2006 Saab 9-7X

The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.

On August 15, 2012 General Motors (GM) announced a regional recall action (12V-406) involving model year (MY) 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, Isuzu Ascender and MY2005-2007 SAAB 9-7x vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the salt belt states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The recall remedy requires the inspection and repair or replacement of the master power window switch, which GM refers to as a driver door module (DDM). At the same time, GM implemented a special coverage program to replace failed DDMs for vehicles registered outside of these states. ODI was not satisfied with GM's exclusion of non-salt belt vehicles and continued its investigation. On June 13, 2013, GM submitted a related recall notification (13V-248) to reclassify the initial special coverage program into a safety recall for vehicles that were not previously repaired under special coverage.The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Engineering Analysis EA12-004 on June 11, 2012 to further investigate allegations of DDM thermal incidents in model year (MY) 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. Thermal incidents involve cases where fire-related events such as smoke and melt are present. ODI has received 170 reports alleging a thermal event occurred. Complainants stated that the DDM melted and in some cases produced odor and/or smoke. Fourteen of these incidents led to a fire where visible flames were reported or the damage extended significantly beyond the DDM. In addition to the 170 reports listed above, ODI received 63 reports alleging the DDM acted erratically or became inoperative. In response to ODI's Information Request (IR), GM provided 619 unique consumer complaints that related to the alleged problem. Seventy-seven of those reports led to a fire with flame, and 4 reported injuries of smoke inhalation and/or slight burns from contact with hot switches. GM also submitted 20,400 warranty claims for replacement of the DDM, most of which involved inoperative switches. The problem condition is caused by fluids, such as rain water, entering the driver's door module and subsequently causing corrosion that could result in an electrical short in the printed circuit board. A short may cause the power door lock and power window switches to function intermittently or become inoperative. However, the electrical short may also cause overheating that could melt components of the door module, producing odor, smoke or in some cases fire with flame. The circuit board was redesigned and GM implemented the new design into vehicle production on May 14, 2007. All failures cited above occurred in vehicles produced before this build date (i.e., with the original design DDM). GM also reported that all MY 2006-2007 GMT360/370 platform vehicles and MY 2005 SAAB 9-7x vehicles utilized the same DDM and therefore ODI expanded the subject population to include these vehicles.This investigation is closed on the basis of GM's announcement of safety recalls 12V-406 and 13V-248. The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID, see the attached list for ODI numbers.

The office of defects investigations (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by General Motors (GM) as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers.In total, there were 5,089 unique reports indicating an inaccurate fuel level reading while driving.General Motors stated that this condition occurs when the contacts of the fuel sensor wear prematurely.Most of the complaints indicated an empty fuel gauge reading after filling the tank.Less than 10 percent of theODI complaints involved an engine stall incident.During this investigation, GM developed a remedy procedure and issued special coverage bulletin instructing dealers to install a new design fuel level sensor.The bulletin was sent to dealers on August 10, 2011 and the owner letter mailing began on August 15, 2011.See the investigative file for copies of GM's bulletin and owner letter.This preliminary evaluation is closed.

The Office of Defects Investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles.Of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.Of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. One complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.Summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-7X. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE MIRROR WOULD MOVE INDEPENDENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT DRIVER'S SEAT ALSO ADJUSTED INDEPENDENTLY UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V404000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED SCHMELZ COUNTRYSIDE VOLKSWAGEN (1180 MN-36, MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109) WHO CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THE DEALER INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11340402

Incident

Feb 1, 2020

Mileage

105,000 mi

MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL KEPT GETTING STUCK , THE DRIVER WINDOW NOR ANY PANELS ON MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR WORKS.

NHTSA ID

11204467

Incident

Aug 15, 2018

Mileage

95,250 mi

TAKATA RECALL I BOUGHT A 2006 SAAB 97X N I HAVE PROBLEMS W MY HID LOW BEAMS THE LEFT SIDE JUST WONT LIGHT UP N WEN IM DRIVIN SOMTIMES MY DRIVIN LIGHTS GO ON N OFF WHILE IM ON THE HIGHWAY ! IVE HAD THE BULBS CHANGED TWICE N STILL THE PASSENGER LOW BEAM WONT LIGHT UP !!!

NHTSA ID

11184163

Incident

Mar 25, 2017

Mileage

124,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT STAY ON ONE GO OUT TO THE OTHER GO OUT AND THEY COME BACK ON THEN THEY GO OUT AGAIN ALL THROUGH WHILE I'M DRIVING HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT STAY ON COME ON AND OFF

NHTSA ID

11154638

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

91,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-7X. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, ENTERED THE HOUSE, RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE BURNING ODOR INTENSIFIED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL HAD MELTED AND THE LOCKING MECHANISMS NO LONGER WORKED PROPERLY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTACTED. KELLY CADILLAC (1986 STATE RD, LANCASTER, PA 17601, (717) 898-4000) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11130365

Incident

Sep 19, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-7X. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE SWEDISH GARAGE FOR AIR BAG REPLACEMENTS, THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO START INDEPENDENTLY AND THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PANEL EMITTED SMOKE. THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY AND THE POWER WINDOW MASTER SWITCH WERE REMOVED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERABLE AFTERWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLVO SAAB OF CHARLOTTE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER WINDOW MASTER SWITCH, BATTERY, AND STARTER MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V404000 (VISIBILITY) AND WAS INFORMED THAT AFTER THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000.

NHTSA ID

10995297

Incident

Jun 12, 2017

Mileage

136,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-7X. WHILE DRIVING, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO DISPLAY THE PROPER FUEL LEVEL AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID

10891990

Incident

Jul 1, 2016

Mileage

55,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-7X. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTANTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE AIR BAG WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNAVAILABLE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND THE FUSE AND HEAD LAMPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLATCH, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BE LOCKED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED, BUT THE LATCH WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10870445

Incident

May 16, 2015

Mileage

95,000 mi

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on When and How to Submit a Field Product Report (FPR) (U.S. and Canada Dealers Only).

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.