2000 Saab 9-3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
50 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
93,559 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Module is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 50 complaints (24.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 9 | 18.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 8.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 2.0% |
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 | 12 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 2 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 12; Air Bags: 10; Electrical System: 9; Electrical System:Ignition: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8; Seat Belts: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 10 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 7; 2005: 6; 2006: 8; 2007: 2; 2008: 6; 2009: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Module leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 10096715 · 2004-10-13 (October 13, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130563 · 2005-07-29 (July 29, 2005)
RELATED TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER (INVESTIGATION #) : PE05017. (1) CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATED ON AND OFF. I HAD A TECHNICIAN RUN THE CODES. THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE (DIC) WAS SENDING ERROR CODES INDICATED POSSIBLE IMMINENT FAILURE. (2) THE DIC DID NOT FAIL YET ON MY CAR (NOW HAS 68,000 MILES). GIVEN SAAB'S HISTORY WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE (TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHEREVER IT HAPPENS), I DIDN'T TAKE ANY CHANCES. (3) ON THE ADVICE OF OTHER SAAB OWNERS AND MY INDEPENDENT SAFE TECHNICIAN, I PURCHASED AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130563 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156369 · 2006-04-28 (April 28, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLS SPORADICALLY BEFORE START UP AND WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY SPEED. AFTER SITTING A WHILE, THE VEHICLE WILL RESTART. AN NHTSA RECALL, #05V399000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: MODULE HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER THE RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156369 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10246362 · 2008-10-22 (October 22, 2008)
2000 9-3 HAD THE IGNITION MODULE RECALL DONE A FEW YEARS AGO. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE MOTOR STOPPED. LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE CATALYTIC BECAUSE IT WAS PLUGGED. THEY SAID IT COULD BE CAUSED BY THE IGNITION MODULE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 77,715 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061172 · 2004-02-23 (February 23, 2004)
DRIVER BRIEFLY FORGOT THAT THE CAR HAD A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY ON AND THE VEHICLE WENT BACKWARDS THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON, BUT DIDN'T HOLD THE VEHICLE. *LA *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061172 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10632197 · 2014-09-10 (September 10, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE FROM REVERSING, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10632197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191732 · 2007-05-25 (May 25, 2007)
2000 SAAB 9-3 FUEL LINE DISCONNECTED AT THE TANK ON THE PRESSURIZED SIDE OF THE FUEL PUMP DUE TO A BROKEN PLASTIC TAB WHICH HODS THE FUEL LINE IN PLACE ( A TERRIABLE DESIGN) ALLOWING THE FUEL PUM DO DISCHARGE THE FUEL DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK AT THE MAXIMUM DISCHARGE RATE OF THE FUEL PUMP ... I.E. GALLONS PER MINUTE WERE BEING PUMPED OUT THE TOP OF THE TANK RESULTING IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITITUATION.
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191732 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10385730 · 2011-02-26 (February 26, 2011)
GAS STARTED LEAKING AT A STEADY STREAM FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK WHENEVER THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. FROM THE DEALER REPAIR STATEMENT: "CUSTOMER STATES CHECK RAW GAS LEAKING FROM ABOVE THE FUEL TANK, ONLY WITH CAR RUNNING. FUEL TANK RETAINER CLIP BROKEN. REPLACED FUEL TANK RETAINER CLIP." MY CONCERN: THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM (FUEL TANK RETAINER CLIP FAILURE AND LEAKING GAS) WAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR 2001 AND NEWER SAAB 9-3S. SAAB SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED 2000 MODELS AS WELL SINCE THEY HAVE THE SAME DESIGN (ACCORDING TO THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 125,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10385730 at NHTSA ↗