[jermichael]

I rarely have to park in the sun or elements but when washing and wax the ride I noticed some white specks on the top of some door handles. Though I had gotten wax on them and when I looked closer the black coating is flaking off. Intermediate service is coming up so I will call and make sure they have door handles on hand.

I am curious if anyone has caught this as early as I have and what the dealer response was. It is obvious that the dread whitening has begun but I am not sure if it has to be worse before they will make it better.

 

[finwake]

Faded door handles is a known issue and automatic warranty action. Any dealer should immediately recognize the issue and happily make the replacement under warranty.

 

[GRIPEN]

Mine just started to fade and it's turning into greyish colour. I had all four of them replaced yesterday. According to the dealership, there is service bulletin issued to them and it took about 3 hours to have them done. They told me that all '03 models have to same problem due to the parts manufacturing process. I'm very please with their excellent customer service and they even washed and vacuum the car for me even though I didn't request them to do it.

 

[rdj92807]

Gripen did the dealer say all 04's are OK?

regarding the fading door handles? My 04 was built July 03, I think.

 

[Aero_adam]

Bizarrely mine are starting to go blotchy on just one side. It is almost as though they are painted and it has been washed off. (Not by me I am ashamed to say, the car hasn't had a good wash for some months.....)

Will ring the dealer and get their opinion - haven't had chance yet.

A_a

 

[76Saab99]

The door handles on my '03 Linear also faded and began to look like the body color, steel gray. At a service check one of the techs made a note on the work order and the manager told me he'd order new ones under the warranty. It was a hard choice, 'cause I sort of liked the match with the body paint. But I went ahead and had them replaced. Glad I did....It looks better...and FREE is "gooder".

 

[smurkenstein]

when I looked closer the black coating is flaking off.

I had the same problem. Shiny metal underneath. Once the surface was broken, even washing the handles with the hose (gently) resulted in more paint chipping off. There was no evidence of the fading on my handles tho.

A quick trip to my dealer and replaced under warranty.

/edit....some prefer body coloured handles...but at least with the stock black handles, the part doesnt need to be individually painted and matched to the body...much quicker...so thats a plus.

 

[GRIPEN]

regarding the fading door handles? My 04 was built July 03, I think.

They said that only '03 models got that problem. '04 and '05 are fine. If your '04 door handles starts to fade, check with your dealership, it's should be under warranty.

 

[jermichael]

Mine are just on the passenger side, and just on top. Less than 5% but obviously the issue that everyone else is seeing. I also now have a disturbing rattle somewhere under the car - probably just a heat shield. Intermediate service is in less than two month and I was hoping I would not have to make yet another trip berfore then but it is seeming more and more likely.

I only have 11,500 miles in 21 months since work is so close to my home. I'd like to get some more time out of the oil change done on my dime at about 7500 miles. This car is definitely doing the summer trip work.