SAAB 9-3 Complaints

1,407 consumer complaints on file.

#10052301January 3, 2004
SEAT BELTS
TWISTED SEAT BELTS; FRONT AND REAR ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS UNTWISTED THESE BELTS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IN A FEW CASES, IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF WEEKS BEFORE I HAD TO RETURN TO HAVE THEM UNTWISTED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALSO VERY FORTHCOMING INFORMING ME THAT THIS IS A ONGOING OCCURENCE IN THIS SAAB MODEL. I CANNOT SEE WHY THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED, SINCE SAAB KNOWS OF THEIR FAULTY DESIGN. THEY ARE UNSAFE, AND I CANNOT SEE HOW THEY WILL FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051379December 30, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR, SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
CAR LEASED 9/23/03 AND ONE WEEK AFTER A LOUD RATTLING/KNOCKING NOISE STARTS UP FROM RIGHT REAR. TO DEALER 6 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. RIGHT REAR SHOCK REPLACED TWICE AND ON 12/19/03 DISTRICT SAAB REP CONCLUDED THAT NOISE COMES FROM SHOCK AND IS A NORMAL NOISE. I DISAGREE AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS EXPLANATION. DELEARSHIP WILL NOT MAKE ANY MORE ATTEMPTS TO FIX THIS RATTLING/KNOCKING NOISE. FILED A COMPLAINT WITH SAAB CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 12/23/03 AND HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM. AM DISAPPOINTED AND UPSET THAT THE NOISE CAN NOT BE LOCATED AND FIXED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051943December 22, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND LEAVING A SHOPPING MALL CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES, AND SECONDS LATER THE TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE STALLED, AND COULD NOT BE STARTED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, WHO REPLACED THE T6ECM OR MAIN COMPUTER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051886December 18, 2003
WHEELS:RIM, TIRES
REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR PROBLEMS RECURRING WITH PIRELLI TIRES AND FACTORY RIMS.*MR SAAB REFUSED TO PROVIDE A WARRANTY EXPLANATION ON THE CONSUMERS TIRES AND RIMS THAT WERE REPLACED AND REFUSED TO OFFER ANY TYPES OF EXPLANATION ON THE INTEGRITY AND SAFETY OF THESE SPECIFIC TIRES AND RIMS. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED ONE PAYMENT BUT WANTS TO REMIND SAAB ABOUT THE REMAINDER OF PAYMENTS WHICH HE WAS ENTITLED TO. *CB THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TIRES BALLOONED OUT 12 INCHES ON THE INSIDE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE RIMS AND THE TIRES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049155December 3, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SINCE PURCHASING MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 IN JUNE THE CAR HAS STALLED 4 TIMES WHILE EITHER AT STOP LIGHTS OR SITTING IN TRAFFIC. ONCE THE CAR STALLED WHILE GOING 40 MPH. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. EACH TIME A SOFTWARE UPGRADE IS PERFORMED. AND EVERY TIME I CONTACT THE SERVICE DEPT THEY ARE SURPRISED AS TO THIS OCCURRENCE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048655November 25, 2003
STEERING:COLUMN
THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THE STEERING COLUMN WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047492November 24, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
FAILED DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE LEAVES MOTORIST STRANDED. THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS THAT THE ENGINE WILL STOP WITH NO WARNING - EVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS OF TRAVEL. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047502November 24, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, STEERING, SEATS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
DEALER - SAAB EXCHANGE WON'T/CAN'T FIX VEHICLE. STEERING PROBLEM, RATTLE PROBLEM, FAN BLOWER PROBLEM, SEAT PROBLEM, BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM, ETC... *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048414November 20, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD A SHORTAGE. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047178November 19, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON, OR ABOUT THIS DATE, MY CONVERTIBLE TOP CEASED TO OPERATE. THE "RAMS" WERE LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID, AND THE HYDRAULIC PUMP WAS MISSING TEETH IN ITS' GEAR RING. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 31,000 MILES AND JUST WENT OVER FOUR YEARS OLD IN FEBRUARY; WHICH WAS ALSO THE END OF ITS' MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. I CONTACTED SAAB CARS USA TO ADVISE THEM OF THIS PREMATURE FAILURE OF SEVERAL PARTS WITHIN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. THEY PAID FOR PARTS ON ONE OF THE REPAIRS (THE RAMS). FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT WITH THE TOP, AND AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED, A INTERMEDIATE SWITCH IN MY CONVERTIBLE TOP FAILED, AND WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE . I NOTIFIED SAAB CARS USA OF MY DISSATISFACTION CONCERNING THESE FAILED PARTS, BUT THEY NO LONGER WISHED TO ASSIST. THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY HAD HELPED WITH THE PREVIOUS REPAIR, AND WOULD NOT HELP WITH THIS ONE. IT SEEMS, INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO WHAT THE ACTUAL COMPLAINT OR PROBLEM WAS, THEY FOLLOW SOME TYPE OF TEMPLATE ON HOW MUCH ASSISTANCE THEY GIVE A VEHICLE OR AN INDIVIDUAL. THESE FAILURES ARE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE TOP, AND THEY OBVIOUSLY FAILED PREMATURELY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043836October 29, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
HAD THE CAR SERVICED FOR 40000 SERVICE. COMPLAINED OF STALLING WHEN LIFTING OFF THE GAS. THE VERY NEXT DAY THE CAR STALLED ON THE FREEWAY AND UNABLE TO RESTART. THE DEALER IS SAYING THAT MY AFTERMARKET BYPASS VALVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THEY ARE REFUSING TO COVER THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE LOOKS MORE LIKE A HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND NOT AN OVERBOOST PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043577October 26, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY CABLE CORROSION AND BATTERY LEAKAGE. SINCE JUNE 1999 WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE POSITIVE LEAD BATTERY CABLE HAS CORRODED TOTALLY THROUGH FOUR TIMES. TWICE SNAPPING IN HALF AND LEAVING ME ON THE ROAD REQUIRING A TOW. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE CABLE FOUR TIMES AND THE BATTERY THREE TIMES. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM OTHER THAN CONTINUING TO REPLACE THE CABLE. THE LAST CABLE LASTED ONLY TWO MONTH BEFORE IT CORRODED THROUGH... *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043557October 25, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT. I HAD ORIGINALLY FILED COMPLAINT 10041666 A FEW WEEKS AGO. NOW THE PROBLEM WITH MY SAAB STALLING HAS BECOME WORSE. I WAS TRAVEL IN TRAFFIC, WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE STALLING CAUSED ME TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT ME. WHICH IN TURN CAUSED A FOUR CAR ACCIDENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED, BUT NOW MY PROBLEM IS MUCH MORE SEVERE. I HAVE CONTACTED SAAB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM (MUCH LIKE I DID THE FIRST TIME) AND NOTING IS BEING DONE TO HELP ME. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE THAT STALLS ALL THE TIME, AND IS AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED TOTALLY USELESS AND A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED OVER $15000 IN DAMAGE TO MY SAAB ALONE, ALONG WITH DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. I AM REALLY SURPRISED THAT I WAS NOT KILLED OR SEVERELY HURT IN THE ACCIDENT. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND HELP OUT ALL THE SAAB 9-3 OWNERS HERE... THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE, AND THE REPRESENT A VERY LARGE PROBLEM JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043468October 23, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS DURING BRIEF PERIODS OF ACCELERATION. FREQUENTLY, THIS OCCURS WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN FROM A STOP SIGN, OR A TURN IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043296October 21, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 HAS STALLED 3 TIMES IN TRAFFIC. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAME UP WITH NOTHING. CAR IS IN SHOP RIGHT NOW AND WILL SEE IF ANYTHING IS FOUND BUT I DOUBT IT. SAAB CUSTOMER CARE IS OBLIVIOUS TO PROBLEM. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHILE CRUISING IN TRAFFIC AT SPEED UNDER 30 MPH. CAR COMPLETELY LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT START UNTIL PULLED OFF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF AND TURNED ON AGAIN. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043249October 20, 2003
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WANTED TO ALERT YOU TO A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE '99 SAAB 9-3. THEY HAVE A CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE THE VENTILATION SYSTEM CONTROLS TO BECOME SO STIFF THAT IT CAUSES THE KNOB TO SNAP OFF RENDERING THE SYSTEM USELESS. SAAB IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND REQUIRES THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS THAT IN THEIR TERMS "MAY" SOLVE THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME. THESE INCLUDE REPLACING THE KNOB ($10.00), THE SHAFT ($200.00), AND THE VENTILATION CONTROL BOX ($600.00). IT APPEARS THAT SAAB CONSIDERS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS TO BE A LUXURY NOT A NECESSARY SAFETY SYSTEM. I THINK THAT YOUR AGENCY WOULD DISAGREE WITH SAAB ASSESSMENT AND SHOULD REQUIRE A MORE PROACTIVE CORRECTIVE PLAN FROM THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043261October 20, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
AT 75 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, MY CAR SIMPLY SHUT DOWN, ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD TO COAST ACROSS THREE LANES OF BUSY TRAFFIC TO GET TO SHOULDER. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART, BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL AND SMOKE CAME FROM ENGINE. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE FAILED THE CASSETTE WAS DIAGNOSED. IS STILL IN SHOP 4 DAYS LATER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON FOR 8 MONTHS, HAVE BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY BY SAAB THAT IT'S BECAUSE I AM NOT TIGHTENING THE GAS CAP ENOUGH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, AS USUAL, BUT I IGNORED IT, AS IT'S ON HALF THE TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. DEALERSHIP SEEMED TO KNOW IMMEDIATELY THAT THE CASSETTE WAS BLOWN. THIS DEFECT NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED. VERY DANGEROUS. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043022October 16, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 ARC (PURCHASED THIS JULY) WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEARLY STALLED (SPUTTERED, HESITATED AND NEARLY LOST POWER) WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN BETWEEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHILE THIS CAR HAS NOT FULLY STALLED OUT, I HAVE FELT IT HESITATED ON A NUMBER OF OTHER OCCASIONS. I OWNED ANOTHER 2003 SAAB, IDENTICAL IN EVERY WAY, THAT COMPLETELY STALLED OUT AT IDLE SPEED WHILE STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND ALSO WHILE STARTING OUT IN REVERSE AND IN FORWARD. THE FACT THAT THIS NEW CAR NEARLY STALLED IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAS REALLY SCARED ME. I HAVE READ A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT STALLING IN THE 2003 SAAB 9-3. I SPOKE TO SAAB CUSTOMER SERVICE YESTERDAY AND THEY DENIED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE STALLING ISSUE. I AM BRINGING MY CAR TO THE DEALER ON MONDAY, HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT SAAB NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIALLY VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041666October 12, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BRAND NEW 2003 SAAB 9-3 ARC JUST STALLS. MY ENGINE HAS STALLED FOR NO REASON NUMEROUS TIMES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE DAYS AFTER I GOT THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED, EVERY TIME THEY TELL ME THAT I AM JUST ABOUT MAKING IT UP. THEY CAN NEVER FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, AND SAAB CORPORATION IS NO HELP. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042589October 8, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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