SAAB 9-3 Complaints

1,407 consumer complaints on file.

#10668059December 23, 2014
ENGINE
VEHICLE DOESN'T START DUE TO LOW COMPRESSION ON COLD DAYS. CAR WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED IN EXTREME TEMPS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10667622December 22, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY 2002 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE STARTS FINE ONCE IT START MOVING GOES OFF,THEN I STARTS IT AGAIN,THEN WHEN I STOP IT GOES OFF AND KEEP ON DOING IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE IDEA IT WAS COLD,BUT I NOTICED IT DOESN'T MATTER IT DO IT EVERY TIME I STOP AT ANY LIGHT OR STOP SIGN,THEN I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER NUMBER 1800-9559007 THEY ASKED ME FOR THE VIN # [XXX] THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE ANY RECALLS THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT,THEN I TOLD HER IF MY VEHICLE IS SUFFERING THE SAME PROBLEMS IN THE RECALL DESCRIPTION IT SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER,BUT SHE TOLD ME THAT UNLESS YOUR VEHICLE GETS ON FIRE OR ACCIDENT THEY CAN'T INCLUDE IT IN ANY RECALLS. THEY SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT SINCE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE REST OF VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS,THEN SHE TOLD ME SHE CHECKED MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER AGAIN AND THAT REPAIR WAS DONE,BUT MY CAR IS JUST GIVING ME THAT PROBLEM CONSTANTLY. WHAT CAN I DO. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10664747December 17, 2014
SUSPENSION
FRONT SPRINGS WERE CORRODED AND BOTH SNAPPED EFFECTING HANDLING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662609December 7, 2014
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILS TO RETRACT. THE DRIVER SIDE HAS SOME RETRACTION LEFT AND PASSENGER SIDE HAS NONE LEFT. I FOUND THE RECALL NOTICE FROM JUNE 2014 HOWEVER IT ONLY MENTIONS THE CONVERTIBLE MODEL WHILE MY VEHICLE IS THE STATION WAGON. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER OTHER MODELS THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10661960December 3, 2014
ENGINE
SAME AS PROBLEM BELOW: SINCE I NEED THE CAR BADLY, I'VE INSTRUCTED MY MECHANIC TO START WORKING ON THE FIX. OVER TIME THE VALVES IN THE 2.0T ENGINE WILL WEAR CAUSING DRAMATIC LOSS IN COMPRESSION. PROBLEM STARTS WITH ROUGH IDLING AND TROUBLE TURNING OVER AT COLD START BUT ESCALATES TO A POINT WHERE THE CAR WILL NOT START WHAT SO EVER. IT APPEARS THAT WHEN MANUFACTURING THE ENGINE GM PUT VALVES MADE OF A SOFTER THAN USUAL METAL. THESE VALVES GET ESSENTIALLY HAMMERED AGAINST THE CYLINDER HEAD TO A POINT WHERE THE EDGES BECOME SO THIN THEY ARE RAZOR SHARP. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS SENT OUT TO DEALERS FROM SPNA (SAAB PARTS NORTH AMERICA), WHICH MEANS THAT GM IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. A SAAB MECHANIC WARNED ME THAT THE PROBLEM COULD GET WORSE AT ANY TIME REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE AND THAT SOONER OF LATER MY CAR WOULD NOT START. TO FIX THIS ISSUE ALL 16 VALVES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS INVOLVES SERIOUS TIME AND EFFORT AND I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF UP TO $3,000 FOR A REPAIR. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THIS PROBLEM EFFECTS EVERY SAAB 9-3 WITH THE 2.0T FROM 2007 TO 2011. GM SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE FAULTY PARTS AND ISSUE A RECALL. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10661042November 26, 2014
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SEATBELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SECURE THE SEATBELT BUT THE FAILURE WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V318000 (SEATBELTS) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10660005November 21, 2014
ENGINE
FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, WITH TEMPERATURE IN THE TEENS, THE CAR WILL NOT START DUE TO BAD INTAKE VALVES. AS NOTED BY MANY CONSUMERS ON SEVERAL SAAB FORUMS, THIS ENGINE LOSES SIGNIFICANT COMPRESSION IN THE CYLINDERS CAUSING DIFFICULT STARTING, A VERY ROUGH IDLE AND ULTIMATELY RESULTING IN A VALVE JOB. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10660042November 21, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SAAB 9-3. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS ON THE LEFT ARM, BUT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10660045November 21, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL NEW HEADLIGHTS, I REMOVED THE NEGATIVE ON THE BATTERY. AFTER PUTTING THE NEGATIVE BACK ON TO THE BATTERY, THE SYSTEM HAS RESET AND HAS NOT REBOOTED SINCE THEN. THE CAR IS IN MINIMAL DRIVING CONDITION, PERFORMANCE HAS SIGNIFICANTLY DROPPED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE ENGINE KNOCKS AND SHAKES AT HIGH SPEEDS, THERE IS NO MORE TURBO BOOST AND WHILE FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR IS HESITANT TO INCREASE SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10654110November 11, 2014
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
[XXX] BOUGHT JUST IN MAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10654158November 11, 2014
SUSPENSION
JUST PUT 2005 SAAB 9-3 INTO SHOP FOR NEW BREAKS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN. PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE. I HAVE NO RECOLLECTION AS TO WHEN THIS MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED. THANKFULLY IT WAS NOT ON FREEWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10651318October 30, 2014
ENGINE
ENGINE REFUSED TO START IN COLD WEATHER. SAAB TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED AN ISSUE WITH INTAKE VALVES BEING DEFECTIVE. THE INTAKE VALVES WOULD NOT SEAL CAUSE COMPRESSION TO GET AS LOW AS 40 PSI CAUSING NO START CONDITION. SAAB REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY ON THE 61ST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP VEHICLE CAME WITH 60 MONTH ENGINE WARRANTY AND THE COST OF REPAIR OUT OF POCKET WAS OVER $2500. THERE WERE DAYS THE CAR WOULDN'T START AWAY FROM HOME AFTER SITTING JUST ONE DAY, LEAVING ME STRANDED IN EXTREME COLD WEATHER WITH NO HEAT. GM AND SAAB KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS THEY GOT POOR QUALITY INTAKE VALVES FROM A SUPPLIER. GM HAS NOT YET CAMPAIGNED/RECALLED THESE VEHICLE, AS YOU KNOW GM CULTURE LACKS ETHICS AND HAVE COVERED UP DEATHS IN THE PAST TO SAVE MONEY. AS A GOVERNMENT AGENCY YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS AND BE PROACTIVE AND NOT ACT AFTER SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAS HAPPENED. THERE ARE MORE THEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE FOR THIS ISSUE. ARE YOU WAITING FOR A DEATH TO OCCUR BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE ? GM NEW OR OLD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ISSUE. ITS A GM ECOTEC ENGINE, CAR WAS PRODUCED ON A GM PLATFORM. PROFITS FROM THE VEHICLE ALSO WENT TO GM. THIS ISSUE ALSO CAUSES AN INCREASE IN EMISSIONS. AS THERE IS LOSS OF COMPRESSION, CYLINDER MISFIRE OR HAS INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION CAUSING AN INCREASE IN HYDROCARBONS AND CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE TAIL PIPE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650091October 26, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SELECTING REVERSE OR DRIVE, AS THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES EXTREMELY HARD, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE, TO DEPRESS AND THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AT ALL. THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL SELECTING NEUTRAL AND USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AFTER THE CAR WAS ABLE TO IDLE FOR 15-30 SECONDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL RETURNS TO NORMAL AND FUNCTIONS PROPERLY AGAIN. THIS MOST OFTEN OCCURS IF THE CAR HAS SAT OFF FOR MORE THAN A FEW HOURS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10648817October 20, 2014
AIR BAGS
SIDE AIRBAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE (LOCATED IN OUTSIDE EDGE OF DRIVER'S SEAT) DEPLOYED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED AND RUNNING. THIS WAS CLEARLY A MALFUNCTION -- THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL EVENT OR DAMAGE THAT WOULD CAUSE AN AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. SIGNIFICANT BRUISING TO DRIVER'S LEFT ARM, TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS; DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10644438October 14, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE THIS MORNING THE VEHICLE BRAKES WERE VERY DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE AND HAD TO FORCIBLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE (WHICH STILL DID NOT PROVIDE FULL BRAKING FORCE) AND AVOID RUNNING INTO THE PARKED VEHICLE BEHIND ME. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. TYPICALLY OCCURS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR SOME TIME (E.G. OVER NIGHT OR DURING THE WORK DAY) - JUST REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AND THIS HAD ABSOLUTELY NO POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE PROBLEM. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10638470September 23, 2014
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 10/29/14*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10637186September 18, 2014
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING SOUND NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SELF-DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10637082September 17, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING STEADY PACE, SID FADES OUT, RADIO SHUTS OFF, GAUGES TURN OFF, AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. PULLED OVER AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT FROM ENGINE BAY. IT WAS FROM THE SOLENOID ON THE STARTER. I GOT A NEW STARTER AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I THEN BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY AND THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED. I HAD TO CHARGE THE BATTERY UP TO 100% TO GET THE CAR STARTED. THE ALTERNATOR WAS FINE SO MY BELIEF IS THERE IS AN OPEN CIRCUIT SOMEWHERE IN THE CAR. JUST RECENTLY THE SAME SITUATION HAPPENED AGAIN, STARTER MOTOR BURNED UP AND BATTERY DRAINED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10633608September 16, 2014
VISIBILITY
DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN AN"EXPLOSION"! THOUGHT I HAD GOTTEN SHOT AT! I WAS NOT GOIN UNDER A BRIDGE OR FOLLOWING ANY TRUCKS, ETC. IT HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE! GLASS SHATTERED ALL OVER ME AND MY PASSENGER! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10632167September 10, 2014
AIR BAGS, STEERING
2007 SAAB HAS ISSUE WITH DRIVER STEERING LOCK AND DRIVER AIR BAG FAILURE. WHEN I DRIVER ON HIGHWAY I GET NOTICE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. I HAVE NOT HAVE THE WHEEL LOCK YET WHILE I AM DRIVING ON HIGHWAY BUT I DID COMPLETE STOP SEVERAL TIME WHEN NOTICE ON DASH BOARD LIGHT UP WHERE THE STEERING LOCKS UP AFTER I STOP AND TURN OFF THE CAR. I BROUGHT IN THE CAR TO GM DEALER AND ERROR ON SYSTEM COMPUTER AND THEY SAID NO ISSUE. FOR A 2008 AUTOMOTIVE LESS THAN 100,000 MILES TO HAVE AIR BAG FAILURE IS VERY ODD. DEALERS WANT TO REPLACE THE AIR BAG WHICH COST ABOUT $1300. WHICH IS EXPENSIVE FOR 6 TO 7 YEAR OLD CAR TO HAVE TO FIX POSSIBLE GM MANUFACTURE DEFECTS AND THEIR OWN QUALITY CONTROL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to SAAB 9-3