SAAB 9-3 Complaints

1,407 consumer complaints on file.

#10059940February 27, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TWICE WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT MY CAR HAS STALLED. IT HAS STALLED ONCE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 35 MPH. IT HAS ALSO GOTTEN STUCK IN PARK TWICE AFRTER I START IT. THE SID SAYS GEAR BOX MALFUNCTIONED. THE LIGHTS BURN OUT AND THE INTERIOR IS FALLING APART. THIS CAR HAS 17,000 MILES IN IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058871February 24, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EQUIPMENT
I PURCHASED MY SAAB 9-3 LINEAR ON 1/16/03, AND WITHIN 2 MONTHS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TURNING ON, AND STALLED OUT 3 TIMES. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 11 TIMES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND EVERY TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS MY GAS CAP, GAS EVAP LEAK, OR SOFTWARE UPDATES. MIND YOU I AM 6 MONTHS PREGNANT AND THE LAST STALL OUT I WAS ON A VERY BUSY STREET GOING 40MPH (LAST MONTH). THEY HAVE REPLACED MY GAS CAP TOO - SAYING THIS WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I CAN NEVER GET A HOLD OF ANY ONE AT SAAB TO DISCUSS - SO I HAVE RESULTED TO THE LEMON LAW. BUT IN REALITY THIS IS A CRITICAL PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS MANY PEOPLE ON THIS SIGHT HAVE ESCAPED INJURY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061172February 23, 2004
PARKING BRAKE
DRIVER BRIEFLY FORGOT THAT THE CAR HAD A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY ON AND THE VEHICLE WENT BACKWARDS THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON, BUT DIDN'T HOLD THE VEHICLE. *LA *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056636February 5, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SHORT IN FUSE BOX IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED AND ELECTRICAL FIRE WITH SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE BAY, ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING/ CAR WAS ABLE TO RESTART WITH THE LOST OF THE LIGHT, TURN SIGNALS, HORN AND WINDSCREEN WIPERS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057508February 4, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT UNDETERMINED SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT DEALER DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056164January 30, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THRU A S CURVE, MY CAR STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER. THE SPLIT SECOND LOSS OF POWER ON A TURN CAUSED ME TO CROSS INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC BEFORE I REACTED TO BRING MY CAR BACK INTO MY OWN LANE. I WAS LUCKILY THAT NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OR I WOULD HIT THEM HEAD ON. MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 COASTED TO AN AREA OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. AGAIN LUCKILY THAT THERE WAS A ROAD SHOULDER TO PULL OVER ON. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE DEALER RESPONSE AT THE FIRST TIME WAS "THAT'S OK IF IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE"...BUT GUESS WHAT IT IS STILL HAPPENING AND SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM.. HOPEFULLY WE DONT HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO BE KILLED BEFORE SAAB FIXES IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055759January 23, 2004
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE MANUAL GEAR SHIFT BECAME STUCK. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054374January 18, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I HAVE HAS 2 SAABS IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILING CONSTANTLY AND THE ENGINE STALLING. AFTER 3 MONTHS OF INCONVENIENCE AND ARGUMENTS SAAB GAVE ME ANOTHER CAR. NOW WITH 3800 MILES THE CAR COMPLETELY DROPPED DEAD ON ME AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 55 MPH. IT WAS -40 DEGREES AND IT TOOK ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 2.5 HOURS TO GET ME. SAAB HEADQUARTERS WAS NOTHING BUT USELESS AFTER DRIVING AROUND IN A TWO TRUCK FOR 8 HOURS SINCE SAAB ROADSIDE AND SAAB HEADQUARTERS COULD NOT TELL ME WHERE TO TAKE MY CAR. I WAS TOWED FROM QUEENS, TO BROOKLYN, TO MANHATTAN AND TREATED WITH NO RESPECT. I ENDED UP GETTING EXTREMELY SICK FROM SITTING IN THE CAR WAITING FOR ROADSIDE FOR 2.5 HOURS. WHEN I CALLED SAAB THEY TOLD ME ITS THE WEATHER THAT CAUSED MY CAR TO DROP DEAD. I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT MY CAR WOULD BE TEMP. TEMPERAMENTAL AND I HAD TO GO TO FLORIDA FOR THE WINTER. THIS IS WHY AMERICAN CAR COMPANIES SUCK. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10054384January 18, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2003 SAFE 9-3 2.0T LINEAR, PURCH NEW 2/21/03 DIES' UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN BEING DRIVEN. FIRST INCIDENT: CAR 'DIED' RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD COMPLETELY UNEXPECTEDLY. ASSUMED IT WAS A 'FLUKE' AND TOOK NO ACTION. AFTER SECOND INCIDENT: DEALER "RESET FUEL ADAPTATION VALVE". AFTER THIRD INCIDENT (DANGEROUS - MERGING INTO FREEWAY) DEALER "REPROGRAMMED T8 AND RESET FUEL ADAPTATION PER SAFE TECHNICAL HOT LINE" ALL INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITHIN LAST TWO WEEKS. CAR RESTARTS WITH NO WARNING LIGHT OR "SIDE" INDICATION OF PROBLEM UPON IGNITION. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069245January 15, 2004
WHEELS, TIRES, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIRE RIM'S DENTED IN NORMAL USE & TIRES BLEW. TIRES & RIMS EACH $250 FOR TOTAL OF $2000 TURBO FAILED; INSTALLED NEW TURBO AT COST OF $1200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070014January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE BLOWER ON THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT WORKING. IN ADDITION I WENT IN TWICE TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE HEATING UNIT OR CLIMATE CONTROL. THE THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED IT, BUT IT STILL TURNS OFF AND SETS TO ZERO. NOW THE HEAT WILL COME ON WHEREAS IT DIDN'T BEFORE. I RECENTLY (LAST WEEK FEB. 16) DOWN SHIFTED IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AHEAD. I DOWN SHIFTED FOR FIVE TO FOUR TO THREE AND THE CAR TURNED OFF AND I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY LOOKED AT IT LATER THE FOLLOWING WEEK. I HAD TO CALL THE SALES DEPARTMENT TO GET SOMEONE FROM SERVICE TO CALL ME (MY SALESMAN HAS SINCE QUIT). WHEN THE CALL WAS RETURNED, THE MANAGER OF SALES TODD ALUDED TO THE FACT THAT THIS REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS NON-MECHANICAL (IMPLYING IT WAS DRIVER ERROR OR NEGLANCE) AND SAAB USA WOULD NOT HOLD TO THE WARRANTY. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED ON APRIL 12, 2002 AND HAS LESS THAT 25K MILES; I HAVE DRIVEN FOR OVER 23 YEARS AND HAD SEVERAL MANUAL CARS AND HAD ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW THE CAR IN ANY SITUATION. I BELIEVE I HAVE A LEMON. THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES WITH THE CAR SUCH AS THE TCS AND BRAKING SYSTEM IN RAIN AND SNOW, YET THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THE NOISE AND LOCKING THAT IS FELT UNDER MY FEET IS NORMAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070043January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEATER BOX FROZE UP UPONE TURNING THE CONTROL DIAL TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD...INTERNET DISCUSSION BOARDS SAY SAAB KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO FIX PROPERLY AND PERMANENTLY...PROBABLY TAKING THIS TO SMALL CLAIMS BASED UPON WHAT I'VE READ...
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053174January 14, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
I AM THE CURRENT OWNER OF A SAAB 9-3SE. THIS VEHICLE WAS LEASED NEW 2-28-2000 AND THEN PURCHASED 2-27-03. THE ORIGINAL ENGINE WAS REBUILT AT 46,000 MILES IN 2001 AND NOW HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN 12-15-2003 AT 100,000 MILES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053959January 13, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION, AND GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC UPGRADED THE SOFTWARE FOR THE ENGINE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052905January 12, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STALLING WITH MY 2003 SAAB 9-3. AFTER GIVING THE DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 5 CHANCES TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY WERE UNABLE TO. I THEN CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DENIED THAT THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND TRIED TO SAY THIS WAS THE NORMAL FUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE. THEY HAVE MADE ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO FIX THE CAR. I THEN LEARNED ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT OTHERS HAD EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE IT IS RESOLVED. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052912January 12, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE BEGAN POURING FUEL AT AN ALARMING RATE (MORE THAN 1/2 A TANK POURED OUT FROM THE BOTTOM-REAR). NO ACCIDENT, BUMP, OR ROAD DEBRIS WAS INVOLVED. WHEN THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF, THE FUEL SPILL STOPPED. THIS IS CLEARLY A FIRE-HAZARD. AT THE RATE IT WAS FLOWING OUT, A LIT CIGARETTE IN THE ROAD, A SPARK FROM ROAD DEBRIS, OR OTHER FLAME SOURCE WOULD HAVE LIT THE CAR UP LIKE AN EXPLOSIVE TORCH. I WAS ALSO INFORMED BY SAAB ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD NEED TO CERTIFY THE CAR WAS OK TO TOW - AND WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE WEARY FIREFIGHTERS THAT BECAUSE THE LEAK WAS NOT ACTIVE (THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF) THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE CERTIFICATION - WHICH WAS READILY ACCEPTED BY THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THEY HAVE HEARD THIS STORY BEFORE. MY SERVICE TEAM WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM - EVEN PREDICTING IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A CLIP NEAR THE FUEL LINE & TANK THAT, WHEN IT BREAKS, LEADS TO A FLOOD OF GASOLINE. I AWAIT THEIR FORMAL DIAGNOSIS. IF THE SERVICE DEALERS KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM - AND THE APPARENT SCOPE OF IT - IT SEEMS DEPLOYING A PLAN TO CORRECT IT WOULD BE THE REASONABLE, AND SAFE, THING FOR SAAB TO DO. IT WOULD BE A TRAGEDY TO LOOSE A PERSON TO THIS KNOWN DEFECT. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053687January 8, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATED WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE IT FELT AS THOUGH TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER PERFORMED AN ADAPTATION ADJUSTMENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052694January 8, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION:REAR
LEASED 2003 SAAB 9-3 ARC ON 9/26 AND THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT (10051379) AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM SAAB CUSTOMER CARE REGARDING THEIR FIXING THE LOUD RIGHT REAR RATTLING/KNOCKING NOISE. I HAVE CALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO CALL BACK. I NOW HAVE TWO MORE PROBLEMS... THE CAR HESITATES, SPUTTERS AND ALMOST STALLS... THE DEALER INCREASED THE IDLE AND THAT WAS THE FIX... I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WHEN STARTING OFF FROM A STOP OR DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN GEARS BETWEEN 10 AND 30 MPHS... IT STARTED A FEW DAYS AGO AND IS BECOMING MORE PREVALENT AS EACH DAY PASSES..BOTH THESE PROBLEMS ALONG WITH THE LOUD RATTLING/KNOCKING NOISE FROM RIGHT REAR THAT DEALER SAYS IS NORMAL TELL ME THAT THIS CAR HAS PROBLEMS THAT SAAB DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH AND THAT IS NOT RIGHT. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052567January 7, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PURCHASED 2003 9-3 LINEAR IN AUGUST 2003. THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP.*AK FIRST TIME CAR WAS IN ON COMPLAINT OF FRONT WHEELS OUT OF ALIGNMENT (CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT ALL THE TIME COASTING, UNDER ACCELERATION, ETC.). THE STEERING WHEEL MUST BE HELD SLIGHTLY OFF CENTER TO ALLOW THE CAR TO GO STRAIGHT. DEALER DENIED PROBLEM AND ATTRIBUTED IT TO CURVATURE IN THE ROAD. I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER CARS OVER THE SAME ROAD EVEN THE SAME MODEL LOANER CAR WITHOUT THE PULL TO THE LEFT. COMPLAINED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE FROM DEALER. BECAUSE THE CAR HAS MORE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS I HAVE GIVEN UP ON THIS ONE FOR NOW. SECOND TIME CAR WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR OVER 20 CONSECUTIVE DAYS WHILE DEALER DIAGNOSED AND FIXED ONSTAR AND STEREO MALFUNCTION. THE STEREO WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AT SEVERAL POINTS IN THE DAY AND THEN WOULD COME BACK ON AUTOMATICALLY AT THE NEXT START-UP. DEALER REPLACED ALL COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM STEREO, CD PLAYER, ONSTAR MODULE, ECT. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIRD TIME WAS A MAJOR COMPLAINT. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SLIPPAGE IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AT ALMOST EVERY OTHER SHIFT UNDER MODERATE TO HARD ACCELERATION. THE CAR ACTUALLY REVS RPMS BETWEEN SHIFT FOR 3 TO 4 SECONDS BEFORE SHIFTING TO THE NEXT GEAR. ADDITIONALLY, UNDER HARD ACCELERATION FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT UNTIL AFTER FUEL PUMP CUT-OFF IN THE RPM RANGE. DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE VIA COMPUTER; HOWEVER I SUGGESTED A TECH DROVE THE CAR FOR A DAY OR TWO. TECH ACKNOWLEDGED SLIPPAGE PROBLEM AND SAID HE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON OTHER 2003 9-3 VEHICLES; HOWEVER; WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR FIX. HE PUT IN A CALL TO SAAB TECHNICAL TO SEE IF THEY HAVE FURTHER INFORMATION. WE AWAIT SAAB TECHNICAL RESPONSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051570January 3, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WITHOUT ANY WARNING, CAR LOST ENGINE POWER, INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HAPPENED IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC CIRCLE, CAUSING NEAR MISSES FROM BUSES AND TRUCKS. SAAB ROADSIDE SERVICE TOOK NEARLY 5 HOURS TO SEND A TOW TRUCK. CAR PUSHED TO SIDEWALK BY PASSING POLICEMAN. JSW. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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