SAAB 9-3 Complaints
1,407 consumer complaints on file.
- #10416313July 29, 2011VISIBILITY
I HAVE A 2004 SAAB 9-3. TODAY, I EXITED MY CAR AND WHEN I CLOSED THE DOOR, THE ADHESIVE HOLDING THE GLASS TO MY SIDE VIEW MIRROR FAILED(THE MIRROR/GLASS FELL TO THE GROUND). THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN BECAUSE I USE MY MIRRORS ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING SAFE LANE CHANGES. I NOW HAVE A DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR(GLASS) THAT IS NO LONGER THERE. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. MANY PEOPLE HAVE CERTAIN MEDICAL ISSUES THAT WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO COMPLETELY TURN THEIR NECK/TORSO TO THE LEFT TO VIEW ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHILE TRYING TO MERGE. IF A PERSON WITH SAID PROBLEM LOST THE ABILITY TO VIEW THEIR MIRROR THEY WILL BE FORCED TO BLINDLY MERGE INTO LANES THAT THEY CANNOT BE SURE ARE CLEAR AND SAFE. FURTHERMORE, I LOOKED INTO REPLACING THE MENTIONED MIRROR AND CAME UPON THIS WEBSITE. (HTTPS://WWW.INTERNETGLASSNETWORK.COM/SSL/SAAB/9_3.HTM) YOU CAN CLEARLY READ THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10415506July 28, 2011SEAT BELTS
MY SAAB CONVERTIBLE ONLY HAS 59000 MILES ON IT AND MY SEAT BELT SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. SAAB AND ITS DEALERSHIPS REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY CLAIM IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ONLY SELECTED VINS WERE COVERED FOR RECALLS-EVEN THOUGH THE PART IS THE SAME (DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR). AS I UNDERSTAND, BY FEDERAL LAW, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO COVER THE REPAIRS OF THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM FOR TEN YEARS DESPITE THEIR CRAPPY VEHICLE WARRANTY. MY MECHANIC SAYS HE HAS HAD THE SAME SITUATION WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS. I NEED SOME HELP! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10415990July 26, 2011SEAT BELTS
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT ON SEAT BELT, THE RETRACTOR FAILED AND THE SEAT BELT IS EXTENDED TO IT'S LARGEST CAPACITY AND WILL NOT RETRACT. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED AT A REPAIR SHOP FOR SWEDISH CARS AND WAS TOLD THAT FIXING IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. I WAS TOLD THAT RECALL APPLIED TO ONLY SEDANS. I WAS QUOTED A COST OF OVER $800 TO FIX THE PART. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THE 2004 SAABS. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10411564July 8, 2011AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
THE SIDE SEAM OF THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT TORE WITH OUT WARNING. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG IS LOCATED HERE AND MAY BECOME EXPOSED IN A DANGEROUS MANOR. CAR HAS ONLY 39,000 MILES IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED. DRIVER IS NOT OVERWEIGHT/FAT. THIS IS UNSAFE. I HAVE OWNED MANY OTHER CARS AND SEATS SHOULD NOT TEAR WHERE AIR BAG IS LOCATED. THIS IS DEFECT. GM WILL NOT REPAIR, "CAR OUT OF WARRANTY". INDEPENDENT SHOP WILL NOT STITCH "LIABILITY CONCERN DUE TO AIRBAG". HELP. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10410905July 7, 2011SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT AFTER HAD BEEN EXTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10410604July 5, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE CAR FAILED TO BRAKE RIGHT AFTER STARTING IT UP. THE CAR WAS STARTED, THE BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, THE GEAR SELECT LEVER WAS MOVED TO THE DRIVE POSITION, AFTER MOVING FORWARD OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO STOP. WE ALMOST RAN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. *KB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10408755June 24, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE AIR CONDITIONAER, HEADLIGHTS AND THE MOTOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR ALL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A BURN OUT OCCURRED IN THE ELECTRICAL SOCKETS FOR EACH COMPONENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,440.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10408441June 22, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
I HAVE A 2002 SAAB 93 AND THE DIC CASSETTE ON THOSE CAR ALWAYS GOOD BAD. THEY ARE DEFECTIVE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THOSE CARS AND I CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM AND THEY SAID THERE WASN'T NO SUCH RECALL, THEY DENIED IT BECAUSE THE PARTS IS EXPENSIVE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10406957June 15, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE OWNER PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND STOPPED, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. OWNER REPORTED THAT THE SMOKE BECAME BLACK AND A FIRE ERUPTED. FIRE ORIGIN IN RIGHT REAR OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSE UNDETERMINED. VEHICLE HAS 2.0 LITER TURBOCHARGED 4-CYLINDER ENGINE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10406958June 15, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OWNER PARKED THE VEHICLE AT WORK AND WHEN OWNER GOT OUT, OWNER NOTICED A WEIRD ELECTRICAL TYPE SMELL. OWNER WENT INSIDE TO WORK. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER, SOMEONE CAME IN AND SAID THAT THE SAAB WAS SMOKING. OWNER WENT OUTSIDE AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND THE HOOD AND ALSO SAW SOME EMBERS DRIPPING UNDERNEATH THE SAAB. SOMEONE ELSE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THERE WAS FIRE APPEARING UP THROUGH THE HOOD AND COWL AREA. VEHICLE HAS 2.0 LITER TURBOCHARGED 4-CYLINDER ENGINE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10406962June 15, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OWNER DROVE SAAB TO MALL AND PARKED IT. APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MINUTES LATER, CAME BACK OUT TO CAR AND OBSERVED THAT FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD EXTINGUISHED A FIRE IN THE SAAB. FIRE ORIGINATED IN RIGHT REAR OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSE UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME. VEHICLE HAS 2.0 LITER TURBOCHARGED 4-CYLINDER ENGINE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10406188June 13, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2007 SAAB 9-3 THE VEHICLE STALLS DURING HOT AND COLD WEATHER. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE RUNS "ROUGH" THE VEHICLE HAS THEN STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. SAAB USA HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND I ADVISED THEM I WANT THEM TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER IT'S FACTORY WARRANTY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405979June 11, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON JULY 22ND 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 1500 EST, I STARTED MY CAR, A 2006 SAAB 9-3 AERO SPORT SEDAN AND PLACED IT INTO REVERSE TO EXIT MY GARAGE/ DRIVEWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK. AS I NEARED THE STREET I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN AND ENTER THE STREET BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMED TO BE INEFFECTIVE AND I ENDED UP PUTTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND ENTERING THE STREET AT AN ANGLE. AFTER I HAD STOPPED IN THE STREET I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND SHORTLY (2MIN) I WAS ON MY WAY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO MY SAAB DEALER, AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO AS IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. DURING THE REST OF THE SUMMER I DROVE THAT CAR I HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. (IT IS MY PARENTS CAR THAT I DROVE WHEN I WAS HOME FOR THE SUMMER). I LATER FOUND OUT THAT MY PARENTS ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM INTERMITTENTLY SO I BEGAN SEARCHING ONLINE AND FOUND OTHERS THAT HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND REFERENCED A REPORT PE08005 WHICH SEEMED TO DESCRIBE MY PROBLEM. I BROUGHT THIS REPORT TO THE SAAB DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD NEVER SEEN IT AND COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405542June 8, 2011SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3 AERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FASTEN THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405626June 8, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS HE WAS TAKING THE VEHICLE FOR EMISSIONS TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS REJECTED DUE TO THE CODES THAT SHOWED ON THE EMISSION TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE IDM CODE, WHICH IS THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL, OVER HEAT AND FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO INFORMED HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN BECAUSE IT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V399000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: MODULE). HE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY LATER INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $700 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS MILEAGE 106,871.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10406287June 6, 2011AIR BAGS
SLOWLY APPROACHING STOPLIGHT, AND DRIVERS SIDE, SIDE AIRBAG GOES OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DRIVER WAS STRUCK IN SIDE OF HEAD, AND UPPER BODY, SOME HEARING LOSS SUFFERED ALSO.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10404027June 1, 2011SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER FOLDING THE SEAT BACK THE SEAT BELT BECAME LOCKED IN PLACE AND HE WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE IT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED HIM TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10403429May 25, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AFTER STARTING CAR AND ADJUSTING SEAT I BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES WHICH DID NOT SEEM TO WORK PROPERLY. THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED AS I WAS NOT GOING VERY FAST. I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO MOVE TO ANOTHER PARKING SPOT AND AS I TURNED THE CORNER GOING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT WORK; I ACCELERATED AGAIN TO TEST THE BRAKES AGAIN AND THEY DID NOT WORK; I AGAIN ACCELERATED TO TEST THE BRAKES AGAIN AND THEY STILL DID NOT WORK. I CAUTIOUSLY MOVED MY CAR TO ANOTHER PARKING SPOT AND APPLIED THE BRAKES WHICH DID NOT WORK AND SUBSEQUENTLY OVER SHOT THE PARKING SPACE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10401749May 13, 2011SUSPENSION
WAS DRIVING 2004 SAAB 9-3 VEHICLE WHEN THE STRUT SPRING BROKE, AND STARTED DIGGING INTO THE TIRE CREATING A LOT OF SMOKE FROM BURNT RUBBER. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION IT APPEARS THAT THE STRUT STRINGS HAD BROKE ON BOTH SIDES, ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE SPRING CAME OFF OF ITS 'MOUNT' AND DUG ITS WAY INTO THE TIRE. NOTHING WAS HIT TO CAUSE THIS REACTION. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET, THIS SEEMS TO BE A MORE COMMON, THAN NOT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF 9-3. SAAB HAS AGREED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND THESE SPRINGS SHOULD BE RECALLED. A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE TIRE BEFORE I STOPPED. IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TRAVELING ANY FASTER, I BELIEVE THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10398885May 4, 2011SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE A 2005 SAAB 9-3 THAT BECAME UNDRIVEABLE AFTER THE FRONT LEFT COILS/SPRINGS BROKE, PUNCTURING THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN A POPPING SOUND WAS HEARD, FOLLOWED BY GRINDING AND A BURNING RUBBER SMELL. AT THAT POINT THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEN TO A SAAB DEALERSHIP TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE IS A CAMPAIGN OUT FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT NOT A RECALL. THE SPRINGS/COILS WERE REPLACED FOR FREE BUT THE TIRE COST WAS PRORATED AND THE CAR REQUIRED AN ALIGNMENT AFTER THE REPAIRS WHICH WAS NOT COVERED IN THE COST. THIS CAR HAD BEEN IN THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE AND THE COILS/SPRINGS WERE SPECIFICALLY CHECKED DUE TO THE CAMPAIGN. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE PARTS DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGN OF DAMAGE AND SO WERE NOT REPLACED. BOTH TOW TRUCK DRIVERS AND THE REPAIR SHOP OWNER COMMENTED THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY, CONSIDERING HOW QUICKLY IT RENDERED THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE AND WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN GOING AT A FAST RATE OF SPEED, SURROUNDED BY OTHER CARS. I AM SHOCKED THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT A RECALL AS IT IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0