SAAB 9-3 Complaints

1,407 consumer complaints on file.

#10296720December 22, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SUSPENSION
DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING "BROKE" WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 SAAB 9-3 ON THE HIGHWAY AT OVER 50 MPH. CAUSED SIGNIFICANT STRUT DAMAGE AND RATTLING OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS AS I WAS WORKING TO SCHEDULE IN A MECHANIC VISIT. THEY FINALLY QUOTED ME $930 IN REPAIRS TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS, STRUTS AND TO PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT. APPARENTLY, A LOT OF OTHER SAABS OF THE SAME MODEL HAS HAD THIS ISSUE ARISE FOR THEM, I THINK THE SPRINGS SHOULD BE RECALLED. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296592December 21, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
2005 SAAB 9-3 ARC, FRONT RIGHT SPRING BROKE AND DESTROYED FRONT RIGHT TIRES. APPROXIMATELY 38K MILE ON VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296243December 17, 2009
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 93. THE FRONT DRIVER-SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WOULD NOT RETRACT THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE RETRACTOR. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V226000 (SEAT BELTS FRONT:RETRACTOR). THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294828December 7, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
MY 2005 SAAB 93 44,500 MILES. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON A SIX LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY (I495) IN THE RIGHT TRAVEL LANE THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND SHRED THE TIRE CAUSING A BLOW OUT. THE DRIVER HAD NEVER BEFORE EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOW OUT AND WAS STARTLED AND JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT IN A MOMENT OF PANIC AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS WHILE SCRUBBING OFF SPEED. THE CAR REMAINED MOSTLY IN THE RIGHT TRAVEL LANE. THERE WASN'T MUCH TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD AT 5AM AND THE CAR DID NOT HIT ANY OTHER VEHICLES OR OBJECTS. THE DRIVER REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OFF THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO EXAMINE THE DAMAGE. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT SO THE DRIVER JACKED THE CAR UP AND REMOVED THE TIRE. IMMEDIATELY APPARENT WAS THE BROKEN COIL SPRING. THE DRIVER DID NOT WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY FOR A TOW TRUCK. INSTEAD, THE DRIVER DECIDED TO INSTALL THE TEMPORARY SPACE SAVER SPARE TIRE AND LIMP THE CAR HOME BY DRIVING ON THE SHOULDER FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AT 30MPH WITH THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO WORK. LATER A MECHANIC WAS HIRED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WHERE IT WAS PARKED IN THE OWNER'S DRIVEWAY. BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND THE DAMAGED TIRE WERE REPLACED AT A TOTAL COST OF APPROXIMATELY $600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293713November 27, 2009
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAD BROKEN WHICH CAUSED THE BELT WEBBING TO NOT RETRACT. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 04V226000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR). HE WAS ADVISED THAT HE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, SO HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 106,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293380November 24, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. MORE NOTICEABLE AT COLD STARTS PULLING OUT FORWARD OR BACKWARD. BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKING POWER. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND WE PARKED THE CAR AND CONTACTED THE DEALER. THEY HAVE NOW HAD THE CAR FOR 4 WEEKS AND ARE WAITING ON A PART FROM THE FACTORY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THIS CAR AND COULD VERY EASILY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES OR DEATH. I AM A MALE AND IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO GET THE CAR STOPPED ON AT LEAST 2 OCCASIONS. I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON ONE OCCASION TO AVOID A COLLISION. THIS CAR HAS 32,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS A VACUUM LINE ON THE BRAKE BOOSTER BUT THE REPLACEMENT MUST COME FROM SAAB. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS WILL RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OR NOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292391November 16, 2009
SEAT BELTS
I OWN A 2004 SAAB 9-3 SEDAN. A FEW DAYS I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SEATBELT RETRACTOR AS DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT : PE09048. I CALLED SAAB IN REFERENCE TO RECALL #5938 FOR SOME 2004 MODELS, BUT THEY CLAIM THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291543November 9, 2009
SUSPENSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT, STRUCTURE
NORMAL DRIVING. BOTTOM SIX INCHES OF FRONT RIGHT STRUT COIL SPRING JUST BROKE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A COIL SPRING JUST BREAK BEFORE. THIS PART IS STILL ON THE CAR AND I HAVE THE BROKEN SIX INCH SEMI-CIRCULAR PIECE. IT TOOK ALMOST THREE MONTHS BEFORE I DISCOVERED WHERE A CLICKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM IN THE FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291039November 5, 2009
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
AFTER READING ABOUT THE RECENT TOYOTA FLOORMAT RECALL I HAVE DECIDED TO REPORT A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH MY 2007 SAAB 9-3. MY DRIVER SIDE FLOORMAT DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE AND HAS REPEATEDLY GOTTEN CAUGHT AS I PUSH THE CLUTCH IN. THE RESULT IS THAT THE CLUTCH WILL NOT LET OUT WITH OUT ME MANUALLY REMOVING THE FLOORMAT BY HAND. I CAN PUSH THE CLUTCH IN, BUT IT WON'T LET OUT. THIS WOULD BE A SIMPLE FIX IF THEY WOULD CREATE A BETTER FLOOR MAT ANCHOR, BUT THE DEALER SAID THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290366October 30, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SPRING BROKE ABOUT 4" UP FROM THE BOTTOM. CAR MILEAGE APPRX. 75K. PROBLEM WAS INDICATED BY CLUNKING NOISE AND ODDNESS IN THE STEERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289665October 24, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
RETURNED FROM 2 WEEK VACATION WHERE CAR WAS PARKED IN AN OUTDOOR AIRPORT PARKING LOT. WHEN CAR WAS PUT INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF PARKING SPACE, EXTRA GAS WAS REQUIRED TO START MOVEMENT, THEN LOUD BANG / POP AND THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE. (SOMETIMES AFTER A RAIN, THE DISK BRAKES SEEM TO RUST / WELD TO THE ROTORS AND REQUIRE EXTRA EFFORT TO BRAKE LOOSE. BUT THIS BANG / POP WAS LOUDER THAN NORMAL.) STARTED TO DRIVE OUT OF PARKING LOT, THEN ONTO STREET TO GET ONTO INTERSTATE. SMELLED RUBBER BURNING ODOR. OTHER DRIVERS INDICATED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM RIGHT WHEEL WELL AREA. STOPPED TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING BROKEN AND CUTTING A GROOVE IN THE SIDE WALL OF TIRE. CAR HANDLED NORMALLY, SO WE WERE GLAD WE HADN'T ENTERED INTERSTATE AND GOTTEN UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED. CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC. HE SAID ONLY RIGHT SIDE HAD PHYSICALLY BROKEN, BUT FELT THE LEFT SIDE WAS ABOUT TO BREAK ALSO. HE REPLACED BOTH LEFT / RIGHT STRUTS, SPRINGS, BRACKET, SUPPORT STRUTS, SWAY BAR LINKS AND RIGHT FRONT TIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288679October 16, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2007 SAAB 9-3. HE HAS TO REPEATEDLY APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP. THE POWER ASSIST UNIT WAS REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY. HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE POWER ASSIST REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287104October 12, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY, MOTOR FAILED DUE TO LACK OF OIL CIRCULATION BROUGHT ON BY PLUGGING OF OIL PUMP INTAKE SCREEN FROM DEGRADATION OF OIL, DUE TO DESIGN OF SAAB 9/3 THAT COOKS OIL IN TURBOCHARGER AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER DIRECTLY BENEATH OIL PAN. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS LONG OIL CHANGE INTERVAL, (10,000 SAAB RECOMMENDATION), VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 7,000 MILES SINCE LAST OIL CHANGE. COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED. VEHICLE DISABLED. I HAD IT TOWED TO A PEP BOYS LOCATION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE LOST 2 CYLINDERS AND NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286753October 8, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HARD SHIFTING, SLIPPING OF TRANSMISSION WHEN ACCELERATING. 2006 AERO V6, WHEN COLD THE SHIFTING OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS VERY STIFF RESULTING IN NOISES AND BUMPS WHEN UP OR DOWN SHIFTING IN THE 'AUTO' MODE. SHIFTING INTO HIGHER GEARING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ARE SLOW AND OFTEN UP AND DOWN AS THE TRANSMISSION TRIES TO FIND THE CORRECT GEAR RANGE. THIS OCCURS (LOOKING FOR GEARS) WHEN WARM. ALSO WHEN WARM GOING DOWN HILL THE SHIFTING BUMPS VERY HARD TO LOWER GEARS CAUSING CAR TO SLOW DOWN DRAMATICALLY. WHEN COLD, TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES WILL NOT SHIFT UP WHEN ACCELERATING WHILE MAKING A TURN FROM A STOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286302October 5, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEAD LAMP FAILURE IN 2007, SAAB 9-3 2.0T SPORT SEDAN. IN 42K MILES I HAVE REPLACED THE HEAD LAMPS 4 TIMES. IT USUALLY OCCURS ONLY ON THE LEFT HEAD LAMP. THIS PAST SATURDAY, OCT 3, 2009, I LOST THE LEFT ONE IN THE MORNING AND THE RIGHT ONE IN THE EVENING. I HAD NO LOW BEAMS AND HAD TO DRIVE 25 MILES HOME, AT NIGHT TIME WITH CONSIDERABLE CITY TRAFFIC, WITH MY HIGH BEAMS. THE DEALER HAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SURGE WHEN STARTING THE CAR THAT CAN BLOW THE FILAMENTS IN THE BULBS BECAUSE THEY COME ON AS DRLS WHEN THE KEY TURNED TO THE ON POSITION. THEIR "FIX" FOR THIS IS TO REPROGRAM THE CAR TO DISABLE THE DRLS AND AUTO TURN ON OF THE HEADLIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286068October 2, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FOR MY 1999 SAAB 9-3, BASE ENGINE, I REPLACED THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE, AT 128,800 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE PART ALONE WAS $488 AND THE TOTAL INSTALLATION COST AND PARTS (INCLUDING A HOSE AND FOUR SPARK PLUGS) WAS $760. MODEL YEARS 2000 THROUGH 2002 WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285770September 30, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2006 SAAB AERO V6, AT A COLD START AND WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES VERY HARD AND THE CAR WILL NOT STOP FOR 15 -20 FT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285309September 26, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
COIL SPRING ON FRONT RIGHT TIRE OF 2004 SAAB 9-3 BROKE. SHREDDED TIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284022September 15, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
UPON DRIVING OUR 2004 SAAB 9-3 INTO A PARKING LOT WE NOTICED THE CAR WAS NOT HANDLING CORRECTLY. FRONT END WAS VERY LOW TO GROUND, CAR NOT TURNING CORRECTLY, AND MAKING A NOISE. UPON HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALER IT APPEARED ONE OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS HAD SNAPPED. BASED ON NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTED COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO OURS, WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED VERY CLOSE TO WORK, AFTER GETTING OFF OF THE MASS PIKE OR WE COULD HAVE HAD A BLOWN TIRE AT 70 MPH. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH THE SAAB DEALER AND THEIR DISTRICT MANAGER, SAAB REPLACED BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS AT NO COST TO US WITHOUT ANY ARGUMENT. IRONICALLY A FRIEND OF OURS HAD JUST HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM A MONTH EARLIER WITH THE SAME OUTCOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284047September 15, 2009
SUSPENSION
FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to SAAB 9-3