Date: Sat, 06 Sep 2003 18:51:00 GMT From: milt brewster <milt73nopsamc.net> Subject: Re: Saab Complaint
In article <3F58F854.F40BE131nopsamfitter.com>, johsnopsamfitter.com says... > > > milt brewster wrote: > > > > Less than 11,000 miles on a 2000 9-3 coupe. > > > > SECOND catastrophic freeway blowout in six months. Both quick > > and dangerous. > > > > NEW Michelin tires have/had 11,000 miles on them. The first > > blowout occurred at only 5500 miles. The Dealer has refused to > > deal with the issue. > > > > OnStar failed to work. > > > > I had to literally risk my life changing my tire on the freeway. > > > > I lost an important client because of this. > > > > Everything on this car costs double what Hondas and Toyotas cost. > > I see no added value, but lots of added risk and hassle. Tires > > are one of the simpler quality items for an Auto Maker to get > > right. If Saab puts bubblegum tires on their cars without > > noticing; I can hardly wait to see what they didn't 'notice' > > next. > > But what has all this to do with Saab? Michelin is a top brand tire. > A blow out is a rare but possible risk, possibly caused by prior > damage to the tire. Onstar is a communication system that has little > to do with the car and is only fitted in some markets. > Johannes, I appreciate your posts in this group over the months. In the United States, Ford Motor Company is in a world of hurt right now, because they 1) sold SUVs with bad tires a few years ago, and then 2) refused to make it right. Their sales have not recovered three years later, and Ford is losing court cases by the bunch to very angry customers who can easily establish that Ford knew about the problem. While Michelin makes the tires, Saab 1) made the decision to equip their cars with Michelins, and 2) decided to not make it "right" with me. I suggest further, that 3) Saab knows that these Michelins are a safety hazard and doesn't want to admit it; just like Ford did. From my calling around yesterday, it looks like Saab has apparently to stiff-arm other Saab owners with tire problems as well. This is a safety issue and it is not OK. Michelin blowouts on new cars are apparently not rare, at least in California. Three of five independent tire dealers volunteered to me that their new car customers are losing between five and ten in a hundred to blowouts over the last few years. American Courts (not to mention the American auto marketplace) have determined that in the United States, the Auto manufacturer should be held partially responsible for tire problems like this, as well as the tire manufacturer. **** I am not looking to start a flame war here, nor am I planning to sue Saab. However, based on my repeated experience with blowouts now, I *definitely* would advise anyone who cares about automobiles to look at other cars as well as Saab very carefully. I suggest that most of them would be better off buying something else with better mechanical and safety records. I especially suggest Japanese auto makes, which seem to have much, much better records these days. There is a reason why Toyota has just passed Chrysler in US auto sales. mb
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