SAAB 9-3 Complaints

1,407 consumer complaints on file.

#10283910September 14, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
NOTICED A SUDDEN STEERING PULL AND THUMP/RATTLE IN FRONT END. DROVE TO NEAREST SHOP TO HAVE A LOOK AND WAS TOLD MY FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND LUCKY THAT THE SPRING DID NOT SHRED THE TIRE AND CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT! I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS HAS BEEN A SOMEWHAT COMMON DEFECT ON SIMILAR YEAR MODELS. SHOP RECOMMENDED REPLACE BOTH SPRINGS BEFORE DRIVING AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283389September 9, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
2003 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR. OEM FRONT SPRING BROKEN (PASSENGER SIDE). NOTICED WHEN DOING BRAKES ONE DAY. NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE OR ANY PROPERTY, BUT STILL A HUGE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282997September 6, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
ON 8/2/09, I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. CAR PULLED TO THE EXTREME RIGHT WITH A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING RUBBER. LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. IT WAS QUITE OBVIOUS THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS LOWER THAN THE BACK. THE SMELL OF RUBBER WAS FROM THE SPRING GOING INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THE FRONT PASSENGER SPRING BROKE & ATE INTO THE FRONT TIRE. IT ALSO PULLED OUT THE STRUTS & BROKE THE BRACKET/TOP AS WELL. I WAS VERY SATISFIED WITH SAAB UNTIL THIS. CAR IS 6 YEARS OLD, WELL MAINTAINED WITH ONLY 56,700 MILES. THIS INCIDENT HAS CERTAINLY MADE ME APPREHENSIVE ESPECIALLY WHEN I DID RESEARCH AN FOUND THERE HAS BEEN A RASH OF BROKEN FRONT PASSENGER SPRINGS REPORTED, YET NO RECALLS. PARTS REPLACED: STRUT ASSEMBLY, STRUT TOP, SPRING PAIR, BRACKET, STABILIZER BAR CONTROL LINK, PIRELLI TIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282827September 4, 2009
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT HAD COME ON 4 DAYS PRIOR. I WAS PACKED THE KEY WAS OFF BUT STILL IN THE IGNITION. I WENT TO START THE CAR AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS WENT OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10282728September 3, 2009
SEAT BELTS
AS I WAS PUTTING ON MY SEATBELT I HEARD A SNAP AND AN UNROLLING SOUND IN THE DOOR OF THE CAR AND THE SEATBELT LOST TENSION. THE SEATBELT WOULD NOT REGAIN TENSION. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE RETRACTOR HAD BROKEN. THERE IS A RECALL ON 2004 SAAB 93 SEATBELT RETRACTORS, BUT THEY SAID THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THEREFORE I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR ($455). THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART IN STOCK TO FIX IT SO THEY SENT ME HOME, WITHOUT OFFERING A RENTAL CAR EVEN THOUGH I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN THAT I WAS LACKING A CRITICAL SAFETY FEATURE OF MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281965August 27, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATED FOR 3 WEEKS. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V399000 PE05017 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE05017 COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK AND THE POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED PER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN NOR YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF HER VEHICLE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281647August 25, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS, SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT SPRING COIL IS BROKE. DURING OIL CHANGE, DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND A PIECE OF THE COIL MISSING. I WOULD LIKE SAAB TO REIMBURSE FOR THIS $400+ REPAIR JOB. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281580August 24, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXAMINING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 45000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280863August 18, 2009
SEAT BELTS
ON, 8/18/2009 AS I WAS DRIVING I HEARD SOMETHING SNAP IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE B-PILLAR TRIM AT THIS SAME MOMENT MY SEATBELT WENT COMPLETELY LOOSE. IT WILL NO LONGER RETRACT, THE BELT PULLS OUT FREELY WITH NO RESISTANCE AND IS NOW COMPLETELY OUT AND WILL NOT RETRACT. IN THE EVENT OF AN EVASIVE MANEUVER/CRASH I (THE DRIVER) WILL NOT BE HELD INTO THE SEAT PROPERLY AND RISK BEING EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL IN THE 03/04 SAAB 9-3'S FOR THE FRONT SEATBELT RETRACTORS. I HAVE CONTACTED SAAB USA; THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE RETRACTOR BECAUSE MY VIN FALLS RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE COVERED RECALLED CARS. I BELIEVE THAT MY CAR IS SUFFERING FROM THE RECALLED ITEM, AND THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE A LARGER VIN RANGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280664August 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON COLD ENGINE STARTS (STARTING THE CAR AFTER IT BEING AT REST FOR A FEW HOURS), THE POWER BRAKING DOES NOT WORK FOR THE FIRST 1-3 MINUTES THAT THE CAR IS ON. HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY. FIRST NOTICED MONTHS AGO. APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED FOR REPAIR. VEHICLE IS A 2007 SAAB 9-3 AERO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279733August 7, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SIMILAR ISSUE TO NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATION # PE08005. LOSS OF BRAKE POWER ASSIST AFTER A COLD START UP AND REVERSING. THE VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO STOP, REQUIRING HIGH PEDAL PRESSURE, UNTIL THE CAR HAS WARMED UP FOR ~30 SECONDS. THIS HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS. IT IS MORE PROMINENT AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL DAYS. ALSO WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD, WHEN A BUMP IS HIT WHILE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, BRAKES MAKE A METAL-ON-METAL GRINDING SOUND AND THE BRAKING ACTION DOES NOT WORK UNTIL ADDITIONAL PRESSURE IS APPLIED. THIS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN BRAKING ON SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS SUCH AS SNOW OR RAIN. THIS CAUSED A NEAR ACCIDENT WHEN MY CAR DID NOT STOP FOR ANOTHER 10 FEET THAN INTENDED AND ENTERED AN INTERSECTION ON A RED LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279625August 6, 2009
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXPLOSION. SHE REALIZED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN IMPACT OR CRASH OCCURRING. THE AIR BAG INJURED A TEENAGER SEATED IN THE VEHICLE. THE TEENAGER SUFFERED TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS AND A CHEST ABRASION DUE TO THE SEAT BELT. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO SEND AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BUT THIS HAS NOT YET TRANSPIRED. NEITHER THE CONTACT NOR THE MANUFACTURER COULD DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 91,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10278816July 30, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IMMEDIATELY, THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE IDLING WITHIN THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR, WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,550.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278496July 27, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
2005 SAAB 9-3 ARC SEDAN FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED. BROKEN SPRING CONTACTED TIRE SIDE WALL AND CAUSED IRREPARABLE DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278365July 26, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
LOSS OF BRAKE POWER ASSIST AFTER A COLD START UP. THE VEHICLE IS VERY HARD TO STOP, REQUIRING HIGH PEDAL PRESSURE, UNTIL THE CAR HAS WARMED UP FOR ~30 SECONDS. THIS HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278299July 25, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
MY 2003 SAAB 93 VECTOR HAD THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING BROKE, IM STILL DRIVING ON IT WITH THE PARTS ON ORDER. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER PEOPLES SAABS. AND SOUNDS LIKE THEIR WILL BE NO HELP FROM THE DEALER. I AM ASSUMING ITS GOING TO TAKE A FATALITY OR 2 BEFORE SAAB WAKES UP AND MAKES SOME BETTER SPRINGS OR JUST RECALL THE '!@#$% THINGS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278051July 23, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION FRONT COIL SPRINGS HAVE BEEN FAILING SINCE SPRING OF 2008. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WANTED TO GO ON RECORD AND REFERENCED INVESTIGATION NUMBER EA08026. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,210.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277435July 20, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING FAILURE ON 2003 SAAB 9-3 SS LINEAR. I HAVE READ THAT THERE IS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE, AND THAT THE NHTSA HAS REVIEWED WARRANTY CLAIMS. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO IT WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THIS DATA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277396July 20, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2007 SAAB 9-3, WOULDN'T START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE ERROR MESSAGE RECEIVED WHEN INSERTING THE KEY WAS "LOCK MALFUNCTION. PULL OVER SAFELY". THIS MESSAGE AND THE INCIDENT IS IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED WITH MY 2005 SAAB 9-3, WHICH HAD TO BE TOWED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T START. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. I KNOW AT LEAST THREE OTHER SAAB OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, ONE WHO JUST PURCHASED HIS 2009 SAAB THIS YEAR. I ACTUALLY FILED A CLAIM WITH SAAB FOR MY 2005 VEHICLE, VIN , FILE NO. 71-557354191 AND BECAUSE THIS WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MY PRIOR VEHICLE I BELIEVE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN WITH MY 2007 SAAB CAUSING ME CONSIDERABLE INCONVENIENCE AND POSSIBLY PUTTING ME IN DANGER IF IT HAPPENS TO OCCUR IN A AN UNSAFE LOCATION. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT SAAB WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND NOTIFY THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE CHECKED THE RECALL RECORD AND FIND NO EVIDENCE THAT THERE HAS BEEN ANY ATTEMPT BY THE COMPANY TO RECALL OR CORRECT THIS SITUATION. I WILL BE TAKING ACTION UNDER THE SONG-BEVERLY CONSUMER WARRANTY ACT TO RECOVER THE FULL PURCHASE PRICE OF THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE BSED ON THE SERVICE RECORD AND MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEALER THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A REMEDY FOR THIS DEFECT. THE TECHNICIANS DON'T SEEM TO KNOW WHY THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. IT APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM RELATED TO THE COMPUTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276757July 14, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. WHEN THE CONTACT RELEASED THE SEAT BELT, THE MECHANISM ON THE DOOR POST MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND THEN HAVE THE DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED AND WOULD COST $400 TO REPAIR. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V226000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR); HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS RECALL DOES NOT EXIST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 49,200. UPDATED 08/04/09 *BF THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN. UPDATED 08/10/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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