2000 Saab 9-5 Air Bags & Restraints Problems

ON 4/15/06, MY HUSBAND MERLE WAS DRIVING MY MOTHER AND DAUGHTER TO A GROCERY STORE. MY MOM STEPPED OUT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT; AS SOON AS SHE DID, THE SIDE AIR BAG LODGED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. IT DID NOT DEPLOY UPON ANY KIND OF COLLISION OR IMPACT; HOWEVER, THE CAR HAD BEEN IN A PASSENGER SIDE COLLISION ON FEBRUARY 21, 2006, WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER HIT OUR CAR BROADSIDE. THE REPAIR WORK WAS COMPLETED IN MID-MARCH. ON APRIL 18, 2006, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE AUTO BODY SHOP THAT COMPLETED THE REPAIRS FROM THE 2/21/06 INCIDENT. THEY TOOK THE CAR TO SAAB INTL MOTORS (703.534.7222), WHICH PERFORMED DIAGNOSTICS ON THE CAR'S "BLACK BOX". MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE DIAGNOSTICS DID NOT REVEAL ANY HELPFUL INFORMATION TO EXPLAIN THE DEPLOYMENT. THE SIDE AIR BAG IS NOW BEING REPAIRED BY INTERNATIONAL MOTORS, AT THE EXPENSE OF STATE FARM (PHONE 1.888.613.3966), THE INSURER FOR THE DRIVER WHO ORIGINALLY COLLIDED WITH OUR CAR ON 2/21/06. THE STATE FARM CLAIM # IS 206103504-02. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS IN SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON HIT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND WAS HIT SO HARD THAT THE BACK PASSENGER'S DOOR WAS STUCK TO THE VEHICLE THAT HIT IT. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE ADMITTED HE HAD BEEN GOING AT 30 MPH WHEN THE SIDE IMPACT OCCURRED. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 17, 2005. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, BUT WILL BE CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

TWICE IN THE 4 YEAR, 60K LIFE OF MY SAAB 9-5 WAGON, THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT HAS LOCKED UP, SO AS NOT TO BE USABLE. BOTH TIMES AFTER FULLY FOLDING DOWN THE REAR SEAT AND RAISING IT BACK TO ITS UPRIGHT POSITION. THE FIRST TIME, SAAB MADE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE YET TO CONTACT SAAB OR SEARCH YOUR SERVICE BULLETINS. I DOUBT I HAVE FOLDED DOWN THIS SEAT MORE THAN 20 TIMES SO THE FAILURE RATE, FOR ME, IS >10%.*AK