2004 Saab 9-3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
207 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
72,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 170 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 67 of 207 complaints (32.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 6.3% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 4.3% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 2.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 67 |
| Suspension:Front | 29 |
| Suspension | 18 |
| Air Bags | 16 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 11 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 10 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 |
Seat Belts: 67; Suspension:Front: 29; Suspension: 18; Air Bags: 16; Electrical System: 11; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 11; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 10; Fuel System, Gasoline: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 24 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 47 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 35 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 36 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 47; 75,000 to 99,999: 35; 100,000 to 149,999: 36; 150,000 and above: 9
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (47). 37 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2009 | 30 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 22 |
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2013 | 20 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2003: 1; 2004: 4; 2005: 9; 2006: 9; 2007: 5; 2008: 14; 2009: 30; 2010: 22; 2011: 22; 2012: 18; 2013: 20; 2014: 17; 2015: 14; 2016: 13; 2017: 1; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 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 10051943 · 2003-12-22 (December 22, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND LEAVING A SHOPPING MALL CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES, AND SECONDS LATER THE TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE STALLED, AND COULD NOT BE STARTED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, WHO REPLACED THE T6ECM OR MAIN COMPUTER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 766 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051943 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105635 · 2005-01-03 (January 3, 2005)
I AM AN OWNER OF A 2004 SAAB 9-3SS AND IT HAS COME TO MY IMMEDIATE ATTENTION THAT THERE MAY BE A FAULT WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK ENGAGEMENT ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ACCIDENT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF MY SEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL. BEFORE THE PHYSICAL LOCK-UP OF THE STEERING WHEEL I DEPRESS MY CLUTCH GETTING READY TO ENGAGE A GEAR COMING OUT OF NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE MAGICALLY DIES (THE RPM?S DROP FROM IDLE SPEED TO ZERO, THEY KEY IS IN THE ?ON? P…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105635 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078583 · 2004-06-22 (June 22, 2004)
PULLED INTO A STANDARD, PAVED, PARKING SPACE TURNED ELECTRONIC IGNITION KEY TO OFF POSITION AND REMOVED KEY. CAR DID NOT TURN OFF, ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTINUED TO FUNCTION AS THOUGH KEY WAS IN IGNITION.*AK ONBOARD COMPUTER DISPLAYED "STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE: CONTACT SERVICE." TURNED STEERING WHEEL, CHECKED FOR OBSTRUCTIONS, AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN CAR OFF BY REINSERTING KEY INTO IGNITION. WHEN KEY INSERTED INTO IGNITION, ONBOARD COMPUTER TOGGLED TO "KEY NOT RECOGNIZED: CONTACT SERVICE" AND THEN BACK TO PREVIOUS MESSAGE. WAS ONL…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078583 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099093 · 2004-11-01 (November 1, 2004)
COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL." I HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH MY CAR. THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY YET THE PASSENGER SIDE DID. IT WAS A TOTAL FRONT COLLISION IN WHICH I HIT A FORD ECONOLINE VAN IN THE REAR END AND WAS DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF APPROX 50 KPH. NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I WAS DRIVING AND BELTED YET MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. ALL THE MECHANICS THAT SAW THE CAR AND HEARD OF THE ACCIDENT COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT TO OFF. THERE WAS OVER $17…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10099093 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214627 · 2008-01-13 (January 13, 2008)
HEADLIGHTS.. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BULBS 3 TIMES IN ONE YEAR. CURRENTLY THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHTS, SIDE LIGHT LOWER BUMPER, AND LIGHT WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAVE BLOWN. THERE SEEMS TO A AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AS THEY CONTINUE TO BLOW OUT.. SHORT LIGHTS AS HIGH BEAM ARE OKAY. I HAVE PURCHASED THE LIGHT BULBS IN AUTOZONE, PEPBOYS AND OEM TO ENSURE THAT ITS NOT VENDOR SUPPLIER ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214627 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108508 · 2005-02-03 (February 3, 2005)
ENGINE MAY STALL WHEN COLD AND CAR IS TRAVELING 30-45MPH. NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE ON 2 OCCASIONS DUE TO LOSS OF STEERING AND RAN ONTO SHOULDER/LAWN OF HOMEOWNER. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN 4 TIMES FOR REPAIRS OR MODIFICATIONS IN ATTEMPTS TO FIX THIS BUT SAAB WILL NOT EVEN ADMIT THERE IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS FIXING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10218788 · 2008-02-21 (February 21, 2008)
EVERYTIME I FILL THE GAS TANK TO FULL AND I START DRIVING (ESP. ON A HIGHWAY), THE FUEL GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY--EVEN THOUGH IT IS FULL. THE, I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR AND TURN IT ON SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE FUEL GAUGE GOES BACK UP TO FULL AGAIN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10234649 · 2008-07-17 (July 17, 2008)
I PURCHASED A 2004 SAAB 9-3 AROUND MARCH 15, 2007. A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO, I WAS VACATIONING IN FLORIDA WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL SAAB DEALERSHIP IN ORLANDO, FL WHERE I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO PURCHASE A SPEED SENSOR. THIS WAS DONE AND THE COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $515.00. THE DAY AFTER THE REPAIR, I NOTICED THE CAR CONTINUED TO HAVE ROUGH AND INAPPROPRIATE SHIFTING. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL SAAB DEALERSHIP IN DUBLIN, OH WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGED AND THE TRANSM…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10391938 · 2011-03-17 (March 17, 2011)
2004 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. CONSUMER STATES ISSUES WITH FUEL TANK AND SENSOR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS THE GREENBOX MALFUNCTION LIGHT DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT HAVING THE LATEST SOFTWARE. SO, THE DEALER HAD TO PERFORM THE SPS OF THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE TO UPDATE TO THE NEWEST SOFTWARE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE HE RAN THE VEHICLE ON LOW FUEL, IT SHORTED OUT THE FUEL SENSOR. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHEN HE FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL PU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10391938 at NHTSA ↗