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U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Saab 9-3 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

212 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

49,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 167 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 36 of 212 complaints (17.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation3817.9%
Braking behavior3717.5%
Steering behavior3014.2%
Transmission and shifting2813.2%
Electrical and battery issues2210.4%
Fuel system concerns104.7%

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.

Electrical System
36
Suspension:Front
27
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
23
Engine And Engine Cooling
15
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
14
Air Bags
12
Steering
11
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs
8
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System36
Suspension:Front27
Power Train:Automatic Transmission23
Engine And Engine Cooling15
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine14
Air Bags12
Steering11
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs8

Electrical System: 36; Suspension:Front: 27; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 23; Engine And Engine Cooling: 15; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 14; Air Bags: 12; Steering: 11; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 8

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
53
25,000 to 49,999
32
50,000 to 74,999
40
75,000 to 99,999
24
100,000 to 149,999
12
150,000 and above
6
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00053
25,000 to 49,99932
50,000 to 74,99940
75,000 to 99,99924
100,000 to 149,99912
150,000 and above6

Under 25,000: 53; 25,000 to 49,999: 32; 50,000 to 74,999: 40; 75,000 to 99,999: 24; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 6

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (53). 45 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.

2002
1
2003
34
2004
29
2005
20
2006
16
2007
17
2008
19
2009
30
2010
10
2011
4
2013
2
2014
8
2015
5
2016
9
2017
1
2018
4
2019
1
2020
1
2021
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20021
200334
200429
200520
200616
200717
200819
200930
201010
20114
20132
20148
20155
20169
20171
20184
20191
20201
20211

2002: 1; 2003: 34; 2004: 29; 2005: 20; 2006: 16; 2007: 17; 2008: 19; 2009: 30; 2010: 10; 2011: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 8; 2015: 5; 2016: 9; 2017: 1; 2018: 4; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 38 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 30 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 10016852 · 2003-05-01 (May 1, 2003)

ENGINE STALLS WHILE STOPPING OR COASTING TO INTERSECTIONS. 4 INDICENTS OF THIS TO DATE AND VEHICLE HAS UNDER 2000 MILES. DEALER SERVICE HAS TWICE SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS AND THERE IS NO SOFTWARE OR UPDATES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. RUNNING RECOMMENDED OCTANE FUEL (PREMIUM).

Owner-reported narrative. 31 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016852 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10016863 · 2003-05-01 (May 1, 2003)

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE ACCELERATING. LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE ASSIST. COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF I HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO STOP SAFELY. THE CAR STARTED WITH NO ISSUES AFTER THE STOP.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,912 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016863 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10016251 · 2003-04-21 (April 21, 2003)

MY BRAND NEW 2003 SAAB 9-3 WITH 1100 MILES ON IT, FAILED ME. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A RIGHT TURN IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AND MY ENGINE QUIT - THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WERE OFF SO IT MADE THE CAR INCREDIBLY HEAVY TO TURN. I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT WITHOUT GETTING HIT, BUT IT WAS STILL TERRIFYING. I TURNED THE KEY OFF, AND STARTED THE CAR RIGHT BACK UP, DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP A MILE AWAY WHERE IT'S BEEN AWAITING A "SOFTWARE UPGRADE" FOR 5 DAYS. ON WWW.EDMUNDS.COM I FOUND THAT SEVERAL OWNER…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016251 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10016784 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)

I JUST BOUGHT A 2003 SAAB 9-3 ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND IT HAS APPROX. 1800 MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING FOLLOWED BY COMPLETE POWER. LUCKILY I WAS ON A BACK ROAD AND PULLED OVER SAFELY. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT OUTCOME. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016784 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10014184 · 2003-04-09 (April 9, 2003)

I PURCHASED A 2003 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR W/ LAUNCH PACKAGE (STEEL GREY) APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO. FOUR DAYS AFTER MY PURCHASE I WAS DRIVING USING THE STEPTRONIC SHIFTING AND THE CAR LOST POWER. WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DASH SAID TO PULL OVER AND CONTACT SAAB. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND PULL OVER, A SEVERE GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD AND FELT UNDER MY RIGHT FOOT. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY SAW A COMPUTER EVENT "WHEEL SPEED MISMATCH" BUT WAS NOT SURE …

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014184 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10032848 · 2003-08-14 (August 14, 2003)

I HAVE A 2003 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR STALL ON ME IN TRAFFIC 4 TIMES NOW OVER THE LAST 4 MONTHS. I NOW REALIZE I'M FAR FROM THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I HAVE BEEN IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC 3 OF THE 4 TIMES. LUCKILY IN THE OUTSIDE LANE AND ABLE TO PULL OFF. I HAVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND RUN HIGH OCTANCE FUEL (RECOMMENDED). HOPEFULLY SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO PRESS GM AND FORCE THEM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032848 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10036825 · 2003-08-29 (August 29, 2003)

I RECEIVED MY SAAB 9-3 BACK IN FEB 2003 AND HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ONSTAR SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (RADIO SND SID). THE ONSTAR COMPUTER HAS BEEN REBOOTED TWICE, THE SID HAS FINALLY BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER, I STILL EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO. PERIODICALLY, WHEN YOU START THE CAR, NOTHING BUT STATIC COMES OUT OF THE SPEAKERS AND THE SYSTEM NEEDS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ONE LAST ITEM I FORGOT TO MENTION. AFTER THE LAST REBOOT OF THE ONSTAR SYSTEM, I DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036825 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10048414 · 2003-11-20 (November 20, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD A SHORTAGE. *PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048414 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10025470 · 2003-07-06 (July 6, 2003)

I OWNS A 2003 SAAB 1993 LINEAR WITH AUTOMATIC. WHEN DRIVING A CAR, CAR STALLED MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT HAPPEND 3 TIMES SO FAR. CAR STALLED AND HANDLE GOT LOCKED UP. ENGINE LIGHT CAME UP. IT WAS DANGEROUS EPECIALLY AT THE FREEWAY. LUCKILY NEVER RESULTED IN BIG ACCIDENTS. DEALER ARE SAYING IT'S COMPUTER PROBLEM, BUT SOME PEOPLE SAID IT MIGHT BE THE FAULTY FUEL PUMP.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 6,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025470 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10033177 · 2003-08-20 (August 20, 2003)

I PICKED UP MY CAR ON FEBRUARY 24, 2003 AT NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING I WAS TESTING THE CD PLAYER IN THE CAR AND IT WOULDNT WORK. SO I BROUGHT BACK THE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY SAID THEY HAD TO FIX SOMETHING WITH THE COMPUTER. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY 2 MONTH OLD SON AND THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. WHILE I WAS TRYING TO BRING IT INTO SAAB IT STALLED ANOTHER 2 TIMES. THEY SAID THEY HAVE TO REPLACE SOME COMPUTER. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER I STARTED NOTICING THAT I WAS HAVING SERIOUS PICKUP ISSUES. FOR EXAMP…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033177 at NHTSA ↗