Saab 9-3 steering problems
72 complaint narratives mention steering terms.
Key facts
1,337 owner complaints analyzed
17 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 2011 model years. Data snapshot: . 897 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Steering behavior evidence
72 of 1,337 complaints match this topic (5.4%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10131562 · 2005-08-04 (August 4, 2005)
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN I-70, THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED ON MY 1999 SAAB 9-3. THE ENGINE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY WHICH AFFECTED THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ONTO A SIDE STREET. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO THE SAAB PARTS DEALER, BOUGHT ANOTHER FOR AROUND $375, AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. MY CAR ONLY HAD 60,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. ONCE THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE WAS REPLACED, THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136658 · 2005-09-15 (September 15, 2005)
DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE (AKA DIRECT IGNITION MODULE, IDM, DI, DIC) HAS DIED ON MY 1999 9-3 2 TIMES. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW, IT NOW HAS 66,000 MILES. WHEN THE DI CASSETTE DIES THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SHUTS DOWN WHICH CAN RESULT IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF ONE IS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. MY DI CASSETTE FIRST DIED AT 50,000 MILES. THE CAR SIMPLY WOULD NOT START, NO PRIOR WARNINGS. A BRAND NEW DI CASSETTE FROM SAAB WAS PUT IN. THE 2ND DI CASSETTE DIED AT 63,000 MILES, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING AGAIN. THE CAR SHUT D…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10136658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 896878 · 2001-09-26 (September 26, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT, AND CUSTOMER LOST CONTROL. BUT, WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF ROAD. CONTACT DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 896878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051570 · 2004-01-03 (January 3, 2004)
WITHOUT ANY WARNING, CAR LOST ENGINE POWER, INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HAPPENED IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC CIRCLE, CAUSING NEAR MISSES FROM BUSES AND TRUCKS. SAAB ROADSIDE SERVICE TOOK NEARLY 5 HOURS TO SEND A TOW TRUCK. CAR PUSHED TO SIDEWALK BY PASSING POLICEMAN. JSW. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 22,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118050 · 2005-04-18 (April 18, 2005)
DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. CAR LOST POWER, INCLUDING ELECTRICITY AND POWER STEERING. WAS ABLE TO RESTART CAR, BUT SHUT DOWN AGAIN ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118050 at NHTSA ↗