SAAB 9-3 Complaints

1,407 consumer complaints on file.

#10373909January 3, 2011
TIRES, TIRES:VALVE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE WITH PIRELLI P6 TIRES, LINE SIZE 215/55/16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VALVE STEM WOULD CONTINUOUSLY FRACTURE CAUSING THE TIRE TO DEFLATE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS NOR WERE THE TIRES REPLACED. THE ESTIMATED MILEAGE ON THE FAILED TIRE WAS 13,400. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372489December 27, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE A 2006 SAAB CONVERTIBLE. I LEFT TO GO TO WORK THIS MORNING AND THERE WAS A HORRIBLE NOISE IN THE FRONT. I DRIVE THE INTERSTATE PART WAY TO WORK AND THE NOISE SEEMED TO LESSEN. WHEN I GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE AND CAME TO A STOP LIGHT THE NOISE WAS EXTREMELY LOUD. I TURNED AROUND AND TOOK MY CARE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. I FOUND OUT THAT BOTH OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS HAD FRACTURED AND ONE WAS STUCK IN MY PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE TIRE ON THE INSIDE HAD BEEN CUT ALL THE WAY AROUND THE WHEEL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SERVICE PEOPLE COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT I DID NOT GET IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE WITH SAAB'S ON THE INTERNET IN ORDER TO FIND THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM. I THEN CALLED SAAB DEALERSHIP (THE ONLY ONE IN THE AREA) 30 MILES AWAY AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COILS BREAKING. I NOW HAVE TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED ALL THAT WAY AND THEY ARE NOT SURE IF SAAB IS GOING TO COVER A RENTAL CAR FORE ME. I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK AND NOW WILL HAVE TO BE OUT THE EXPENSE OF A RENTAL CAR. SAAB SHOULD COVER ALL OF MY EXPENSES. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL LIST AND NOT PUT PEOPLE IN SUCH DANGER WHEN SAAB IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ALWAYS TOLD EVERYONE HOW MUCH I LOVE MY SAAB AND THEY WOULD LOVE ONE TOO. NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR WHEN IT IS FIXED, BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST THAT THERE ISN'T SOMETHING ELSE WRONG THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372366December 25, 2010
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370163December 15, 2010
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
2004 SAAB 9-3. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT TENSIONING MAY FAIL. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED SINCE HE PAID FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF HIS POCKET. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE SUBMITTED THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK, BUT HE STILL HAS NOT RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS SINCE RECEIVED A SECOND LETTER REGARDING THE RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370828December 15, 2010
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT AIR BAG WAS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,029. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370829December 15, 2010
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. NONE 2. THE FAILURE, HOW OFTEN IT OCCURS, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. PERIODIC UNCOMMANDED CHANGES IN THROTTLE. DEALERSHIP TEST EQUIPMENT SHOWS EVIDENCE OF DATA CORRUPTION ON CHANNEL 1 OF THE TWO CHANNEL THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS) OCCURRING EVERY COUPLE OF SECONDS. DRIVER PERCEPTION OF PROBLEM IS IN FORM OF JERKY THROTTLE RESPONSE AT LOW THROTTLE WITH ONE INSTANCE OF SUDDEN, UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION. THE SUDDEN THROTTLE CHANGES HAVE RESULTED IN TRACTION LOSS ON SLIPPERY ROADS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT THE VEHICLE DEPARTED THE ROADWAY. 3. WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; I.E, PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED (AND IF OLD PART IS AVAILABLE) DEALERSHIP REPLACED THROTTLE BODY, WIRING HARNESS, AND ENGINE CONTROL MODULE IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE TPS DATA CORRUPTION PROBLEM AND DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS, BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR PURSUIT. DEALERSHIP REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM THE MANUFACTURER'S FIELD ENGINEERING TEAM. A FIELD ENGINEER WAS DISPATCHED, EVALUATED THE VEHICLE, DECLARED THAT IT WAS "OPERATING WITHIN MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS", AND TOLD THE DEALERSHIP TO IGNORE WHAT THEIR TEST EQUIPMENT WAS TELLING THEM. WHEN REQUESTED TO PROVIDE THE SPECIFICATIONS, WHAT TESTS WHERE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE COMPLIANCE, AND THE RESULTS OF THOSE TESTS, THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369444December 7, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
1.) ALL THE WIRING ISSUES STARTED OCCURRING SINCE FEB 2009- CURRENTLY. 2.) MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR WIRING IS DYSFUNCTIONAL CAUSING MANY WIRING/ELECTRICAL ISSUE FAILURES TO OCCUR THROUGHOUT MY VEHICLE. -MY ALARM WILL GO OFF WHENEVER IT WANTS TO WHILE I AM AT WORK OR AT HOME SO I HAD TO UNPLUG MY HORN (WHICH IS DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT SINCE I CAN'T USE MY HORN TO WARN PEOPLE OF AN ACCIDENT.) -ALSO, ON MY DISPLAY UNIT SHOWS "A RED NO PRESSURE" FOR MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SEAT WHICH HAS ME ALWAYS HAVING TO LEAVE IT BUCKLED WHEN NO ONE IS IN THE CAR IN ORDER FOR THE DISTRACTING LIGHT TO GO OFF. - MY RADIO WORKED FINE UNTIL MY BACK AMP COMPLETELY QUIT ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO FOR NO REASON. I NEVER PLAY MY MUSIC LOAD AND DO NOT USE BASE AND TO GET THIS FIXED WILL COST ME OVER $900. - THE ELECTRICAL ISSUES HAVE ALSO AFFECTED MY ELECTRICAL WINDOWS AS WELL. I WILL BE DRIVING AND PUT MY WINDOW DOWN AND IT WILL NOT GO BACK UP AND STICK TO WEAR I HAVE TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO MANUALLY PULL IT UP WITH MY HANDS. 3.) I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE INTO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS TO HAVE THEM FIND OUT WHAT THE CORE ISSUE OF MY WIRING/ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE AND THEY BOTH CAME BACK AND TOLD ME THAT THEY HOOKED MY VEHICLE UP TO THE COMPUTER BUT THEY CAN'T FIND WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT? THIS IS VERY ODD BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT MY IMAGINATION AND IT SEEMS LIKE EACH WEEK, SOMETHING GOES WRONG "ELECTRICAL" AND THE FACT THEY CAN NOT FIND THE SOURCE IS A LITTLE RIDICULOUS CONSIDERING IT'S A SAAB DEALER? THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH MY VEHICLES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE HAVING THIS MANY ISSUES WITHIN A YEARS TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368691December 2, 2010
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 93. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO COVER THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V226000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR) YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED FOLLOWING REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 01/18/11 *BF UPDATED 01/31/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368235November 29, 2010
VISIBILITY, STRUCTURE
I OWN A 2006 SAAB 9-3 AERO WAGON WITH APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THE WIPER SYSTEM IS BROKEN. THE WIPERS FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A RECENT TRIP AND WE WERE 200 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. WE HAD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT IN THE RAIN WITH NO WAY TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE FAILURE WAS NOT SIMPLY A BROKEN WIPER BLADE AS I COULD HAVE EASILY REPAIRED THAT, BUT INSTEAD THE WIPER LINKAGE BROKE. THE PLASTIC PIECES IN THE SYSTEM SHOW SIGNS OF CRACKING AND WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367793November 24, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED; THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 46,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365535November 12, 2010
STRUCTURE, INTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. I WAS CLEANING THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE DRIVER DOOR OPEN. I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE AREA BETWEEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE RIGHT DOOR. I OPENED THE RIGHT DOOR TO FIND THE LIGHT FIXTURE IN THE RIGHT QUARTER PANEL HAD FALLEN OUT AND WAS BURNING THE SEAT COVER BY THE AIR BAG. THE LAMP REFLECTOR IS METAL AND BURNED THE SEAT COVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362635October 27, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1. NORMAL DRIVING LEADS TO ISSUE. 2. LOW OIL INDICATOR ILLUMINATES WHEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 1 HOUR AT HIGHWAY SPEED. 3. NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT ISSUE, DEALERSHIP SAYS SAAB IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT NO CORRECTIVE ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362637October 27, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1. NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS MANUAL SHIFT MODEL 2. SHIFT HANDLE AND ASSEMBLY "FLEW OFF" WHILE DRIVING CAUSING IT TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT IN TRAFFIC 3. DEALERSHIP "GLUED" THE SHIFTER BACK ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362364October 26, 2010
SEAT BELTS
I JUST BOUGHT A 2003 SAAB 9-3 VECTOR. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AND DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET. I THEN FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL ABOUT THAT EXACT THING AND TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHICH COULD PERFORM SERVICE. THEY TOLD ME IT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED, AND THAT IT WOULD COST A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS TO DO IT AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A RECALL OUT ON IT. I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING IT WAS REPLACED ONCE AND THEN IT WENT BAD AGAIN, AND I SHOULD SAY THAT THE CAR ONLY WENT OVER 50000 MILES THIS EVENING ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. THE DEALER SHOULD REPAIR THIS FAULTY ITEM FOR FREE AND THEN BE REIMBURSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361921October 23, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THE SAAB 9-3 2002 STALLED SUDDENLY WHILE IDLING ON AN EXIT RAMP ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR FAILED TO RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE IGNITION MODULE HAD BEEN REPLACED 4 YEARS EARLY AS PART OF A PRIOR RECALL. THE CAR IS CURRENT AT A GAS STATION AND THE MECHANIC HAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REPLACED IGNITION MODULE HAS AGAIN FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356233September 18, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AT APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES, DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AROUND 70MPH, OIL LIGHT BEGINS FLICKERING. AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO 60 THE LIGHT STOPPED FLICKERING AND INSTEAD STAYED ON. FROM THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN TO PULL OFF THE ROAD A KNOCKING SOUND COULD BE HEARD FROM THE ENGINE PROGRESSIVELY GETTING LOUDER. THE CAR WAS THEN TAKEN HOME AND INSPECTED. REMOVING THE OIL PAN REVEALED THAT THE OIL PICK-UP TUBE WAS CLOGGED AND THE PAN WAS CAKED WITH BURNT OIL. A LOCAL MECHANIC ESTIMATED $3,000 TO REPAIR THE INTERNAL DAMAGE. CALLED SAAB, THEY SAID THE CAR WAS BEYOND ANY WARRANTY AND THAT IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT TURNING THE CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER SEEING THE LIGHT. FURTHERMORE AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I SPOKE WITH 3 SAAB REPRESENTATIVES WHO CLAIMED TO KNOW NOTHING OF THIS OIL SLUDGE ISSUE AND WERE NOT ABLE TO BRING IT UP AS IT DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL NUMBER, A FOURTH ONE WAS ABLE TO PULL UP A RECORD BASED ON MY V.I.N. SHOWING THAT THIS KNOWN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM WAS "REPAIRED" BACK IN 2006 UNDER THE NAME "SPECIAL POLICY" WHICH WAS GOOD FOR 8 YEARS AFTER THE IN SERVICE DATE SO LONG AS ALL RECORDS OF THE CAR WERE KEPT. ACCORDING TO THIS REPORT MY ARGUMENT WAS POINTLESS CONSIDERING I WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY AND DID NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED SERVICE LOGS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356286September 18, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2005 SAAB 9-3 ARC CONVERTIBLE. BRAKE ISSUES. SPONGY BRAKES, PEDAL GOES ALMOST TO FLOOR. DEALER REPLACED HYDRAULIC UNIT & MASTER CYLINDER - PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. REPORTED TO SAAB CUSTOMER SERVICE - NO RESPONSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353782September 3, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FOUND BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKEN IN HALF FOLLOWING A NOTICEABLE DETERIORATION OF RIDE QUALITY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. MY MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS, STRUTS, AND SWAY BARS IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND NOTED THAT THE BREAK ON THE RIGHT COIL SPRING WAS APPROXIMATELY A HALF INCH FROM THE TIRE POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A PUNCTURED TIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352840August 30, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2006 SAAB 3 CONVERTIBLE ONLY HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT. WE PURCHASED IT IN MAY OF 2006. RECENTLY THE "COOLANT LEVEL LOW" LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. WE WOULD TOP OFF THE COOLANT AND IN ABOUT 8 DAYS THE LIGHT WOULD BE ON AGAIN. THE SAAB DEALER IN GUILFORD, CT. 06437, WHERE I BROUGHT IT TO BE REPAIRED, HAS INDICATED TO ME THAT IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE!! SAAB SAID THAT THEY WOULD PAY $6,000 TOWARD ENGINE PARTS. I HAVE TO PAY THE REMAINING $2,000. THE NEW ENGINE MIGHT BE REBUILT OR NEW AND ONLY GUARANTEED FOR ONE YEAR. THE CAR WILL BE IN THE SHOP FOR "AT LEAST" A WEEK. DURING THAT TIME SAAB IS GIVING ME A FREE LOANER TO USE. I BELIEVE THAT MY CAR WAS AT DANGER FOR AN ENGINE FIRE BECAUSE THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE, ACCORDING TO SAAB. THE CAR WAS TOO NEW WITH TOO LITTLE MILEAGE FOR SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD TO OCCUR. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER SAABS HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND BELIEVE THAT SAAB SHOULD PAY THE ENTIRE COST OF THE REPAIR UNDER A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351322August 23, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3 SPORT COMBI WAGON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH UPHILL WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED TO 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE CEASED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AS SOON AS IT HIT 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION YET THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AT LEAST TWICE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to SAAB 9-3