1994 SAAB 9-3

0 recalls, 1 complaints - 3 TSBs

No recalls found for this vehicle.

Complaint Statistics

1 total complaints

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	1

Incident date: Apr 12, 2003

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

Technical Service Bulletins, 1994 SAAB 9-3

3 manufacturer communications from 3 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
114000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING	2
132000 VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR	1

114000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING THE WIRING HARNESS REPAIR KIT. *TT

114000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

SERVICE INFORMATION ON WIRING HARNESS REPAIR KIT. *YC

132000 VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

CONCERNS WITH NUTS ON REAR WINDOW AND WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS COME LOOSE. *YC

NHTSA Safety Investigations, SAAB 9-3

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2004

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR

ODI HAS RECEIVED EIGHT COMPLAINTS OF FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS BREAKING ON MODEL YEAR 2004 SAAB 9-3 VEHICLES.A COMMON FAILURE SCENARIO INVOLVES THE DRIVER HEARING A NOISE AND THE BELT SUDDENLY LOSING TENSION.A NON-FUNCTIONING SEAT BELT INCREASES THE RISK AND SEVERITY OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRA... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2007

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) IS AWARE OF 7 SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT HAVE ALLEGEDLY EXPERIENCED ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES ORIGINATING AT THE COIL-ON-PLUG (COP) IGNITION COIL ASSEMBLY AND 28 ALLEGED NON-FIRE THERMAL EVENTS RESULTING IN DAMAGE LIMITED TO THE SUBJECT COMPONENT AND ASSOCIATED WI... RING. ALL REPORTED INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLES WERE ATTENDED AND IN ALL BUT ONE CASE THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO SERVICE AFTER THE INCIDENT INVOLVING THE ALLEGED DEFECT. ACCORDING TO GENERAL MOTORS (GM), A CERAMIC CAPACITOR USED IN THE ELECTROMAGNETIC NOISE FILTER CIRCUIT INSIDE THE SUBJECT COMPONENT MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. A FRACTURE INSIDE THE CAPACITOR MAY, DEPENDING ON ITS SIZE AND LOCATION, RESULT IN A RESISTIVE SHORT CIRCUIT. WHEN ENERGIZED, THE RESISTIVE SHORT CIRCUIT MAY CAUSE HEAT THAT CAN MELT THE POTTING EPOXY AROUND THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND LEAD TO SMOKE, ODOR AND IN SOME INSTANCES FIRE. OTHER SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE A MISFIRE CONDITION RESULTING IN ROUGH RUNNING AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON TELLTALE LIGHT. ALL 7 FIRES OCCURRED RELATIVELY EARLY IN THE SERVICE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE AT 120, 171, 198, 207, 297, 365 AND 394 DAYS IN SERVICE, RESPECTIVELY. ODI ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT APPROXIMATELY 98% OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION IS NOW BEYOND THE EXPOSURE AGE AT WHICH FIRE INCIDENTS WERE OBSERVED. THE LAST KNOWN FIRE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN MAY 2009 ON A VEHICLE THAT HAD 394 DAYS IN SERVICE AND THE LAST KNOW FIRE INCIDENT PREVIOUS TO THAT OCCURRED IN DECEMBER 2008 ON A VEHICLE THAT HAD 198 DAYS IN SERVICE. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE FIELD EXPERIENCE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS IT RELATES TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. ADDITIONALLY, THE MANUFACTURER WILL PROVIDE THE AGENCY WITH AN UPDATE OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY INFORMATION IN 6 MONTHS FROM THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS INVESTIGATION AND UNTIL THAT TIME IT WILL NOTIFY THE AGENCY WITHIN 5 BUSINESS DAYS OF ANY FIRE INCIDENTS IT BECOMES AWARE OF THAT RELATES, OR MAY RELATE, TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.Read more

EA, Closed , Model Year: 2003

Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture

To date, ODI is aware of 142 non-duplicative complaints related to the alleged defect.In addition, ODI is aware of 2,626 subject vehicles with one or more warranty claims related to the alleged defect.In total, ODI is aware of 2,714 unique subject vehicles that have experienced one or more front sus... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2003

FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE

ON AUGUST 28, 2008, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE08-051) TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURES IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003-2004 SAAB 9-3 VEHICLES SOLD OR REGISTERED IN SALT BELT STATES.(NOTE: FOR PURPOSES OF THIS INVESTIGATI... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2006

REDUCED BRAKE POWER-ASSIST

SAAB AUTOMOBILE AB, A SUBSIDIARY OF GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM), MANUFACTURED 12,317 SUBJECT VEHICLES THROUGH FEBRUARY 15, 2008, EQUIPPED WITH THE HIGH FEATURE V6 TURBOCHARGED ENGINE IDENTIFIED BY REGULAR PRODUCTION OPTION LP9.A TANDEM VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY PROVIDES BRAKE POWER-ASSIST.THE ENGI... NE IS THE PRIMARY VACUUM SOURCE TO THE BOOSTER AND ITS EFFECT IS AMPLIFIED BY A VENTURI.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, SUCH AS A COLD ENGINE START OR AT HIGH ALTITUDES, AN ELECTRIC VACUUM PUMP (EVP) SUPPLEMENTS ENGINE VACUUM.A PRESSURE SWITCH MEASURES BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM AND COMMANDS THE EVP WHEN TO TURN ON/OFF.CHECK VALVES ARE LOCATED AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, VENTURI, AND PRESSURE SWITCH. GM IDENTIFIED TWO ISSUES THAT AFFECT EVP PERFORMANCE: CORROSION OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS INSIDE THE PUMP CAUSED BY MOISTURE INGRESS THROUGH THE AIR OUTLET WHEN THE EVP SHUTS OFF AND THE VACUUM IN A SECTION OF PIPING BETWEEN THE EVP AND THE PRESSURE SWITCH IS RELEASED TO THE ATMOSPHERE; AND SILICONE CONTAMINATION OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS INSIDE THE PRESSURE SWITCH RESULTING IN A NOISY OR IMPEDED ELECTRICAL SIGNAL.GM ADDRESSED EVP PERFORMANCE WITH TWO DESIGN CHANGES.IN NOVEMBER 2007, GM MODIFIED THE RUBBER PROTECTIVE CAP THAT COVERS THE EVP AIR OUTLET TO IMPROVE SEALING AND IN FEBRUARY 2008, GM ADDED A CHECK VALVE TO THE SECTION OF PIPING BETWEEN THE EVP AND THE PRESSURE SWITCH AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THE EVP IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE BACK FLOW OF MOISTURE THROUGH THE PUMP. IN TOTAL, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) IS AWARE OF 240 SUBJECT VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE ALLEGED DEFECT.COMPLAINANTS REPORT THAT SYMPTOMS OCCUR IMMEDIATELY AFTER A COLD ENGINE START AND ONLY FOR A SHORT DURATION (30 TO 60 SECONDS), DURING WHICH PERIOD THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE POWER-ASSIST PROVIDED TO THE OPERATOR MAY BE REDUCED DUE TO AN INOPERATIVE EVP.THE SYMPTOMS MAY BE MORE PRONOUNCED THE LONGER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED AS THERE IS A NATURAL TENDENCY FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER TO SLOWLY RELEASE THE VACUUM OVER TIME IF IT IS NOT REPLENISHED.FULL BRAKE POWER-ASSIST CAPABILITY RESUMES AFTER THIS BRIEF COLD START PERIOD OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER A WARM ENGINE START.THE THREE REPORTED CRASHES ALL OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS (< 5MPH) WHILE REVERSING FROM A GARAGE OR PARKING SPACE AND RESULTED IN MINIMAL TO MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE SUBJECT ISSUE DIFFERS FROM A PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL (05V-236) AFFECTING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003-2005 SAAB 9-3 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A DEFECTIVE CHECK VALVE THAT COULD BECOME BRITTLE AND FRACTURE, RESULTING IN A LASTING AND TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKE POWER-ASSIST AT ANY TIME.THE DEFECTIVE CHECK VALVE DID NOT MEET LIFETIME DURABILITY REQUIREMENTS AND GM PREDICTED A 100% FAILURE RATE AT LESS THAN 4 YEARS OF SERVICE.IN COMPARISON, GM PREDICTS AN EVP FAILURE RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 6.4% AT 3 YEARS IN SERVICE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKE POWER-ASSIST FOR A SHORT DURATION.THE SUBJECT ISSUE ALSO DIFFERS FROM A PREVIOUS ODI INFLUENCED SAFETY RECALL (03V-474) TO ADDRESS EVP MOISTURE INGRESS IN CERTAIN MY 2000 VOLVO S40 AND V40 VEHICLES.THE RECALLED VOLVO VEHICLES UTILIZED A STEEL VACUUM PIPE BETWEEN THE EVP AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER.MOISTURE INGRESS AND SUBSEQUENT CORROSION COULD COMPROMISE THE VACUUM PIPE RESULTING IN A LASTING AND TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKE POWER-ASSIST.MOISTURE DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE POLYETHER-ESTER PLASTIC VACUUM PIPE USED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATIONRead more

RQ, Closed , Model Year: 2001

FUEL LINE LEAKAGE

ON NOVEMBER 19, 2004 GM NOTIFIED ODI OF A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE AT THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTIONS IN APPROXIMATELY 17,400 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 AND 2002 SAAB 9-3 PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE UUSIKAUPUNKI, FINLAND ASSEMBLY PLANT BETWEEN MAY 2000 AND JULY 2002 (GM RECALL NO. ... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1999

ENGINE STALL/ ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

ODI OPENED PE05-017 BASED ON 35 REPORTS OF ALLEGED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IDM CASSETTE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MOST REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.IN 3 INCIDENTS, THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTE... D SMOKE AND/OR FIRE RESULTED FROM THE IDM FAILURE.DURING PE05-017, ADDITIONAL FAILURE DATA WAS IDENTIFIED AS NOTED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY ABOVE.THE COMPLAINT DATA REPRESENTS INCIDENTS WHERE THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED A STALL OR FIRE.ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2005, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT ON 95,081 MY 2000-2002 SAAB 9-3 AND 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND 8,117 MY 2001 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 6- CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES (RECALL 05V-399).THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES WITHIN THESE POPULATIONS MAY EXPERIENCE OVERHEATING AND BURNOUT OF THE ISOLATED GATED BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR (IGBT) WITHIN THE IDM DUE TO INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ELECTRICAL LOADS.OVERHEATING OF THE IGBT OCCURS MOST OFTEN AT ENGINE START-UP FOR BOTH A 4-CYLINDER AND 6-CYLINDER ENGINE, BUT IT MAY ALSO OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.WHEN THE IDM FAILS ON A 4-CYLINDER WHILE IT IS RUNNING, THE ENGINE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING, WITH NO ABILITY TO BE RESTARTED.WHEN THE IDM FAILS ON A 6-CYLINDER ENGINE WHILE IT IS RUNNING, THE DRIVER WILL INITIALLY EXPERIENCE REDUCED POWER AND ROUGH OPERATION BECAUSE THE ENGINE WILL ONLY BE RUNNING ON THREE CYLINDERS.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH.IF THE DRIVER CONTINUES, UNBURNT FUEL IN THE EXHAUST CAN CAUSE THERMAL DAMAGE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.THE ENGINE MAY STALL AND NOT RESTART.THERMAL DAMAGE TO OTHER UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS AND THE UNDERBODY MAY ALSO RESULT FROM PROLONGED DRIVING.THE RECALL POPULATION ENCOMPASSES 84% OF THE STALLING AND FIRE COMPLAINTS (215 FOR VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES AND 36 FOR VEHICLES WITH 6-CYLINDER ENGINES).THE 36 MONTHS IN SERVICE (MIS) STALLING RATES FOR EACH MODEL YEAR OF RECALLED VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES WERE ALL GREATER THAN TWO PERCENT.ALTHOUGH THE 36 MIS STALL RATE FOR THE RECALLED MY 2001 VEHICLES WITH V6 ENGINES WAS LOWER, AT 1.3 PERCENT, THESE VEHICLES ALSO HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF CONFIRMED (OPEN FLAME VERIFIED) FIRES AT 62 PER 100,000 VEHICLES.GM WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER FOR IDM INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT, IF NECESSARY.CONSEQUENTLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCOPE AND REMEDY OF GM'S ACTION AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.Read more

EA, Closed , Model Year: 2003

ENGINE STALL

ON DECEMBER 30, 2003, ODI OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE03-059) TO INVESTIGATE 16 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING ENGINE STALL WHILE DRIVING IN MODEL YEAR 2003 SAAB 9-3 SPORT SEDANS WITH 2.0L TURBOCHARGED ENGINES.ON JANUARY 15, 2004, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) ADVISED ODI THAT GM AND SAAB HAD DECIDED TO CONDUCT A... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2003

ENGINE STALL

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND TURBOCHARGED ENGINES WITH TWO DIFFERENT POWER OUTPUTS, 175 HP AND 210 HP.SAAB HAS MODIFIED THE ELECTONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SOFTWARE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO CORRECT PROBLEMS THAT COULD RESULT IN ENGINE STALL IN BOTH ENGINES. IN ... Read more

SAAB 9-3 - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the SAAB 9-3 across all model years (1999, 2011).

47 Total Recalls

1,692 Total Complaints

9 Investigations

84 Reported Crashes

30 Reported Fires

4 Reported Deaths

SAAB 9-3 - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2011	4	33	View
2010	4	31	View
2009	3	46	View
2008	3	218	View
2007	3	182	View
2006	3	227	View
2005	3	114	View
2004	6	236	View
2003	5	323	View
2002	4	52	View
2001	4	74	View
2000	2	72	View
1999	3	80	View
1994 (current)	0	1

Other SAAB Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
900	44	552	View
99	31	0	View
9-5	30	662	View
9000	26	197	View
9-7X	16	237	View
9-2X	11	148	View
96	11	0	View
95	10	62	View

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