Saab 9-3 CONVERTIBLE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
61 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
68,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Module is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 61 complaints (11.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 13.1% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 8.2% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 6.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 6.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 4.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 7 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 7; Air Bags: 5; Electrical System: 5; Electrical System:Ignition: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 4; Seat Belts: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 3
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 21 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2001: 3; 2002: 3; 2003: 5; 2004: 12; 2005: 5; 2006: 9; 2007: 4; 2008: 3; 2009: 5; 2010: 4; 2011: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Module leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10130862 · 2005-08-26 (August 26, 2005)
DT: CONSUMER STATES THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS THAT HOLD THE FUEL LINE TOGETHER FAILED ON A 1999 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. THE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS, WHILE DRIVING. PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT THE GAS WAS LEAKING OUT EVERYWHERE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MODELS 2001-2002 WERE RECALLED ON THE EXACT SAME THING. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE BEFORE THIS. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER THAT HIS CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IF THERE WERE MORE COMPLAINTS THEY WOULD BROADE…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,354 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164953 · 2006-08-08 (August 8, 2006)
2000 SAAB 9-3 SE CONVERTIBLE. ON COMMUTE HOME, WAS PULLED OVER BECAUSE OF A DETECTED GASOLINE LEAK. GASOLINE WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE AUTO BY THE GAS TANK. POLICE HAD CAR FLAT BEDDED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE CAUSE WAS FROM A "BROKEN CLIP THAT ATTACHED THE FUEL LINE TO THE FUEL PUMP". COSTS FOR REPAIR AND TO REFILL TANK TOTALED $1057.58. 2001 VEHICLES OF THIS SAME MODEL WERE ALREADY RECALLED FOR THIS SAME REASON (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V557000). *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 79,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164953 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090611 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, AUTO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY, NO POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. BURNT ELECTRICAL SMELL FROM ENGINE. CAR WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, WHERE A FAILED IGNITION CASSETTE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY SINCE DAY ONE, IN SOME CASES FOR DAYS AT A TIME. I HAVE ASKED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT SEVERAL DEALERS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT COULD BE BECAUSE OF A LOOSE GAS CAP AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT (SAAB USA CLAIMS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090611 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10609014 · 2014-07-08 (July 8, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR I HAD TO PUSH ON THE BRAKES FAIRLY HARD. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTED AND THEN STAYED RETRACTED. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A PROPER REPLACEMENT FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT AND HAVE YET TO FIND ONE FOR LESS THAN $200.00 FOR A USED ONE AND OVER $300.00 FOR A REFURBISHED ONE. GM JUST HAPPENS TO HAVE NEW ONES BUT THEY ARE ALMOST $500.00 ACCORDING TO THE REP FROM GM.THESE SEAT BELTS HAVE A CHARGING CYLINDER ON THEM THAT SETS OFF THE AIR BAG. THAT ALONE CAUSES YOU TO HAVE TO SHIP IT AS A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL.IF YOU CAN FIND SOMEONE TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 145,011 miles reported. Look up ODI 10609014 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129404 · 2005-07-20 (July 20, 2005)
I HAVE A 1999 9-3 CONVERTIBLE, BOUGHT CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED FROM THE DEALER (SANTA MONICA SAAB) IN 2002. LAST SUMMER, THE CEL CAME ON AT ABOUT 38K, SO I HAD THE ENGINE SERVICED AT THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MANAGER THAT THE CODES INDICATED A DI CASSETTE FAILURE AND ALSO POSSIBLE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE AS A RESULT. AT THAT TIME, I HADN'T EXPERIENCED ANY ENGINE STALLING OR FAILURE AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM BUT WAS WARNED THAT IT MIGHT FAIL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING IF THE DI CASSETTE WASN'T REPLACED. I TOOK THAT RISK, DRIVING ON…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033090 · 2003-08-19 (August 19, 2003)
MY 2000 SAAB 9-3 STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY...THE DEALER REPACED THE DIRECT IGNITION MODULE AND CAR WAS OKAY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 26,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033090 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043577 · 2003-10-26 (October 26, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043577 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093558 · 2004-10-04 (October 4, 2004)
VEHICLE BEGAN SHIFTING POORLY AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE UNLESS TURNED OFF (5 SPEED MANUAL TRANS). SAAB DEALERSHIP OPENED TARNSMISSION AND FOUND IT NEEDED FULL REPLACEMENT (60,000 MILES) AND ALSO NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH. SINCE THAT TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AND GO OFF ERRATICLY. SAAB CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENTS AND DIAGNOSTICS!*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 65,401 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093558 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10367793 · 2010-11-24 (November 24, 2010)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10367793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083812 · 2004-07-29 (July 29, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AL
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10083812 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
1999: 0; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 1