SAAB 9-3 Complaints

1,407 consumer complaints on file.

#10086627August 11, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
DI CASSETTE FAILURE I WAS DRIVING IN THE I80 DURING RUSH HOUR (5:30 PM NEAR SAN FRANCISCO-RICHMOND) AT ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE ENGINE DIED ON ME. I HAD TO CUT ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH A DEAD ENGINE TO GET TO THE SIDE. I AM SURPRISED THAT I COULD EVEN DO THIS GIVEN THE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC. IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY NASTY SINCE I WAS JUST COMING AROUND A CORNER WHEN IT OCCURRED. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SAAB DEALER. APPARENTLY THE DI CASSETTE HAS FAILED AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED PLUS SPARK PLUGS ($725) AND POSSIBLY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ($1,100). ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNINGS GIVEN ON THIS NOR WOULD IT BE DETECTABLE IN A NORMAL SERVICE. DOING SOME RESEARCH IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH SAAB'S AROUND THE WORLD. VERY INTERESTINGLY MOST COMMENTS DESCRIBE CIRCUMSTANCES SIMILAR TO MINE WHERE THE ENGINE DIES WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS HAS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE OCCUPANTS AND OTHER USERS OF THE HIGHWAYS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. OPTIONS WOULD BE A FULL RECALL OR A PROPER WARNING SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS THE PART TO BE REPLACED BEFORE CATASTROPHE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087634August 10, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN SOMEONE HONKED THE HORN. AFTER PULLING INTO THE SERVICE STATION GAS WAS POURING FROM THE FUEL LINE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082994July 30, 2004
PARKING BRAKE, SUSPENSION:REAR, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR, STEERING:RACK AND PINION, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
SINCE OWNING MY 2003 9-3, THE PARKING BRAKE STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE ULTIMATELY HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR BUSHINGS ON THE SWAY BAR HAD TO BE REPLACED, MULTIPLE LIGHT BULBS. AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, MOST RECENTLY THE POWER STERRING PUMP NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE SEAT BELT ALSO LET GO AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I THOUGHT THAT ALL THAT COULD GO WRONG, HAD GONE WRONG UNTIL THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT. NOW READING OTHER OWNER COMMENTS I HAVE NO FAITH IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS MY FOURTH SAAB, MY LAST I TRADED AT OVER 180,000 MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083812July 29, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082973July 29, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I HAVE A 2003 SAAB 9-3 ARC, BOUGHT ON 9/03, AROUND 13,000 MILES, YESTERDAY I WENT TO OFFICE AND STOPPED IN THE RIGHT POSITION TO PARK IN FRONT OF THE WALL, I STEPPED ON BRAKE, PUSH THE GEAR TO "P", ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE STARTED "HOWLING", AND ACCELERATED TO HIT THE WALL, IM PRETTY SURE THAT'S NOT THE HUMAN ERROR, 'CAUSE THE GEAR'S IN PARK, AND MY FOOT STEPPED ON BRAKE( I HAVE MORE THAN 20 YEARS DRIVING EXPERIENCE, TO PARK A CAR IS LIKE NORMAL REACTION), I WALK OUT THE CAR, THERE'RE TWO SHORT TIRE BURN MARK( IF IM NOT STEPPED ON BRAKE, WHY DOES IT HAVE THE BURN MARK), SO I CALLED MY CAR DEALER, THEY TOWED THE CAR AND TRY TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM, BUT IT COME OUT THE RESULT IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR! I REALLY WANT TO KNOW IF THERE'RE ANYBODY HAS THE EXPERIENCES. IM GLAD THAT THE THING OCCURRED IN FRONT OF A WALL, IF IT'S IN FRONT OF A STORE THAT MIGHT CAUSE LIVES!!!!!*AK IM AFRAID OF DRIVING MY SAAB AGAIN; ILL CALL SAAB TOMORROW TO FIND OUT IF THEY CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? IF YOU NEED SOME PICTURE EVIDENCE THAT I TOOK AFTER THE THING HAPPEN, I CAN SEND YOU BY MAIL!
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10080732July 10, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SAAB 9-3 (2001) AUTOMATIC 49000 MILES STALLED ON FREEWAY WHILE PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL AFTER BRAKING (BUT STILL MOVING) FOR CONGESTION. RESTART SUBSEQUENT TO STALL DID NOT SUCCEED. HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO DEALER (B&B SAAB). SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED -- FIRST TIME (SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES) THE DEALER SAID A SOFTWARE UPGRADE SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. NOW THEY THINK IT IS THE THROTTLE UNIT. LUCKY ON BOTH OCCASSIONS NOT TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081869July 6, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
HEADLIGHTS WAS TOO LOW WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *LA THERE WAS NOISE IN THE REAR WHILE BACKING AND TURNING (THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM), THE ONSTAR FEATURE WOULD NOT WORK AND WAS INTERMITTENT, THE SEAT BELT LIGHT HAD COME ON AND WOULD GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY (UNABLE TO DUPLICATE), NEED SERVICE SOON LIGHT WOULD COME ON (UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED), THE SQUEAL IN THE REAR, COULD HAVE ALSO BEEN LINKED TO SALT AND SAND IN THE ROTORS, THE TRUNK WOULD NOT STAY OPEN, THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE FOUND TO BE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, AND THE PADS HAD RUST ON THEM. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081902July 6, 2004
AIR BAGS
PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG SYSTEM IN 1999 SAAB.*MR THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP TRIED FOUR TIMES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST THREE TIMES THEY DID NOT REPAIR ANYTHING, THEY JUST TURNED OFF THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND THE LAST TIME THEY REPLACED A PART, HOWEVER THEY PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078840June 26, 2004
VISIBILITY
A CRACK FORMED ON THE INSIDE LAYER OF THE GLASS RIGHT WHERE THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONVERTIBLE TOP LATCH IN THE FRAME IS LOCATED. THE DEALER DECLARED THAT THIS OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF AN IMPACT AS OPPOSED TO STRESS FROM THE FRAME AND REFUSED TO CORRECT IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF AN EXTERIOR IMPACT AND THE CRACK ORIGINATED ON THE INTERIOR SIDE OF THE GLASS. THERE IS CLEARLY A DEFECT EITHER IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WINDSHIELD OR IN THE MANNER IN WHICH THE TOP LATCHES TO THE FRAME, WHICH CAUSED THE GLASS TO CRACK *JB.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078583June 22, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
PULLED INTO A STANDARD, PAVED, PARKING SPACE TURNED ELECTRONIC IGNITION KEY TO OFF POSITION AND REMOVED KEY. CAR DID NOT TURN OFF, ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTINUED TO FUNCTION AS THOUGH KEY WAS IN IGNITION.*AK ONBOARD COMPUTER DISPLAYED "STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE: CONTACT SERVICE." TURNED STEERING WHEEL, CHECKED FOR OBSTRUCTIONS, AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN CAR OFF BY REINSERTING KEY INTO IGNITION. WHEN KEY INSERTED INTO IGNITION, ONBOARD COMPUTER TOGGLED TO "KEY NOT RECOGNIZED: CONTACT SERVICE" AND THEN BACK TO PREVIOUS MESSAGE. WAS ONLY ABLE TO TURN CAR OFF BY REMOVING FUEL PUMP FUSES, AND THEN BY REMOVING BATTERY TERMINAL TO PREVENT BATTERY DRAINAGE AS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTINUED TO FUNCTION. CAR ONLY HAS 4000 MILES AND WAS BROUGHT IN INITIALLY BY TOW TRUCK TO SAAB DEALERSHIP ON 6/15 AND IGNITION WAS SAID TO BE REPLACED. ON 6/16, DROVE CAR HOME AND TURNED OFF WITHOUT PROBLEM. ON 6/17, DROVE TO WORK AND EXACT SAME SITUATION WAS REPEATED, WITH A TOW REQUIRED. CAR CONTINUES TO BE IN SERVICE, NEW RELAY ORDERED, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS, AND OTHER DIAGNOSTICS ARE BEING RUN BY SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NO RECORD OF SIMILAR OCCURRENCE IN 2004 SAAB 9-3 SPORT SEDAN. WILL MOST LIKELY NEVER BUY ANOTHER SAAB OR VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073421May 10, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OWNER HAD JUST LEFT THE DEALER AFTER HAVING THE 15,000 MILE OIL CHANGE AND CHECK UP. WHILE DRIVING, THE OWNER HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. PASSING MOTORIST INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068218May 3, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH, STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
2002 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE, ABOUT 13,000 MILES CAUGHT ON FIRE. DROVE TO OFFICE, TURNED OFF ENGINE, & PARKED CAR. GOT OUT OF CAR & NOTED UNUSUAL SMELL DESPITE THAT GUAGES INDICATED "CHECKING OK"AY. *AK WENT INTO MY OFFICE & CALLED ZEE SAAB OF MILFORD WHERE NEW CAR WAS ORIGINALLY LEASED FROM & WHERE ALL SERVICES HAD BEEN PERFORMED. NO PROBLEMS HAD EVER BEEN NOTED WITH THE CAR. TOLD TO CALL SAAB ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, WHICH I DID. WENT BACK OUTSIDE TO WHERE CAR WAS PARKED TO WAIT FOR ROADSIDE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD AREA. THEN SAW FIRE & FLAMES COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE HOOD AND UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY CALLED WITON CT FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WITHIN 15 MINUTES FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. IN THAT VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED FROM THE FIRE. A NEWSPAPER REPORTER WAS WITH THE FIRE DEPT. & TOOK ABOUT 30 PHOTOS OF THE FIRE & THE RESULTING DAMAGE. SAAB ROADSIDE ARRIVED & I REQUESTED THAT THE CAR BE TAKEN TO SAAB OF MILFORD. I NOTIFIED ALLSTATE, MY INSURER. ALLSTATE CLAIMS REP & ENGINEEER EXAMINED THE CAR (ALTHOUGH REQUESTED,TO DATE, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A COPY OF THE ALLSTATE ENGINEER'S REPIORT). ALLSTATE ENGINEER INFORMED SAAB OF MILFORD THAT THE FIRE WAS FROM "UNDETERMINED CAUSES" & CAR WAS "TOTALLED". DEALER INFORMED ME THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT CAR HAD ONLY ABOUT 13,000 MILES, THE DEALER PERFORMED ALL SERVICES & THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATORS OF A PROBLEM, THE DAMAGES WERE NOT COVERED BY SAAB DEALER OR MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. CLEARLY, FIRES DON'T JUST START AND THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF FAILURE(S) WITH THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066443April 19, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
SINCE PURCHASING SAAB 9-3 ARC IN AUGUST 2003, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE 7 TIMES. PROBLEMS INCLUDE: KEY INOPERABLE, BACK BRAKES LOUD SOUND, FRONT BRAKES SQUEALING, WINDOW PROBLEMS, SUNROOF PROBLEMS, LOOSE HEAT CONSOLE, ONSTAR MALFUNCTION. SAAB HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND CAN NOT FIX THE BRAKE ISSUE. THEY STATE THAT THE LOUD FOGHORN LIKE SOUND IS NORMAL. I HAVE CONTACTED A LAWYER AND AM PURSUING THE ISSUE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066349April 17, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
REOCCURING ENGIN STALL WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC (SPOKE WITH CONSUMER ON 4/5/2005 - SAID HIS STALL WAS DUE TO FAULTY ENGINE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE - CAR)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067146April 8, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL AT AN ALARMING RATE. *PH THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP LINE. FUEL PRESSURE WAS FOUND AND THE HOSE AT THE PUMP BLOWN (CLIP BROKEN). THE FUEL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066960April 7, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
THE HEATING SYSTEM, UPON EACH INITIAL START UP, BLEW A FOUL-SMELLING GAS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. (NAR) *PH *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066637April 6, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064225March 30, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE. AFTER 2 MONTHS OF WAITING FOR SAAB TO RESPOND TO MY LEMON LAW FILING WITH AN ATTORNEY, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET RID OF MY 9-3 LINEAR. CAR STILL HAS HESITATION AFTER THEY HAVE CLAIMED TO HAVE REPAIRED THE SOFTWARE PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION IS NOW SLIPPING, ONSTAR MALFUNCTIONS ONCE A WEEK, AND HAVE A RATTLE IN THE DASH BOARD. SAAB IS FULLY AWARE OF ALL OF THE PROBLEMS. JUST WANTED TO GIVE OTHERS THE CONFIDENCE TO FIGHT THEM ON THE PROBLEMS OF THE ENGINE STALLING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060024February 29, 2004
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG ALARM IS "ON" IN THE CAR, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IT WILL BE IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR OF THIS DEFECT WITHIN THE LAST 15 MONTHS! APPARENTLY, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT?? *JB SINCE THERE IS NO WAY TO DETERMINE IF THE AIRBAGS WILL WORK WHILE THE LIGHT IS "ON", AND SINCE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH A SAFETY FEATURE, IT COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. AFTER ALL, THE CAR IS STILL DRIVABLE WHILE THE LIGHT IS ON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059913February 27, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIR BAG DEFECT(S). EIGHT SAAB CERTIFIED SERVICE TECHNICIAN ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT FAULTY SAFETY SYSTEM, WITHOUT SUCCESS. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE FOR ON-ROAD AND/OR HIGHWAY TRAVEL. I HAVE ALREADY NOTIFIED SAAB (MANUFACTURER) MANY TIMES VIA EMAIL AND TELEPHONE, AGAIN WITHOUT FOLLOW UP FROM MANUFACTURER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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