I had the exact same experience.  At first at couldn't find the card and the maintenance guy basically said I was a liar.  Then I showed him the card.  He said that they would still have to charge me because it wasn't on their list.  I told him he was looking at the regular Saab maintenance schedule not the one for my car.  He said that they were not Saab and Saab would not reinburse them.  I told him that their salesman used this list to show me the schedule when I bought the car and that in case he didn't notice there was a big Saab sign out front.  He then explains to me the nature of how they are basically contractors working for Saab.  I asked to speak to a manager and he said they would do it.  They also didn't align my car, I believe that is suppose to be included in the 15k as well.  I didn't bother to take it to them for the 21k which just recently past.

What a totally ridiculous way to treat customers. My dealership has not pulled any of that crap.I suppose thats why the owner group has won many dealership awards. Good luck.

That's BS.  It's "free scheduled maintenance" for 2y/24k, not "free oil changes".

From SaabUSA.com:

For two years or for 24,000 miles, whichever comes first, this program covers routine service for your new Saab at an authorized Saab dealer in the United States for all factory-recommended scheduled maintenance (excluding wear-and-tear items).

And from the Saab Owner's Center:

7,500 mile interval service
1) Engine oil and filter change 2) Inspect and rotate the tires
Interval: Every 3,750 miles or 4 months, whichever comes first

I'd call Saab USA and complain.  Don't rely on them to call Saab USA. 

FWIW, my dealership rotated and balanced my tires without any prodding on my part 

Dealer Guy here 

We have gone through the same issue here, after further review, the rotation IS included in the service just like the paper says....
The problem is, on every other "real" Saab the rotation is NOT part of the "free" maint. but "real" Saabs arent all wheel drive.
Also Saab only pays something like 1.0 hour for the service, so the dealers are getting kinda short changed from SCUSA  .
In the owners manual under the maint. section it reads something like this. Inspect tires and change position . That means rotate....Hold your ground, you are correct...

Cheers,

Topher wrote:

SaabUSA doesn't know what the fuck they are talking about either though.  When the dealer was refusing the free oil change and maint at 7,500.  I called Saab and they gave me the maint schedule for the 9-3 and 9-5 which is clearly different.  I ended up calling my sales guy.  He didn't know what was going on.  I called SaabUSA back and they finally called the dealer.  The dealer told me because SaabUSA was involved...they would do it this time.  But that they charged all of their other 9-2x owners.

It is sad how clueless, in general SCUSA and many dealers are about our cars....

Anand wrote:

Is balancing supposed to be included or just rotation?

No.

The dealer is only required to use dino.

scottgf wrote:

Dealer Guy here 

Also Saab only pays something like 1.0 hour for the service, so the dealers are getting kinda short changed from SCUSA

What do they want, 3 hours for a 15 minute job? I know the mfgs can be cheap with warranty hours, but one hour is plenty fair for a rotation when they've already got the car up for the oil change. Any tech with a brain is going to do the rotation while the oil is draining anyway.

You are missing something here....I said "like" 1.0 hour, that's for the whole service, not just the tire rotation....also,time is money for the tech...include finding the car, racking it, getting the parts.......it adds up if you are paid on your "flag hours"....geez...

Andrew wrote:

You guys got me thinking.  I had the 15,000 miles service done,  they did not rotate my tires or change the cabin filter.  What's up with that??  They will get an ear full when I schedule my next maintaince.  They did it at 13,xxx, and I thought I was just getting an oil change, but they did not charge me.  So when I went in at 16,500 they made me pay, and I said it was the 15000 service, and they told me they performed it already.  They better put a new filter in and rotate my tires next time.

I dont have my owners manual in front of me but I dont think the cabin filter gets changed til 30k ... right??

Cheers,

I have not had my tires rotated by the dealer since I put on 17s for summer. 

But my sister took her 92x to the Orlando Saab dealer for her 7500K and they charged her for the rotation.  She continued to fight it and they refunded the charges to her credit card after they talked to Saab corporate.

alrauer wrote:

Well, just to add to my already LONG story-- This also happened at 7500 miles, and I went ahead and paid the $$ at the dealership when my service was complet, thinking maybe I'd misunderstood.  I called SaabUSA, who at that time told me that it WAS to be included.  I then called the dealership back several times, attempting to get my $$ back- of course, I never got a response- and finally gave up.  When I received a survey about my "service", I was very detailed in my complaints, and received a call back from SaabUSA regarding the complaint over 4 months later.  The rep (Barbara) got my local service rep on the phone with me, and they BOTH told me that I was COMPLETELY wrong, and bascially that I am unable to READ, and that service has NEVER included tire rotation.  When I told them that I knew other owners had received the service, they replied that it must have been done "In kind" by other dealers.  Apparently, IN KIND is not something ever done at my dealership.  So, when I took it in this time, I was sure to find my scheduled maintenance paperwork and leave it in the car.  They are still telling me it's a typo.  And I still want my $40 back from the 7500 mile service!  It's not that I can't afford $40- it's the principle of ridiculously poor customer service!!

WOW.....Sorry about all the hassle you have gone through.....All I can say is show them the owners manual and the maint. booklet where is says the rotation is included, also remind them that this is a all wheel drive vehicle with different tire needs than the front drivers they usually make....
I agree, about the $40.00, I am sure that is not going to break you, but why pay when Saab should, that may have been part of the reason you bought the Saab over the Subaru...the "Free" maint. 

Who did you talk to at SCUSA, what was the reps. name?

Cheers,

Last edited by scottgf (2006-06-07 16:25:51)