2002 Saab 9-3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
63,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 37 complaints (27.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 13.5% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 10.8% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 8.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 5.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.7% |
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 | 10 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 2 |
Electrical System: 10; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Seat Belts: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Air Bags:Side/Window: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
2002: 3; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2005: 4; 2006: 6; 2007: 5; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2019: 1; 2023: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 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 10118876 · 2005-04-14 (April 14, 2005)
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 45 MPH. CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. CONSUMER BUT MANAGED TO PULL VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197352 · 2007-07-24 (July 24, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AS IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 20 MPH. WHEN THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE GEARS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION EXPLODED INTO LITTLE PIECES. FOR THREE WEEKS, THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY ANOTHER TRA…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116082 · 2005-03-30 (March 30, 2005)
MY 2002 SAAB 9-3 STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND COULD NOT BE STARTED AGAIN. THE DIRECT IGNITION MODULE HAD BURNT OUT SUDDENLY, AND SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING OUT OF THE CONNECTOR WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR. THE MODULE FAILED WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, AND I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN IN HEAVY, BUT SLOW TRAFFIC. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR IS RUNNING. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT, SO THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT IS SURPRISING AND DISCONCERTING. I HAVE LITTLE FAITH THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING.*A…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116082 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121404 · 2005-07-08 (July 8, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING SLOWLY SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR FACILITY. THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE. *JB THE VEHICLE STALLED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE RADIO AND CD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING. THE CONSUMER HEARD TIRE NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TIRES WERE CUPPED AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE ALIGNMENT WAS OK ON THE FRONT BUT THE REAR COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED, THE PIRELLI TIRES WERE CHANGED TO YOKOHAMA BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,163 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000555 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)
WET BRAKING PERFORMANCE: WET BRAKING PERFORMANCE IN TERRIBLE IN MY 2002 SAAB 93. THERE IS LITERALLY NO BRAKING RESPONSE FOR THE FIRST 2-3 SECONDS AFTER APPLYING SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE TOTHE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY WATER BUILDING UP ON THE BRAKE DISCS THAT IS CAUSING THE DELAYED BRAKE RESPONSE. CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000555 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070014 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THE BLOWER ON THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT WORKING. IN ADDITION I WENT IN TWICE TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE HEATING UNIT OR CLIMATE CONTROL. THE THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED IT, BUT IT STILL TURNS OFF AND SETS TO ZERO. NOW THE HEAT WILL COME ON WHEREAS IT DIDN'T BEFORE. I RECENTLY (LAST WEEK FEB. 16) DOWN SHIFTED IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AHEAD. I DOWN SHIFTED FOR FIVE TO FOUR TO THREE AND THE CAR TURNED OFF AND I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY LOOKED AT IT LATER THE FOLLOWING WEEK. I HAD TO CALL…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070014 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132615 · 2005-08-12 (August 12, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 2002 SAAB 93SE HAD A FUEL LEAK. THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TAB WAS DEFECTIVE. IT BROKE AND CAUSED ONE FUEL LINE TO DISENGAGE ANDS SPILL FUEL ALL OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. WITH THE CAR IDLING A LARGE POOL OF GAS WOULD GATHER UNDER THE CAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED FOR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. THE CAR WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO START, AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. THE OWNER CONTACTED SAAB, AND THEY WERE CONTACTING THE DEALER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10767290 · 2015-09-22 (September 22, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SAAB 9-3. WHILE IN PARK, THERE WERE STRONG FUEL FUMES EMITTING FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TAB ATTACHED TO THE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL LINES FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V087000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10767290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10838086 · 2016-02-24 (February 24, 2016)
SAAB 9-3 2002 FREQUENTLY WILL NOT START EVEN THOUGH IT HAS NEW BATTERY AND NEWER ALTERNATOR- MAY BE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE.
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10838086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025886 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
THE DRIVERS SEAT SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE. IT IS COCKED IN A MANNER THAT FORCES THE DRIVER TO SIT AT AN ANGLE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SEAT CUSHION IS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE SEAT BACK AND FORCES THE DRIVER TO SIT ALMOST ACROSS THE SEAT TO BE ABLE TO FACE STRAIGHT FORWARD. ALSO THE LUMBAR SUPPORT IS UNEVEN AND ONLY SUPORTS THE LEFT SIDE. THIS FURTHER ADDS TO THE "TWIST" THAT THE DRIVER HAS TO ENDURE IN ORDER TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE COMPANY TECH REP TOLD ME THE SOLUTION IS TO NOT USE THE LUMBAR FUNCTION. ALSO THE SEAT BOTTOM SEEMS TO COLL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025886 at NHTSA ↗