SAAB 9-3 Complaints

1,407 consumer complaints on file.

#10610224July 13, 2014
SEAT BELTS
WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKS REPEATEDLY MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LEAN FORWARD TO SEE IF THE INTERSECTION IS CLEAR. EVEN AFTER SLOWLY LEANING ALL OF THE WAY BACK AND TRYING TO LEAN FORWARD AGAIN, IT LOCKS. THE SEAT BELT MUST BE REMOVED TO AVOID BEING HELD BACK IN THE SEAT AND UNABLE TO SEE. IN ADDITION, WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE THE SEAT BELT, THE BUTTON STICKS AND MUST BE PRESSED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT RELEASES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10609309July 9, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND HAD TO WAIT FOR THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10609014July 8, 2014
SEAT BELTS
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR I HAD TO PUSH ON THE BRAKES FAIRLY HARD. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTED AND THEN STAYED RETRACTED. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A PROPER REPLACEMENT FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT AND HAVE YET TO FIND ONE FOR LESS THAN $200.00 FOR A USED ONE AND OVER $300.00 FOR A REFURBISHED ONE. GM JUST HAPPENS TO HAVE NEW ONES BUT THEY ARE ALMOST $500.00 ACCORDING TO THE REP FROM GM.THESE SEAT BELTS HAVE A CHARGING CYLINDER ON THEM THAT SETS OFF THE AIR BAG. THAT ALONE CAUSES YOU TO HAVE TO SHIP IT AS A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL.IF YOU CAN FIND SOMEONE TO SHIP IT AT A REASONABLE COST. (NOT HAPPENING)IF YOU GO WITH THE "UNIVERSAL" SEAT BELT SOLD BY SOME COMPANIES THEY DON'T EVEN WORK AND YOU ARE TOLD TO JUST CUT THE SEAT BELT TO MAKE IT FIT. KIND OF DESTROYS THE INTEGRITY OF THE SEAT BELT BY DOING THAT I WOULD THINK. I HAVE MADE TWO COMPLAINTS WITH GM ABOUT THIS AND CONSIDERING THEY HAD JUST RECALLED THE 2004-2009 SAAB'S FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE I THOUGHT THEY MIGHT WORK WITH ME TO SOME EXTENT. I KNOW NOW THAT IT IS NOT THE CASE. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 3/13/2015 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10607049June 30, 2014
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR LOCKED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. SINCE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT SEAT BELTS IS DANGEROUS, THE VEHICLE IS UNUSABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10606791June 29, 2014
ENGINE
HAD CYLINDER COMPRESSION TEST PERFORMED, MAJOR VARIANCE IN CYLINDER PSIS AND ENGINE RUNNING ERRATICALLY. PULLED THE HEAD AND DISCOVERED INTAKE & EXHAUST VALVES BOTH EXCESSIVELY WORN AND A FEW BENT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON MANY 9-3S DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. MY ISSUES SURFACED SURPRISINGLY LATE, MOST HAVE SHOWN MANY MILES EARLIER. THIS WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING REPAIR AT $1900. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS THERE SEEMS TO BE EVIDENCE THAT BAD PARTS WERE USED AND HAVE DETERIORATED PREMATURELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10606072June 25, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE AT START. DEPRESS BRAKES, EITHER FROM DRIVEWAY IN REVERSE OR STARTING FORWARD AFTER LEAVING DRIVEWAY, AND BRAKES DO NOT WORK. DEPRESSING BRAKES FEELS LIKE POWER BRAKING SYSTEM IS NOT ENGAGING. HAVE TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, BRAKES RETURN. THIS HAS HAPPENED PERIODICALLY OVER THE PERIOD SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, DECEMBER 2009. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT BRAKE ISSUE THAT WAS EVIDENT FROM THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING, THERE WAS BRAKE FAILURE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WARMED UP SUFFICIENTLY FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE RESOLVED. HE WOULD GENERALLY CATCH THE PROBLEM BEFORE EXITING HIS DRIVEWAY, BUT THERE WERE TIMES THE PROBLEM PERSISTED UPON SHIFTING INTO FORWARD GEAR. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VACUUM PIPE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE08005, IN WHICH HE BELIEVED WAS CLOSED PREMATURELY. UPDATED 08/27/14
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10606073June 25, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON BEGINNING OF WINTER 2011, AND CODE INDICATED FAILED FUEL PUMP. GM (THIS IS A GM CAR) AND SAAB INDICATED FAULTY PART, AND CONTINUED TO INDICATE BACK ORDER OF PART, AND THEN METHOD TO REBUILD AVAILABLE FUEL PUMP, WHICH APPARENTLY IS ALSO ON BACK ORDER. ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT REAPPEARS THE NEXT YEAR, AND HAS OCCURRED EACH YEAR SINCE. PART WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AT TIME OF COMPLAINT, BUT IS NOW OFF OF WARRANTY. SAAB NORTH AMERICA HAS INDICATED IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINT THAT REPLACEMENT PART PLUS REBUILD WOULD WORK, BUT THE PART HAS NEVER BEEN AVAILABLE FOR REBUILDING, AND SAAB DEALERSHIP (KEN GAARF) CLAIMS IT HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR CLOSE TO 3 YEARS. CAR BOUGHT NEW IN DECEMBER 2009 WITH 3 YEAR GM FULL WARRANTY IN PLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10605202June 23, 2014
SEAT BELTS
I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO TO WORK AND AS I PULLED THE BELT OVER MY SHOULDER THE RETRACTING MECHANISM SNAPPED. THE BELT WAS COMPLETELY SLACK WITH NO PROTECTIVE CAPACITY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2005. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A RECALL ITEM. I ORDERED THE BELT, IT WAS BACKORDERED ("COMING IN FROM SWEDEN"). I MADE THE APPOINTMENT FOR REPLACING IT, TOOK IT IN AND CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A RECALL. THEY SAID IT WAS ACTUALLY A "CAMPAIGN" TO REPLACE FAULTY BELT MECHANISMS. TEN MINUTES LATER THEY CHANGED THEIR MINDS, STATING THAT THEY JUST FOUND OUT (?) IT DIDN'T COVER THE CONVERTIBLE...ONLY THE SEDANS. I PAID $431.80 FOR THE BELT AND $337.50 FOR THE LABOR TO INSTALL IT. I FELT THAT, AS I OR MY WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR WORSE HAD IT FAILED IN A COLLISION, THE RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD LIE WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALERSHIP IS WEST COUNTY (SAAB) VOLVO, 14410 MANCHESTER ROAD, MANCHESTER, MO 63011. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10606288June 22, 2014
SUSPENSION
I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR A BLOWER MOTOR MALFUNCTION AND A BRAKE JOB TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC WHO WORKS ON ALL MY VEHICLES. WHILE THEY HAD THE VEHICLE UP ON THE LIFT, HE NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING HAD BROKEN AND GOUGED THE TIRE LEAVING THE TIRE DAMAGED AND THE CAR INOPERABLE. WHEN THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO ORDER A NEW SPRING FROM SAAB, THE PARTS DEPARTMENT SAID THAT B/C OF MILEAGE AND AGE IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER A SERVICE BULLETIN. YEAH! SO, I CALLED DEALERSHIP AND INQUIRED ABOUT HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED (100 MILES) AND THE SAAB DEALERSHIP DO THE WORK. MILEAGE ON 9-3, 94,484 GOOD! 6 MONTHS PAST THE "TIME" LIMIT! BAD! NEEDLESS TO SAY, AFTER $700 LATER I HAVE REPLACED BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AS WELL AS THE $175 DAMAGED TIRE. THE SPRING COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE CAR, OCCUPANTS AS WELL AS OTHERS IF I WAS DRIVING WHILE THE DAMAGED TIRE GAVE OUT, DUE TO THE SPRING BREAKING! THE VEHICLE DROVE PERFECTLY & I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE BROKEN SPRING! THIS IS NOT MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I HONESTLY FEEL THAT SAAB SHOULD HONOR THE MILEAGE BEFORE THE "TIME" B/C THE AMOUNT OF THE VEHICLE BEING DRIVEN IS WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE SPRINGS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10605050June 22, 2014
ENGINE
ENGINE FAILS TO START WHEN COLD AND WHEN IT DOES, THE CAR RUNS EXTREMELY ROUGH. CAR HESITATES AND DRIVES POORLY UNTIL ENGINE IS FINALLY WARM. COLD COMPRESSION TEST CONFIRMS THAT THERE IS LOW COMPRESSION AND THAT THERE ARE DEFECTIVE INTAKE VALVES. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS NOT OLD AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10604729June 20, 2014
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT WAS NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM BEING PROPERLY SECURED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO WEAR THE SEAT BELT SINCE IT WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH TO CONNECT TO THE LATCH BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10604741June 20, 2014
ENGINE
INTAKE VALVE FAILURE ON 2.0 TURBO. CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL DUE TO DEFECTIVE VALVES. WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET LINKED TO IMPROPERLY HARDENED INTAKE VALVES. THE CAR FAILED TO START AND A CYLINDER COMPRESSION CHECK INDICATED THAT COMPRESSION WAS LOST ON ALL FOUR CYLINDERS. $2,600 REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10604787June 20, 2014
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FOR THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SECURE THE SEAT BELT INTO THE LATCH; HOWEVER, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER MOVED FORWARD BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO SECURE THEM. NONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT OFFER A REMEDY. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,100. UPDATED 08/27/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELTS WERE BOTH REPLACED WITH NO ASSISTANCE OFFERED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. UPDATED 9/5/2014 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598882June 17, 2014
ENGINE
COLD START PROBLEM CAUSED BY LOW COMPRESSION / DEFECTIVE VALVES WHEN COLD. RUNS FINE AFTER IT WARMS UP. GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598884June 17, 2014
SUSPENSION
FRONT DRIVER SIDE SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING. LOUD BANG AND SUDDEN DROP IN RIDE HEIGHT. SOME LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THIS IS A RECALLED ISSUE UP TO 2006, IT SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO COVER 2008 MODELS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598674June 16, 2014
SEAT BELTS
UPON COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT CAME UNRAVELLED FROM THE SEAT BACK AND WILL NOT RETRACT. I LOOKED UP THE VEHICLE FOR RECALLS AND FOUND THEIR IS A VIN SPECIFIC RECALL ON THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE VIN SPECIFIC. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO GM AND SAAB SINCE 2010 AND NOT ONLY WAS I NOT NOTIFIED SO I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IN A POTENTIALLY. UNSAFE VEHICLE BUT NOW I AM BEING TOLD MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598027June 13, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY DIC FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME! I HEAR ITS AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598072June 13, 2014
ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
READ OVER THE POSTED PROBLEMS WITH SAAB 9-3. THREE MAIN ISSUES ARE FRONT COILS, FUEL GAUGE, AND FAULTY VALVES. I HAVE HAD ALL THREE OF THESE ISSUES. COILS REPLACED 18 MONTHS AGO (GM WOULD NOT PAY). GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK (GM WON'T PAY). JUST HAD THE ENGINE REBUILT TO FIX THE EXHAUST VALVE PROBLEM (OUT OF LUCK AGAIN). OBAMA WAIVED GM OF THEIR HISTORY OF FAULTS (HE NEEDED THE VOTES FOR RE-ELECTION) AND NOW CONSUMERS ARE STUCK. SAAB WAS A QUALITY PRODUCT BEFORE GM GOT A HOLD OF IT. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598054June 13, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I JUST PURCHASED MY 2002 SAAB 9-3 FROM KARZ AND MORE IN LONGVIEW WA. IN NOVEMBER 2012 AND DROVE ABOUT ONE MILE WENT INTO A STORE CAME OUT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE THERMOSTAT AND THE IGNITION COIL PACK WERE BAD. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT JUST ONCE AND THE IGNITION COIL PACK TWICE. CAR IS STILL NOT RUNNING I HAVE DIED ON THE FREEWAY, IN TOWN, TOO MANY TIMES TO EVEN COUNT THE CAR WILL START WITH A JUMP BUT WONT RUN FOR VERY LONG BEFORE IT DIES. FRUSTRATED AND AT MY WITTS END! HAD A FULL DIAGNOSTIC....SHOWED NOTHING NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW THE PROBLEM. ITS RAN ABOUT A WEEK SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR UGH! *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597760June 11, 2014
SUSPENSION
I HAVE ALSO BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION. I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK MY RECORDS, BUT I BELIEVE IT STARTED WHEN THE CAR HAD ABOUT 25K MILES ON IT. THE SPRINGS ARE STILL IN TACT, BUT I WOULD NOTICE A VERY LOUD CREAKING NOISE GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS IN PARKING LOTS, ESPECIALLY IN COLD TEMPERATURES. I BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALERSHIP WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY RESOLUTION. AFTER READING THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OF BROKEN SPRINGS, I NOW KNOW WHY I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR ON THE FREEWAY. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET THIS FIXED UNDER A RECALL BEFORE IT CAUSES AN ACCIDENT AND SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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