Saab 9-3 Aero investigated for loss of braking power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating Saab's 9-3 Aero after five complaints were filed claiming that the Swedish sedan suddenly lost braking power. No injuries have been attributed to the defect, however, a low-speed crash might be the first recorded incident involving the 9-3.
The affected Saabs include the 2006 and 2007 9-3 Aeros equipped with the 2.8-liter turbocharged V6, some 49,932 vehicles. Alan Adler, a GM spokesperson, said that the automaker is cooperating with the federal agency, but at this point an official recall has not been filed.
[Source: Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tyo 3:49PM (2/04/2008)
I love GM, I Love Saab.
But Damn that epsilon Parts Bin GM! Damn it to hell.
Ps. The 9-3 differentiates itself from the epsilon platform better than the other platform-mates. Completely different rear suspension.
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psarhjinian 3:57PM (2/04/2008)
Completely different platform in general--just the basic architecture is shared with the other (much longer) American Epsilons. It's pretty close to the Vectra, though.
I (sort of) agree with you. I have a 2002 (last year of the NG900 style) and while the Epsilon 9-3 outhandles and outclasses it handily, there's little quirks that I miss:
* No hatchback until very recently, and even then it's pretty shallow
* Worse fuel economy (on the highway, notably) on equivalent powered models
* The egonomics and detailing are fussy. They cleaned up the worst of interior in 06/07, but it's still overwrought. Lose the guage rings and chrome, please, and give me back my plain green dials.
* Dropping the black moudling. Yes, it looks pretty, but it also takes dents.
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the law 4:09PM (2/04/2008)
I like Saab but this can't help future sales that are ready down, especially when the 2 brands that claim safety are in the news for brake problems!
Still... waiting for 9-1.
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nistorica 4:19PM (2/04/2008)
They should add parachutes!After all is born from jets!smile
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Zane 4:24PM (2/04/2008)
I hope they come out with a Viggen edition or something .. they could really do with more sales!
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Jeff 4:34PM (2/04/2008)
damn fine car. surprised to hear this.
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PGAero 5:01PM (2/04/2008)
Zane,
According to some of the marketing guys, the new Turbo-X is meant to replace the Viggen. (I don't buy it completely, since it has the same HP ratings as the Aero, but there you go.)
I think dealers are taking orders for the limited edition Turbo-X right now.
~P
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Zach 5:24PM (2/04/2008)
What they need is a new 9-3.
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psarhjinian 5:25PM (2/04/2008)
A new Viggen would be a nice thing. I imagine a stripped down, lightweight, torque-steering (yes, I'll take FWD in trade for a few hundred pounds of mass) bastard of a car. I'd even take a blown-till-its-eyeballs-pop BioPower four instead of the six.
Screw balance. If I wanted balance, I'd've bought a BMW.
I liked the idea of naming it after the jet, too. I'd hoped Saab would have expanded (9-1 "Draken", 9-5 "Gripen") the idea, but it never really made it.
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amnigo 5:49PM (2/04/2008)
Apparently it isn't important enough to report that the NHTSA is also investigating Toyota for it's Tacoma, which affects over 7 times as many vehicles.
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Derek 6:04PM (2/04/2008)
And info as to what is happening in the brake system to cause the loss of brake power?
Is it as simple as a vacuum booster failing (or not getting vac) and drivers being too dim to know to push harder, or is it something buried inside all the wizardry worked nowdays with ABS and traction/stability control systems.
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Reality Check 8:32PM (2/04/2008)
I have had one for two years and must have a differant car then you! I bought it because I liked it, and the Highway MPGs have been over 30. Maybe you should keep yours under 90 sometime
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psarhjinian 9:40PM (2/04/2008)
I have a 2002 9-3 SE (the older, NG900-derived hatchback, not the Epsilon sedan). My point was that my SE, which was about as powerful as the 2.0T sedan, got better mileage despite having one fewer gear ratio, a much older engine design and about the same mass.
I don't know if it was aerodynamics or some very adroit engine/transmission tuning, but I can easily hit 40mpg--something the new car, even with six gears, cannot do.
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Commuter 2:20PM (2/05/2008)
Maybe it's just me but this sounds like just another load of hype where people get their pedals confused. Anyone remember Audi and the TV "expose" fiasco?
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