2006 Saab 9-3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
179 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
40,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 93 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 86 of 179 complaints (48.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 34 | 19.0% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 5.0% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 3.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 2.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 86 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 16 |
| Seat Belts | 14 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Steering | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 6 |
Air Bags: 86; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 16; Seat Belts: 14; Electrical System: 10; Fuel/Propulsion System: 10; Service Brakes: 7; Steering: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 26 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 24 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 26; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 86 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 47 |
| 2017 | 34 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 10; 2008: 18; 2009: 7; 2010: 13; 2011: 5; 2012: 2; 2013: 8; 2014: 7; 2015: 10; 2016: 47; 2017: 34; 2018: 5; 2019: 7; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 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 10181092 · 2007-01-30 (January 30, 2007)
CLEAR DAY. HIGHWAY TRAVEL. CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 65-70 MPH. 2006 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE 3200 MILES. ENTERED CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND ATTEMPTED TO SLOW/BRAKE AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. CAR CONTINUED AT SET SPEED. SEEMS THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE AND THE CAR WAS FIGHTING TO KEEP THE SPEED UP TO CRUISE CONTROL SETTING. TRUCK AHEAD SLOWED AND I DID NOT. MANEUVERED LEFT TO AVOID TRUCK AND MADE CONTACT WITH A CONSTRUCTION TRAILER. CONTINUED TO AFTER CONTACT. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. PENN DOT CALLED POLICE TO THE CRASH SCE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10187056 · 2007-04-04 (April 4, 2007)
BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO WORK SEVERAL TIMES. THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE LOCKED AND NOT ABLE TO PRESS DOWN. TODAY AFTER ACCELERATING FROM 0 TO ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. I FELT LIKE THE CRUISE CONTROL KICK IN. I TRIED TO PRESS ON THE BRAKES BUT THEY WOULD NOT WORK. I WAS DRIVING IN THE PASSING LANE TO AVOID HITTING ANY CARS. I NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON. I TURNED IT OFF AND THE BRAKES FINALLY STARTED TO WORK. THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND CLAIMS HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF ANY SUCH COMPLAIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,880 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10140409 · 2005-10-21 (October 21, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. WHILE THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE LEVER THAT HOLDS THE STEERING WHEEL IN PLACE FELL OFF. AS A RESULT THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED IN A BACK AND FORTH MOTION. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO UP AND DOWN IN DIRECTION. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE SERVICE DEALER BEING REPAIRED. THE DEALER REINSTALLED THE LEVER, AND STATED THAT THE FACTORY MAY HAVE INSTALLED THE LEVER INCORRECTLY. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN C…
Owner-reported narrative. 313 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140409 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155628 · 2006-04-18 (April 18, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE OUT OF ALIGNMENT STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, IT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE SYSTEM WAS CLEARED. THE DEALER WAS VAGUE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND STATED IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC DOORS LOCKS AND THE TRUNK RELEASE AS WELL. THE DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK AT WILL AND THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND TRUNK CAME OPEN ON ONE OCCASION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. *AK UPDATED 08/14/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155628 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10228601 · 2008-05-21 (May 21, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TEN FOOT BARRIER. GM SENT AN ENGINEER TO GATHER EVIDENCE AND SURVEY THE DAMAGE. ONE OCCUPANT WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. GM STATED THAT THEY WILL TAKE APART THE VEHICLE TO FIND OUT WHY IT STALLED AND CRASHED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228601 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10278816 · 2009-07-30 (July 30, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IMMEDIATELY, THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE IDLING WITHIN THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10278816 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10210286 · 2007-11-29 (November 29, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT HIS BRAKES FAILED SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE WHEN HE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF HIS PARKING SPACE. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE BEFORE THE ENGINE HAS BEEN WARMED UP, THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS ROCK HARD. TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. BRAKE FUNCTION APPEARED TO RETURN TO NORMAL AFTER THE ENGINE WARMED UP. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON FOU…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,383 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10273236 · 2009-06-09 (June 9, 2009)
I HAVE A 2006 SAAB 9-3 AERO, MANUAL TRANSMISSION, APPROXIMATELY 26,500 MILES. SINCE AS EARLY AS OCTOBER, 2007 THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OCCASIONALLY GOES BLANK WHILE THE CAR IS OPERATING. THIS OCCURS IN ALL MANNER OF DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT IS AS IF THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. HOWEVER, THE CAR CONTINUES TO RUN. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, RADIO, WINDOWS AND AIR CONDITIONING SHUT OFF OR DO NOT OPERATE. ON OCCASION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN LEFT IN THE SUN, IT WILL NOT START AND THE KEY FOB WILL NOT O…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10273236 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10370829 · 2010-12-15 (December 15, 2010)
1. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. NONE 2. THE FAILURE, HOW OFTEN IT OCCURS, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. PERIODIC UNCOMMANDED CHANGES IN THROTTLE. DEALERSHIP TEST EQUIPMENT SHOWS EVIDENCE OF DATA CORRUPTION ON CHANNEL 1 OF THE TWO CHANNEL THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS) OCCURRING EVERY COUPLE OF SECONDS. DRIVER PERCEPTION OF PROBLEM IS IN FORM OF JERKY THROTTLE RESPONSE AT LOW THROTTLE WITH ONE INSTANCE OF SUDDEN, UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION. THE SUDDEN THROTTLE CHANGES HAVE RESULTED IN TRACTION LOSS ON SLIPPERY ROADS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10370829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10511970 · 2013-05-14 (May 14, 2013)
TWO ITEMS: 1. THE SEATBELT FAILED TO CATCH WHEN PULLED FORWARD AND WOULD UNRAVEL AND NOT RETURN. THE SEATBELT FAILS TO STOP THE PASSENGER SHOULD THERE BE A SUDDEN STOP. 2. BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE SHORTED AND MELTED AT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159228 · 2006-06-07 (June 7, 2006)
I PURCHASED MY 2006 SAAB 9-3 AERO SPORT SEDAN ON MARCH 10, 2006. BY APRIL 1, 2006, I WAS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE, I.E. IT WOULD SPUTTER, MISFIRE, SKIP AND IDLE AT MORE THAN 1,770 RPM. EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE WOULD EVEN OUT AND I WOULD BE ABLE TO PULL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. ON THE MORNING OF MAY 1, 2006, THE CAR CONTINUED THIS STARTING BEHAVIOR, RESULTING IN THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMING ON. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE THE CAR TO MY SAAB DEALER. THEY KEPT IT FOR 21 DAYS AND STILL DID NOT FIX IT, EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER REPLACED EV…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159228 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10615712 · 2014-07-23 (July 23, 2014)
VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OVER. IT WAS DETERMINED BY DEALERSHIP THAT NEW FUEL PUMP WAS NEEDED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WOULD ALMOST STALL OUT WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 101,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10615712 at NHTSA ↗