SAAB 9-3 Complaints

1,407 consumer complaints on file.

#10117034March 29, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE SHUT OFF. DEALER STATED ENGINE NEED TO BE CLEANED OF SLUDGE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114636March 24, 2005
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW CONTINUES TO EITHER FAIL OR NON-OPERATE. AUTOMATIC DRIVERS WINDOW HAS: 1) MALFUNCTIONED TO WHERE IT WOULD NOT GO UP AFTER 5 - 10 MINUTES OF TRYING, 2) COMPLETELY BROKEN ONCE TO WHERE IT WOULD NOT GO DOWN, 3) WAS REPLACED AND SAME PROBLEMS WERE EXPERIENCED TO WHERE IT WILL NOT GO UP AFTER 5-10 MINUTES OF TRYING. 4) WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME 5) HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE FIRST TWO WINDOW LIFTS TO WHERE IT TAKES 5 - 10 MINUTES SOMETIMES TO LIFT UP AND IS MAKING THE SAME NOISES AS THE FIRST TWO WHEN THEY BROKE. NO MAJOR CONSEQUENCES, EXCEPT THAT I HAVE HAD TO LEAVE MY WINDOW OPEN SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE IT WILL NOT LIFT UP. A COUPLE OF TIMES IT HAS BEEN RAINING, BUT LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO FIND A GARAGE TO PARK IN. I HAVE TALKED WITH ANOTHER 9-3 OWNER AND THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AND HAVE HAD THE WINDOW MODULAR REPLACED TWICE AS WELL. I'VE HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THE WINDOW LIFT, ONCE TO HAVE IT COMPLETELY REPLACED AND THE NEW LIFT IS STARTING TO MAKE THE SAME NOISES AS THE FIRST ONE DID WHEN IT BROKE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115780March 24, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING OWNER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE. OWNER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND WENT INTO THE DEPARTMENT STORE TO SHOP. WHEN THE OWNER RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE FIRE TRUCKS WERE OUTSIDE EXTINGUISHING THE FLAMES. IT APPEARED THAT THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115781March 24, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING OWNER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE. OWNER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND WENT INTO THE DEPARTMENT STORE TO SHOP.OWNER WAS IN THE STORE FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES. WHEN THE OWNER RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE FIRE TRUCKS WERE OUTSIDE EXTINGUISHING THE FLAMES. IT APPEARED THAT THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114513March 23, 2005
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
AFTER BLOWING A TIRE BY RUNNING OVER A POTHOLE, I DISCOVERED THAT MY PIRELLI TIRES WERE SERIOUSLY WORN MUCH EARLIER THAN ANYONE SHOULD EXPECT. MY TIRES HAVE ROUGHLY 12,000 MILES ON THEM AND THEY ARE WORN DOWN TO THE WEAR TREAD INDICATORS. AFTER A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH MY DEALER I DISCOVERED THAT SAAB AND PIRELLI ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATION, BUT THEY HAVE FAILED TO LAUNCH A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. INSTEAD, THEY ARE REPLACING TIRES ON AN "AS-DISCOVERED" BASIS. IN OTHER WORDS, AS SAAB OWNERS DISCOVER THEY HAVE A TIRE ISSUE AND ACTUALLY REPORT THIS TO THE DEALER, THE TIRES ARE THEN REPLACED. SO, IF A SAAB OWNER DOES NOT THINK TO COMPLAIN TO THE DEALER, HIS/HER TIRES WILL NOT BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. THIS TO ME IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD AS NO DRIVER SHOULD EXPECT TIRES TO BE WORN TO NEAR BALDNESS AFTER ONLY 12,000 MILES. A BLOWOUT HAZARD SEEMS TO BE QUITE POSSIBLE, YET NEITHER SAAB NOR PIRELLI SEEM INCLINED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL THEY'RE FORCED TO REPLACE THE TIRES OF ONLY THOSE WHO COMPLAIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115268March 16, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
OWNER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE "B" REAR ENDED OWNER'S VEHICLE WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT 70 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. OWNER SUSTAINED INJURIES, WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND RELEASED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10112751March 8, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
2001 SAAB 9-3 TURBO-CHARGER FAILED ON START-UP ON FEB. 1, 2005; OIL WAS BLOWN INTO EXHAUST SYSTEM; CAR WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED, NO PRIOR WARNING; MANUFACTURER DENIED COVERAGE BECAUSE OUT OF 50,000 MILE WARRANTY AND REPAIR SHOP DONE BY LOCAL SHOP, NOT DEALER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112044February 23, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WE HAD OUR CAR IN FOR WARRANTY WORK IN THE FALL BUT THE SERVICE PROVIDER NEEDED TO ORDER PARTS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE WERE CONCERNED BECAUSE THE PARTS WOULD NOT ARRIVE, AND WE COULDN'T GET TO AUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDER UNTIL AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY TOLD US "NO PROBLEM" THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE WE WERE THERE PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION. THEY NEVER CALLED TO TELL US PARTS HAD ARRIVED (WE LIVE OVER AN HOUR AWAY FROM SERVICE PROVIDER) AND THEY'RE NOT OPEN ON WEEKENDS SO DIFFICULT TO GET TO. WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR THERE A FEW WEEKS AGO THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. OBVIOUSLY WE WERE UPSET ABOUT THIS NEW REPRESENTATION BUT THEY SAID THEY'D CALL SAAB. THEY CALLED US BACK AND SAID THAT THEY DISCOVERED WE NEEDED A NEW HEAD GASKET ON THE CAR. THIS IS A 2001 WITH 38,000 MILES, NOT DRIVEN HARD. WE WERE SHOCKED AS THIS WAS AFTER OUR WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY SAID THAT THEY CALLED SAAB AND THAT SAAB WOULD PAY FOR APPROXIMATELY HALF OUR BILL (THE TOTAL OF THE WARRANTY WORK AND THE HEAD GASKET. WE HAVE TALKED TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO SAID THERE IS NO WAY A HEAD GASKET SHOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THIS STAGE UNLESS THERE WAS A DEFECT. SAAB WILL NOT AGREE TO PAY FOR ALL THE REPAIR. WE'VE PAID OVER $600 TOWARD THE HEAD GASKET AND WARRANTY WORK THEY WOULDN'T COVER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113551February 18, 2005
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED MANY PROBLEMS WITH 2003 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR AS ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT APPEAR AND ECT. *BF THERE WERE REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE SUN ROOF REMAINING STUCK OPEN, STABILITY CONTROL PROBLEMS, LOW FRONT HEAD BEAM, GETTING AIR TO THE GAS CAP, THE MUD FLAP WAS CRACKED, AND ON ONE OCCASION WHEN DRIVING UP A HILL THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107432February 17, 2005
STRUCTURE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEAT BELTS, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, EQUIPMENT, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE. THE REPAIRS WORKED FINE FOR TWO WEEKS, THEN THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, THE FOG AND HEAD LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT ONCE A MONTH, THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RECOIL TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE PASSENGERS, THE CLUTCH PEDAL DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER PRESSURE WHEN APPLIED, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT "SPIN OVER," THERE WAS A BLOWN FUEL PUMP FUSE, THE DRIVER WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE, THE SUNROOF DEFLECTOR DID NOT COLLAPSE WHEN CLOSING THE GLASS CAUSING THE GLASS TO RE-OPEN ON IT'S OWN, THE DRIVER DOOR PANEL DID NOT FIT THE FLUSH TO THE DOOR PANEL, THE RADIO AND THE ONSTAR FEATURE DID NOT WORK. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110022February 7, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OVER A SPAN OF TWO MONTHS, MY 2003 SAAB 93 HAS HAD A VACUUM PUMP REPLACED 3 TIMES. ON EACH OCCASION, THE DEALER, CHERRY HILL CLASSIC CARS, HAS ADVISED ME THAT THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER, AND THAT SAAB "MUST BE HAVING PROBLEMS" WITH OR, OR THAT "SABB IS REDESIGNING" THE PART. AFTER EACH TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE PART, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE CAR WOULD HESITATE UPON ACCELERATION, OR WOULD "SPUTTER". THE DEALERSHIP NOW CLAIMS THAT THE SYSTEM TO WHICH THE VALVE IS CONNECTED IS "FILLING UP WITH WATER". AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE VALVE RECIRCULATION ENGINE EXHAUST TO HELP THE ENGINE WARM UP AND/OR BURN FUEL MORE EFFICIENTLY. SAAB CUSTOMER SERVICE, IF YOU CAN CALL IT THAT, WAS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS NO WAY OF TRACKING THE PROBLEM AS "EACH DEALER IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED". AS A RESULT, THE DEALER HAS HAD MY CAR FOR ALMOST A TWO MONTH PERIOD, AND THE PART IS STILL ON BACK ORDER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108508February 3, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE MAY STALL WHEN COLD AND CAR IS TRAVELING 30-45MPH. NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE ON 2 OCCASIONS DUE TO LOSS OF STEERING AND RAN ONTO SHOULDER/LAWN OF HOMEOWNER. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN 4 TIMES FOR REPAIRS OR MODIFICATIONS IN ATTEMPTS TO FIX THIS BUT SAAB WILL NOT EVEN ADMIT THERE IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS FIXING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108266January 30, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN HOME DRIVEWAY. DRIVER SHUT HIS DOOR NORMALLY AND AIRBAG DEPLOYED, HITTING PASSENGER WHO WAS STILL GETTING ADJUSTED IN HER SEAT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10108162January 28, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND THE VEHICLE STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106409January 15, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH ON LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY IN LEFT LANE. LOSS OF POWER WAS DUE TO DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE (ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN ENGINE IGNITION SYSTEM). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103313January 14, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT GAS GAUGE FAILURE. WHEN CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE GAS GAUGES WERE OKAY. HOWEVER, WHEN DRIVING GAUGES SUDDENLY DROPPED. SOMETIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENED VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THERE HAD BEEN INCIDENTS WHERE VEHICLE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING. NO INJURY REPORTED. *AK *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105635January 3, 2005
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
I AM AN OWNER OF A 2004 SAAB 9-3SS AND IT HAS COME TO MY IMMEDIATE ATTENTION THAT THERE MAY BE A FAULT WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK ENGAGEMENT ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ACCIDENT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF MY SEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL. BEFORE THE PHYSICAL LOCK-UP OF THE STEERING WHEEL I DEPRESS MY CLUTCH GETTING READY TO ENGAGE A GEAR COMING OUT OF NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE MAGICALLY DIES (THE RPM?S DROP FROM IDLE SPEED TO ZERO, THEY KEY IS IN THE ?ON? POSITION AND THE CAR IS MOVING), WITHOUT ANY NOTICE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AS IF THE KEY WAS REMOVED, ALL WHILE I?M ATTEMPTING TO NAVIGATE WINDING DOWNHILL TURNS. I COULDN?T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SO I REACTED QUICKLY BY GETTING ON THE BRAKES AND SLOWING THE VEHICLE WHILE TURNING THE KEY OFF THEN ON AGAIN TO RELEASE THE LOCKED STEERING WHEEL SO THAT I COULD STEER THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105667January 3, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I WAS CASUALLY DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SHUTOFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, IT DID NOT RESTART. FORTUNATELY, I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO CARRY ME TOWARDS THE CURB. BUT I HAD TO CUT ACROSS A LANE TO MAKE IT TO THE CURB. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY, THEY KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS - FAILED IGNITION CASSETTE. THE DEALER SAID THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH SAABS AND THERE IS NO WARNING BEFORE FAILURE. I FIND THIS ODD CONSIDERING THE CAR HAS A SERVICE INFORMATION DISPLAY. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO IT WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED BY THE DEALER IN 2 DAYS. BUT AT 42,000 MILES, I FIND IT SCARY AS I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE NEXT TIME IT WILL FAIL - IN ANOTHER 40,000? HAD THIS BEEN A TIME WHEN I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY, WHICH I FREQUENTLY TRAVEL, THIS SUDDEN SHUT-DOWN COULD HAVE CAUSED FATAL CONSEQUENCES FOR MYSELF, MY FAMILY, AND/OR SURROUNDING MOTORISTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105453December 28, 2004
STRUCTURE
THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATION. WHEN THE PEDAL IS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE HESITATES. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED AND HE WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103520December 10, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH AND THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING AND BRAKE POWER. CONSUMER LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD AND SAW THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO UPDATE THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE DEFECT WHICH OCCURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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