim Baker) Subject: Re: I want to become a Saab owner
Laurence, I would seriously consider contacting the Better Business Bureau. I had a similar situation with an Audi I had leased back in 1990. The car had many problems that included one recurring, but intermittent stalling problem. After 18 months, 24,000 miles and over a dozen trips to the dealer with one lasting almost 3 months I was at my wits end. I contacted the BBB with total skepticism. They handled my claim very quickly and politely and suggested we proceed with an arbitration hearing in which the arbitrator's descision was completely binding to the manufacturer only. It seemed like I had nothing to lose but a little bit of my time. So, still very skeptical, I proceeded . They (the BBB) handled all of the arrangements and scheduled the hearing. I went in to the hearing with a completely bullheaded mindset that anything short of a buyback would be unacceptable to me. Armed with copies of my service reports and notarized affidavits from people who had experienced the problems while riding in my car, I honestly presented my case. I politley refused all of the Audi Reps' many promises of resolution if they just be given one more chance and steadfastly held to my convictions. I received the aribitrator's decision by registered mail about 1 week after the hearing. Descision: Audi was required to "Buy Back" the car at the selling price plus taxes minus an amount for my use of the vehicle while I had leased it. All in all it was a very equitable settlement and I came away very happy with the outcome. The BBB handled everything and all I had to do was bring the car back to the dealership and sign a few papers. I was then given a check for the settlement amount minus the lease payoff and walked away free and clear. I'm not sure what the "Lemon Laws" were all about, but that particular term was never used. If I remember, the BBB program was known as Autoline and the information is required to be included in all new car's owner's manuals. I suggest you look it up and persue this option. I cant say the system is perfect, but for me it worked flawlessly. Tim On Fri, 10 Jul 1998 17:56:42 -0700, Laurence Lavelle <lavellenopsamucla.edu> wrote: >Problems is an understatement. Read this nightmare. Saab's response is >"it is a leased car you are not obliged to purchase it". We asked for an >extended warranty, no deal, so now the lawyers will make more money. >We leased the car with the sole intention of buying it, making $18,300 >in payments and after 3 yrs spending another ~$33,000 on a new car >because the original is defective is not our idea of fair buisness >practice.. >I am truly amazed that Saab Inc. told us to buy a new car if we don't >"like" our current one. > > >My letter to Saab is below. Note current milage is 34000 and in the last >4000miles the car has been in the shop 4 times for major repairs (total >of 13 days). Problems are still not fixed. > > > >August 95 my wife and I bought our first new car, a very elegant silver >SAAB 900SE. > >What follows is the list of repairs (I'm not sure if I've got them all >because I'm going through the invoices that we kept). Repair comments >are taken directly from service print-out. > >9/22/95 1623 miles Oil change etc./1000 mile service. Driver side >seat belt is twisted/undo mechanism to untwist. Remote not working & >replaced. Rubber trim around windows is defective & >8 moldings are replaced. > >10/31/95 5697 miles Oil change etc./5000 mile service. SID unit is >replaced. RF window seal replaced. > >11/30/95 9081 miles Oil change etc. Check for oil leak/low oil >light keeps coming on/found leak (accounts for smell of burning oil). > >2/22/96 12762 miles Failed headlights. Two headlight bulbs >replaced. > >3/11/96 (incorrect date) 14048 miles Oil change etc. Oil light >keeps coming on. Oil sensor is too sensitive and oil level needs to be >above normal level. > >17/7/98 17010 miles Oil change etc./15000 mile service. Rear doors >hard to open/not within specs/adjusted. Knocking noise from front of car >(suspension?) at highway speeds/problem not solved. Oil light keeps >coming on/oil topped up. > >1/8/96 17352 miles Rear lower vents loose/reinstall. Knocking >noise from front of car (suspension?) at highway speeds/problem not >solved. > >28/1/97 22735 miles Oil change etc./25000 mile service. Knocking >noise from front of car (suspension?) at highway speeds/problem not >solved. Oil light keeps coming on (turns out to be faulty SID). SID >display numbers missing. SID is replaced again. Hissing sound/exhaust >pipe replaced. > >20/3/97 24073 miles SRS warning light/Fixed. > >16/4/97 24879 miles Replace CK valve. Replace timing belt. Replace >tooth belt (Don't remember what was wrong but that's what the service >sheet states). > >28/4/97 25325 miles Oil change. > >8/8/97 28186 miles Brake light. Brake fluid low. Windshield washer >jets not working/replace left side washer nozzle. > >30/8/97 29505 miles Battery dead. Tow-in & replace battery. >10/10/97 29400 miles Oil change. Shifter badge loose/reglued. >(Really sloppy job, glue all over top of shifter & badge, still there >today.) > >4/11/97 30430 miles Low coolant level warning light keeps coming >on. Leak/replaced complete oil cooler & reseal. Replace 2 oil cooler >seals, 8 sealing rings and 1 something else. Windshield washer jets not >working/replaced 1 washer pump, 2 valves, 2 nozzles. > >16/12/97 31496 miles Low coolant level warning light keeps coming >on. Leak/replaced 2 O-rings, thermostat, outlet pipe, 2 oil cooler >seals, 8 sealing rings, 1 flange, 1 gasket and 3 something else. > >1/27/98 31925 miles Low coolant level warning light keeps coming >on. Replace cover? Replace complete oil cooler & reseal. Replace 2 oil >cooler seals, 8 sealing rings and 1 flange. > >13/3/98 32543 miles Low coolant level warning light keeps coming >on. Reseal oil cooler. Replaced 2 oil cooler seals and 8 sealing rings. > >22/5/98 33781 miles Oil change etc. Repair slow leak in RR tire. >Washer jets blocked again/cleaned. > >Today, washer jets blocked again, need to make another appointment. >Easier to stop at gas station and clear windshield, at least I know it >works. > >Service people say there is a known problem with oil cooling system, but >that it should be fixed. Also state that known problem with windshield >washer system, partly due to plastic in system promoting fungus growth. > >Each time we have to schedule an appointment, drop the car off/pick it >up. Some of the big repairs take up to four days. And we thought we >bought a New Car... > >In addition we bought a dealer car cover, mud-flaps & dealer installed, >door protectors & dealer installed. > >Car is kept in underground garage at home and work. > >We leased the car (36 months) with the intention of buying it. If we >don't purchase the car this July we lose $18,300 in payments already >made. (Assuming there are no additional fees, which their should not >because car has low mileage and no damage/no accidents.) > >All the repairs that were done under warranty I estimate would cost >~$10,000. So do we walk away and take our $18,300 loss, or anticipate >BIG repair bills after the warranty expires? > >Or do we invoke the lemon law which we recently heard about? > > >We await your reply. > > > > >Sincerely, > > > > >Laurence Lavelle & Tanya Paparella > >
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