Transmission Fluid Leaking Problems of SAAB 9-3

I purchased a 2004 SAAB 9-3 around March 15, 2007. A little over a month ago, I was vacationing in florida when the vehicle would not accelerate. I had it towed to the local SAAB dealership in orlando, FL where I was told I needed to purchase a speed sensor. This was done and the cost was approximately $515. 00. The day after the repair, I noticed the car continued to have rough and inappropriate shifting. I took it to my local SAAB dealership in dublin, OH where a diagnostic was performed. The transmission fluid was changed and the transmission reprogrammed. The service technician stated that the transmission fluid was, milky and dark in appearance. ¿ they suggested that I take the car, drive it for 2 weeks and bring it back to see if the problem continued. After driving the car for 2 weeks I returned it to the dealership to find out that the transmission needed to be replaced. The cost for this is $7000. 00. The dealership informed me that the couplings had gone bad and caused coolant to leak into the transmission fluid. These same couplings were recalled by SAAB in 2003-2004. However, by VIN number, my vehicle does not fall within the dates of the recall. The radiator and couplings were manufactured during that recall period and are considered to be defective parts. I was told by the dealership to contact gm/SAAB to try and obtain financial assistance. I have been in that process for almost 1 month now. Originally, they offered to pay 25% towards parts and labor for the new transmission (admitting guilt) which would decrease the cost for me to $5000. 00. I should not be responsible for paying for their negligence.

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Gearbox malfunction has occurred twice leaving me stranded on the highway and the car will not go over 5 mph. Extremely dangerous as this occurs unexpectedly in traffic. Dealer fixed both times, but transmission still slipped and I feared driving it. The dealer took it in again and had their transmission specialist drive and inspect it. The dealer says that there is a known problem with the 2003 9. 3 Saabs with contamination of the transmission fluid causing the transmission to fail. The transmission fluid is cooled within a section of the radiator. The block that separates the coolant from the transmission fluid is bad and causes the coolant to leak into the transmission fluid. I was scheduled for a new transmission, a new radiator (under warranty), but the car failed a 3rd time when I was trying to drive to the dealer for service. They had another 9. 3 scheduled at the same time for the same problem. Additionally, they are telling me that I need front and back brakes - not under warranty - will cost me $1,000. This is the most serious of the problems I have had with this car, but have had it in the shop 16 days for numerous problems with headlights, on star, sid, locks, door issue, window issue, oil leaks. I am very concerned that a car with this safety rating can have this many problems and especially the extremely dangerous transmission issues that leave you stranded in traffic.

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On, or about this date, my convertible top ceased to operate. The "rams" were leaking hydraulic fluid, and the hydraulic pump was missing teeth in its' gear ring. This car has only 31,000 miles and just went over four years old in February; which was also the end of its' manufacturer's warranty. I contacted SAAB cars USA to advise them of this premature failure of several parts within the convertible top. They paid for parts on one of the repairs (the rams). Following this incident with the top, and after it was repaired, a intermediate switch in my convertible top failed, and was replaced at my expense . I notified SAAB cars USA of my dissatisfaction concerning these failed parts, but they no longer wished to assist. They claimed that they had helped with the previous repair, and would not help with this one. It seems, instead of listening to what the actual complaint or problem was, they follow some type of template on how much assistance they give a vehicle or an individual. These failures are major components of the top, and they obviously failed prematurely.

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