U.S. public vehicle records

2007 Saab 9-3 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

155 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

64,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 81 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 155 complaints (41.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	19	12.3%
Electrical and battery issues	10	6.5%
Engine operation	8	5.2%
Steering behavior	8	5.2%
Fuel system concerns	3	1.9%
Transmission and shifting	2	1.3%

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.

Air Bags

Suspension

Engine

Electrical System

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Seat Belts

Seats

Engine And Engine Cooling

Air Bags: 64; Suspension: 19; Engine: 18; Electrical System: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7; Seat Belts: 6; Seats: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 23; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 1

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 74 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.

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2007: 3; 2008: 5; 2009: 10; 2010: 7; 2011: 7; 2012: 7; 2013: 5; 2014: 18; 2015: 12; 2016: 49; 2017: 26; 2018: 3; 2019: 3

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 8 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 10198567 · 2007-08-05 (August 5, 2007)

THE BRAKES ON MY 2007 SAAB 9-3 AERO SPORT COMBI FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IN THE FIRST INCIDENT I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE ONLY TO HAVE NO BRAKE PRESSURE AT ALL. WITH THE PEDAL PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR THE CAR FAILED TO STOP AND I WAS FORCED TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THE ISSUE WAS A FAULTY BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE AND REPAIRED THAT PART. I DROVE THE CAR HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND AT THE FIRST STOP LIGHT AFTER LEAV…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198567 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10201180 · 2007-08-29 (August 29, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB AERO. THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE ON A HILL. THE CONTACT WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL. NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASH BOARD. THIS WAS THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,395 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10395.

Owner-reported narrative. 10,395 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201180 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10231264 · 2008-06-17 (June 17, 2008)

2007 SAAB 9-3 WENT ON FIRE WITH DRIVER IN IT. CAR WAS SERVICED AT MASSEY SAAB, ORLANDO, FLON JUNE 3RD, 2008 (40,000 MILE SERVICE, ELECTRICAL REPAIRS, DETAIL, WHEEL ALIGNMENT). VEHICLE WAS IN MCDONALD'S DRIVE-THROUGH IN ORLANDO FL ON JUNCTION OF 535 N AND HOTEL PLAZA BLVD. ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. MANGER OF MCDONALD'S (FREDERICO) AND I (DRIVER) PUSHED CAR AWAY FROM BUILDING AND OTHER PEOPLE. FLAMES ENTERED CABIN WHILE I WAS IN THE VEHICLE STEERING IT. I JUMPED OUT JUST IN TIME, AND THE WHOLE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. THERE HAVE BEEN RECORDS O…

Owner-reported narrative. 38,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231264 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10277396 · 2009-07-20 (July 20, 2009)

2007 SAAB 9-3, WOULDN'T START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE ERROR MESSAGE RECEIVED WHEN INSERTING THE KEY WAS "LOCK MALFUNCTION. PULL OVER SAFELY". THIS MESSAGE AND THE INCIDENT IS IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED WITH MY 2005 SAAB 9-3, WHICH HAD TO BE TOWED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T START. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. I KNOW AT LEAST THREE OTHER SAAB OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, ONE WHO JUST PURCHASED HIS 2009 SAAB THIS YEAR. I ACTUALLY FILED A CLAIM WITH S…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10277396 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10213837 · 2008-01-06 (January 6, 2008)

2007, 2.0T SAAB 93 ENGINE STALLING START ENGINE, HOT OR COLD, PLACE GEAR SELECTOR IN FORWARD OR REVERSE, THE ENGINE WILL STALL OUT, BUT WILL IMMEDIATELY RE-START. CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER TWICE FOR RE-PROGRAMMING OF ECM, BUT ENGINE STILL STALLS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10213837 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10339477 · 2010-06-22 (June 22, 2010)

2007 SAAB 9-3 AERO EQUIPPED WITH 2.8L V6 TURBO ENGINE (CONVERTIBLE) - ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE - (ODOMETER - 23,200 MILES) UPON STARTING, ENGINE RAN A LITTLE ROUGH, PROCEEDED TO SAAB DEALER FOR SERVICE - NO SERVICE LIGHTS ON DASH - EVENTUALLY LOST POWER BRAKES - ENGINE STALLED AND BURST INTO FLAMES - ALL HAPPENED WITHIN A ONE-MILE DISTANCE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 23,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10339477 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10255978 · 2009-01-22 (January 22, 2009)

AIR BAG FAILURE 2007 SAAB AERO CONVERTIBLE I WAS IN A 4 CAR PILE UP IN WHICH I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. AIR BAG SENSORS WERE HIT BUT AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. I WAS SEATBELTED BUT DID HIT THE STEERING WHEEL FACE FIRST AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE FROM THE SCENE. I DID SUFFER A CONCUSSION AND FACIAL BRUISING AND A FULL SET OF CUTS IN MY MOUTH. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 61,125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255978 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10520898 · 2013-06-20 (June 20, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10520898 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10561087 · 2014-01-22 (January 22, 2014)

BEGAN HAVING ISSUES STARTING, AND MISFIRES, AND FINALLY ENGINE LOST COMPRESSION BUT STILL ABLE TO START WHEN WEATHER WAS WARM. NOV -DEC 2011 NO START OR HARD START IN WEATHER BELOW 35F,LOCAL SERVICE SHOP SAID NEEDED NEW ENGINE, NO COMPRESSION WHEN SAT FOR LONG PERIODS OR EXTERIOR TEMP BELOW 35F APPROX 94,000 MILE. DEC 2011- CALLED SAAB BUT BANKRUPT SO NO CUSTOMER SERVICE, REACHED OUT TO GM CORPORATE REGARDING WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD NOT HONORING THEM SINCE BANKRUPTCY. JAN 2012 -2ND OPINION BY INDY SAAB FOCUSED SERVICE CENTER. THOUGHT WRONG OIL W…

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10561087 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10305410 · 2010-02-04 (February 4, 2010)

SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKING POWER IMMEDIATELY AFTER I START THE CAR. AT LOW SPEED, I HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION TO STOP THE CAR. BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305410 at NHTSA ↗