SAAB 9-3 Complaints

1,407 consumer complaints on file.

#10268912May 16, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SPRING SNAPPED. WHILE DRIVING HOME, I NOTICED A LOUD METAL ON METAL TAPPING NOISE AFTER GOING OVER ANY BUMPS. I KNEW RIGHT AWAY SOMETHING WITH MY RIGHT FRONT WAS WRONG, ABOUT A MINUTE LATER I HEARD A LOUD BANG, FOLLOWED BY METAL BOUNCING ON PAVEMENT. I PULLED OVER AND FOUND A PIECE OF MY SPRING HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY OFF. RIGHT AFTER THIS HAPPENED IT WAS MUCH HARDER TO STEER AND THANK GOD THAT THIS HAPPENED IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I WAS ONLY DOING 20MPH. SUPPOSE THIS HAPPENED ON A FREEWAY DOING 65? SUPPOSEDLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AS I HAVE READ ABOUT IT ON FORUMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268185May 8, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRINGS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267951May 7, 2009
SEAT BELTS
2003 SAAB 9-3, SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT PROPERLY 1. SEAT BELT IS SLOW TO RETRACT, ALMOST TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE TO PUSH IT BACK INTO THE RETRACT SYSTEM. 2. IT FAILS EVERYTIME I ENTER MY CAR 3. NOTHING YET. SAAB USA IS UNWILLING TO HELP WITH THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267980May 7, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267844May 6, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS, SUSPENSION:FRONT
NO ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING YET, BUT ACCORDING TO A FORUM I FOLLOW, {SAAB CENTRAL} THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING FRONT COIL SPRING FAILURE ON 2003 SAAB 9-3.THIS ON CARS WITH UNDER 100,000 MILES. DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT THIS COULD BE BAD NEWS IF THE BROKEN SPRING PUNCHED INTO THE TIRE AT SPEED. TO ME, HAVING TO REPLACE COIL SPRINGS AS A MAINTENANCE ITEM EVERY 70000 MILES IS UNACCEPTABLE. I WILL HAVE MY 03 SAAB UP ON JACK STANDS TO CHECK OUT THE SPRINGS AS BEST AS I CAN, BUT THIS IS THE TYPE OF FAILURE YOU CAN NOT REALLY SEE UNTIL IT IS TO LATE. I HAVE NO WAY OF CHECKING FOR METAL FATIGUE. HOPEFULLY, THIS IS A PROBLEM YOU CAN MOVE ON BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267626May 4, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS, SUSPENSION:FRONT
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING CRACKED AND BROKE APPROX. 4-5 INCHES FROM STRUT MOUNT. THIS CAUSED THE COIL TO BOUNCE AGAINST THE STRUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267592May 3, 2009
SUSPENSION
MANY 2003-2005 SAAB 9-3'S ARE UNEXPECTEDLY FACING THEIR FACTORY SPRINGS BREAKING WHILE DRIVING. THIS FORUM THREAD SPECIFICALLY SHOWS ABOUT 10-15 PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY ENCOUNTERED THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM HTTP://SAABCENTRAL.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=155844 . IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT STOCK FACTORY SPRINGS ARE BREAKING ON THESE VEHICLES. I SUGGEST THAT YOU PRESSURE SAAB INTO PUTTING OUT A RECALL, AS EVERYONE BROKE THEIR SPRINGS WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267593May 3, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
LEFT FRONT SPRING SNAPPED WHILE IN NORMAL DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES. POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENT EXISTS. DEALER REPLACING BOTH FRONT SPRINGS STATING THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267598May 3, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT COIL SPRING BRAKES AND THE BROKEN PIECE LAUNCHES OFF THE CAR INTO THE WHEEL WELL AREA WHICH MAY RESULT IN TIRE DAMAGE AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266076April 20, 2009
AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
WAS PARKED WHEN I TURNED THE KEY TO START THE CAR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND CURTAIN DEPLOYED. NO CRASH NO IMPACT NO NOTHING JUST WENT OFF SAAB DOES NOT WANT TO HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10265421April 15, 2009
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH; HOWEVER, HIS AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES, BUT THE DRIVER AND HIS SPOUSE COMPLAINED OF ACHES AND PAINS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 42,000. UPDATED 5/27/09 *CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10264460April 8, 2009
SEAT BELTS
MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WEBBING WILL NO LONGER RETRACT. THIS OCCURRED THIS MORNING DURING MY NORMAL COMMUTE TO WORK THIS MORNING, AT WHICH TIME THERE WAS A SUDDEN BREAKING SOUND FROM BEHIND THE MOLDING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263259March 27, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE A 2004 SAAB 9-3 THAT HAS EXPERIENCED A FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FAILURE. THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE AS OF YET BUT I WOULD LIKE GM TO PAY FOR REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262171March 17, 2009
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
MY CAR WAS DAMAGED ON THE WAY TO WK BECAUSE I HIT A POT HOLE ON NEW CONSTRUCTION. WHO WOULD I TALK TO ABOUT THIS. I ALMOST HAD A BLOW OUT & IT WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE NEW TARRED ROAD HAS A DEEP HOLE & IT'S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261499March 11, 2009
SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BUCKLE HER FRONT SEAT BELT, SHE NOTICED THAT THE RETRACTOR FAILED. THIS PREVENTED THE BELT WEBBING FROM RETRACTING. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V226000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR). IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $497 TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 47,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261423March 10, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE AT 3 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING RUBBER ODOR AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,000. UPDATED 03/27/09 *BF UPDATED 04/01/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260669March 4, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SAAB 9-3. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER RUBBED AGAINST THE OIL PAN AND CUT A 1/4 INCH GROOVE IN THE PAN. HE MOVED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVER TO AVOID A MAJOR FAILURE AND REPAIRED THE OIL PAN. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, LOCATED THREE HOURS AWAY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. UPDATED 03/18/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/18/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260682March 4, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY BRAKES FAIL TO WORK AFTER STARTING MY CAR BUT ON FEB 23RD. I WAS ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. I TRIED TO BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO PRESS ON. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN A BIT BUT ONCE I TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR WOULD SPEED UP AGAIN. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE ON THE 24TH OF FEB. AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND MAYBE MY FLOOR MAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. MY CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE TROUBLE BRAKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260633March 3, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
AFTER NOTICING AN INCREASINGLY LOUD SUSPENSION CLUNK COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE SAAB DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT SPRING WAS SNAPPED AND BOTH FRONT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS THE CAR WAS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THE WEB I HAVE FOUND THERE ARE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SPRINGS FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL, I WAS LUCKY THAT I DID NOT EXPERIENCE AND FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED AS SOME OTHERS HAVE. I FIND THIS TO BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THAT THE SPRINGS ARE ROTTING AND SNAPPING AFTER ONLY A FEW YEARS. I LIVE IN THE SNOW BELT THAT IS NOTED IN THE ALREADY OPEN INVESTIGATION. ACTION# PE08052 AND EA08026. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260486March 2, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH IN THE SNOW, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN IMPACT OR CRASH OCCURRING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. LATER THAT DAY, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. HER MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND ENSURE MAXIMUM PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE WIRING WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 141,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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