NHTSA Investigation RQ05003

FUEL LINE LEAKAGE

ON NOVEMBER 19, 2004 GM NOTIFIED ODI OF A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE AT THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTIONS IN APPROXIMATELY 17,400 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 AND 2002 SAAB 9-3 PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE UUSIKAUPUNKI, FINLAND ASSEMBLY PLANT BETWEEN MAY 2000 AND JULY 2002 (GM RECALL NO. 14101, NHTSA RECALL NO. 04V-557).ACCORDING TO GM, PLASTIC FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINES WERE DAMAGED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS FOR SOME OF THE 9-3 VEHICLES BUILT AT THE FINLAND PLANT.GM INDICATED THAT, OVER TIME, THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL LINES TO LOOSEN FROM THE PUMP RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULDCAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.THE RECALLED VEHICLES WERE FITTED WITH A SECURING BRACKET TO HOLD THE FUEL LINES TO THE FUEL PUMP EVEN IF THERETAINING TABS SHOULD BREAK. RQ05-003 WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF FUEL PUMP RETAINING TAB FAILURE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IN MY 2001 SAAB 9-3 VEHICLES BUILT AT THE TROLLHATTEN, SWEDEN PLANT.IN ITS RESPONSE TO RQ05-003 GM INDICATED THAT CONCERNS WITH THE RETAINING TAB FAILURE IN MY 2001 SAAB 9-3 VEHICLES WERE NOT LIMITED TO VEHICLES PRODUCED IN FINLAND.IN AN APRIL 20, 2006 LETTER (COPY ATTACHED), GM INFORMED NHTSA THAT IT WAS EXPANDING ITS RECALL TO INCLUDE THE MY 2001 9-3 VEHICLES BUILT IN SWEDEN (GM RECALL NO. 14101, NHTSA RECALL NO. 06V-126).SAAB PLANS TO BEGIN MAILING OWNER LETTERS FOR THE ADDITIONAL VEHICLES IN MAY 2005.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.