SAAB 9-3 Complaints

1,407 consumer complaints on file.

#10228601May 21, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TEN FOOT BARRIER. GM SENT AN ENGINEER TO GATHER EVIDENCE AND SURVEY THE DAMAGE. ONE OCCUPANT WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. GM STATED THAT THEY WILL TAKE APART THE VEHICLE TO FIND OUT WHY IT STALLED AND CRASHED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10227403May 12, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN A BUMP IS HIT WHILE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, BRAKES MAKE A METAL-ON-METAL GRINDING SOUND. WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED AFTER BRAKING (PULLING INTO OR OUT OF PARKING SPACE) METALLIC CLICKING SOUND IS HEARD. BRAKES WORK BETTER AFTER CAR IS WARMED UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227335May 7, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
2000 SAAB 9-3 WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE. CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. THE NEW BELT SHRED. DEALER SAID TO PAY FOR THE SECOND REPAIR AND THEN GET REIMBURSED. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED FOLLOWING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WATER PUMP WHICH FAILED TWICE, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A RATTLING SOUND. THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE CLUTCH, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DISAGREED WITH THEIR FINDINGS. THE DEALER THEN INSTALLED AN AC COMPRESSOR BRACKET INCORRECTLY WHICH RESULTED IN ANOTHER FAILURE OF THE SERPENTINE BELT. THE DEALER STATED THE FAILURE OF THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS NOT A RESULT OF IT BEING FAULTY, IT WAS DUE TO THE BELT BEING DAMAGED OR CRACKED. THE DEALER STATED THE AIR CONDITIONING BRACKET HAD BROKEN AND IN DOING SO, IT THREW THE BELT OFF OF THE PULLEYS. THE AC BRACKET WAS THE CASUAL PART FAILURE NOT THE BELT. THE BELT WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT CAME OFF. THE OIL PUMP RING AND CRANKSHAFT SEAL WERE REPLACED DUE TO AN OIL LEAK AT THE PUMP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226768May 6, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY CAR STOPPED ON MASS TURNPIKE AROUND MIDNIGHT. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST SAAB DEALER. THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS THE OIL SLUDGE. EVEN AT THAT TIME THE DEALER DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT SPECIAL WARRANTY THE SAAB ANNOUNCED IN 2005. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION FROM THE SAAB AS WELL. AFTER I SEARCH THE INTERNET I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE SPECIAL WARRANTY. I FILED A CLAIM AND SUBMITTED ALL OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS I HAD ( IT IS THEIR REQUIREMENT TO QUALIFY FOR THE SPECIAL WARRANTY). THE CAR IS ALMOST 8YEARS OLD. THE ONLY THREE RECEIPTS I DID NOT SUBMIT WERE WHEN THE CAR HAD 10,000, 20,000, AND 30,000 MILES. MY CLAIM WAS REJECTED BASED ON THESE 3 MISSING OILCHANGE RECEIPTS. I AM A SECOND OWNER THEREFORE I DO NOT HAVE THESE RECORDS AND SAAB REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S NAME ( PRIVACY ACT) AND THEY ALSO REFUSED TO CONTACT THE PREVIOUS OWNER ON MY BEHALF. THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS 104,000 MILES. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE OIL CHANGE IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CAR HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM I HAVE EXPERIENCED. THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE FOR THE NEXT 7 YEARS. THE PEOPLE IN THE SAAB'S SPECIAL WARRANTY DEPT. WERE ARROGANT AND TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL. THEIR RESPONSE TO ME WAS " BUY A NEW CAR". AS OF NOW MY CAR IS UNDRIVABLE AND HAS NO VALUE. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT SAAB CORP. SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THAT PROBLEM UNDER THE SPECIAL WARRANTY. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO HELP ME PLEASE DIRECT ME TO THE RIGHT PLACE. THAT CAR COST ME SO MUCH MONEY AND I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THEIR DECISION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226386May 1, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START HIS VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE CRANKED, BUT HE RECEIVED NO SPARK. HE ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH DID NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. HE ALSO REMOVED THE SPARK PLUG WIRES AND NOTICED THAT VARIOUS PARTS WERE CRACKED UNDERNEATH THE IGNITION. A JUNKYARD MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V399000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE), WHICH PERTAINED TO THE 2000-2002 SAAB 9-3'S. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $464. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,356.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226404May 1, 2008
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. THE CAR HAS BEEN LEFT WITH 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, TO ALLOW THEM TO OBSERVE AND DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT. I HAVE GIVEN THE DEALERS INFO ABOUT THE CURRENT NHTSA INVESTIGATION (PE08005) PERTAINING TO THIS SAME COMPLAINT FOR THIS MODEL CAR FROM SEVERAL OTHER SOURCES, AND NOTED THAT EARLIER MODELS OF THIS CAR WERE RECALLED FOR A (POSSIBLY) SIMILAR DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226026April 29, 2008
AIR BAGS, STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY A SAAB DEALER. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225893April 28, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES. THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT WAS ONLY 8,000 MILES INTO THE ORIGINAL OWNERSHIP. THE LAST TWO WERE IN 2006 WITH 80,000 MILES. IT IS APPARENT CONTINUED PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225625April 24, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, EQUIPMENT
THE SERPENTINE BELT ON MY SAAB 9-3, MODEL YEAR 2000 HAS FAILED 3 TIMES ON ME. THE LAST TIME THE SERPENTINE BELT DISINTEGRATED INTO TINY PIECES WHILE THE CAR WAS DRIVEN AND ALMOST LED TO AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AND 5,000 MILES AFTER THE BELT WAS REPLACED. ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR FACILITY THE DISINTEGRATION WAS DUE TO THE IDLER PULLEY SEIZURE AND THEY CLAIM IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY ON SUCH CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225662April 24, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
1. THERE IS A DISTINCT SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES OVER BUMPS, IT RATTLES ON THE DRIVER SIDE, STRUT. BROUGHT IT TO A SAAB DEALERSHIP THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. BROUGHT IT TO A SMALL SHOP, THEY REPLACED THE DUST COVERS ON THE FRONT STRUTS AND AFTER BRINGING IT BACK SIX TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. BOTH SHOPS STATE THAT THE STRUTS ARE JUST FINE. RATTLES LIKE THE STRUT IS READY TO FALL OFF. HAVE NO MORE IDEA WHERE TO GO. SAAB DEALERSHIP STATES THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO SOUND LIKE THAT BECAUSE OF A SPORT SEDAN. I DON'T BELIEVE IT. BATTERY DRAW. DRAWS BATTERY DEAD AFTER TWO DAYS LETTING IT SIT. BROUGHT IT TO AUTHORIZED SAAB DEALERSHIP THEY CAN'T FIND A DRAW. BROUGHT IT TO SMALL SHOP, THEY FOUND A DRAW OF 1AMP. AFTER THREE NEW BATTERIES, STILL DRAWS AND DEAD BATTERY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224915April 18, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED. SHE THEN FOUND A RECALL ON HER VEHICLE FOR THE SAME FAILURE HER VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT HER VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,347. UPDATED 05/20/08. *LJ THE DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/20/08
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224234April 11, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
DRIVING ON LOCAL CITY STREET, WHEN RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLOWS OUT. BLOW HAPPENED BECAUSE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING SHEERED INTO TWO PIECES AND CUT INTO RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAUSING BLOWOUT. RIGHT FRONT TIRE REPLACED AND NEW COIL SPRING INSTALLED ON RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION. YES, I HAVE THE FAILED COIL SPRING IN MY POSSESSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224101April 10, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND THEN PUNCTURED TIRE CAUSING BLOW OUT. WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND PULL OFF ROAD. HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY A DIFFERENT OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED. HAD NO SYMPTOMS LEADING UP TO THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222486March 27, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
WHILE BACKING UP OUT OF A DRIVEWAY ON A FLAT LEVEL SURFACE THE VEHICLES FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING BROKE IN TWO PIECES. THE CAR WAS RENDERED UN-DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE PART WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 SAAB 9-3 WITH ONLY 41,400 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221994March 21, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL GAUGE IS NORMAL. I FILL THE CAR UP COMPLETELY AND THEN THE FUEL GAUGE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE NEEDLE DROPS TO EMPTY. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS FILLED WITH FUEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221580March 18, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAS CRACKED THREE TIMES IN 16 MONTHS ON MY BRAND NEW SAAB 9-3 AERO 2006. IT ONLY HAS APRX. 12K MILES. SAAB REPLACES IT FOR FREE, BUT OFFERS NOT FURTHER EXPLANATION EVEN UPON REQUEST BY OWNER. THEY REFUSE TO ISSUE A RECALL AND THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH CAR ACCORDING TO SERVICE DEPT. ON THE FIRST AND MOST RECENT INCIDENT, OF THREE INCIDENTS, THERE WAS COMBUSTION OF THE COOLANT RESERVOIR, AND RESULTING SMOKE. THE VEHICLE IS UP TO DATE ON INSURANCE, SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND LEASE PAYMENTS. I HAVE THIS DOCUMENTED ON SAAB SERVICE DEPT. SERVICE RECORDS. I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY, DAILY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221584March 18, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY FOUR MONTHS AND APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES, THE COOLANT RESERVOIR CRACKS, WHICH CAUSES LEAKAGE ONTO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, A FIRE ERUPTS UNDER THE HOOD. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220651March 11, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2001 SAAB 9-3 WITH OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART WHEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF REPORTS OF OIL SLUDGE ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL. *KB THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE, DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD-UP IN THE OIL PAN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220221March 6, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. ON THREE OCCASIONS, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE FAILURE WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. SHE PUMPED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED. ON THE THIRD OCCASION, SHE ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE DEALER CURRENTLY HAS THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER PE08005 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATE 04-02-08 *BF THE DEALER REPLACED THE MAST CYLINDERE. UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219239February 26, 2008
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
4061 MILES/17APR2006 COMPLAINT: A/C NOT BLOWING COLD ENGINE FAN RUNS AFTER ENGINE IS SHUT OFF REPAIR: REPLACE TEMP SENSOR, CODE P050C-00, C0547-02. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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