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I'm updating a post I made a few days ago regarding the de-lamination of the matte black "Soft Touch" coating on the buttons and other surfaces of the dash board.
The problem is this: "peeling" Soft Touch material on one fan speed button; an area along the top of the ashtray (I'm not a smoker so the ashtray is never used); a wear-through on the surface of the radio face plate near the on/off button; and lastly, two areas on the air conditioning vent above the radio where the round adjustment knobs join into the vent (an area that is physically impossible to touch in normal, everyday use).
After talking with the person that normally does all the service writing for this car, he said that the dealership/Saab would help cover "the majority" of the cost to replace all of these items (with the exception of the radio face plate because it is not technically a Saab part).
Basically, the fan speed button is part of a much larger piece (all of those buttons in that one area are apparently on the same "sheet") and would cost $500.00 to replace out-right - no warranty here, per se, because the car has 57,000 miles on it (and is 22 months old).
BUT, what he did say WOULD happen is that if we decided to have ALL this stuff replaced (radio face plate being the exception), we would pay only about $300.00 bucks.
I said that's great and would probably wait till a little closer to when we want to trade the car in. He then said that I really shouldn't wait too much later than past 60,000 miles because Saab's willingness to replace these parts is based on the amount of miles the car has, i.e., the fewer miles, the more money Saab is willing to contribute on replacement.
So, the car goes into the shop today to have all of this stuff replaced.
And here's the kicker folks; my Service Writer mentioned in the course of this conversation that the trouble with Soft Touch is that it's a water-based material (EPA mandated apparently. I can only assume everything prior to this was lead-based?!?!) And, FWIW, "Soft Touch" control surfaces are also found in the Cadillac CTS.
Being water-based would certainly explain the delaminating vent (an area that is impossible to actually touch during everyday use); we live in Texas and during the Fall, it is not uncommon to have a significant amount of condensation form right in this very spot.
So, bottom line is this; Saab is willing to "help" cover the majority of the cost of replacement, even though the car is out of warranty.
I have to say my Service Writer, and Sewell Saab/Cadillac in Grapevine, have been beyond reproach throughout this whole situation. I am happy with the way this has been resolved given the out-of-warranty circumstances and I WILL consider buying another Saab when it's time to replace this one, just not one with Soft Touch buttons...
posted by 67.166.163...
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