2001 Saab 9-3 CONVERTIBLE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
70,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Module is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 24 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 25.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 8.3% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 4.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Wheels:Rim | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 4; Electrical System: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Wheels:Rim: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 10 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 5; 2005: 1; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Module leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10043261 · 2003-10-20 (October 20, 2003)
AT 75 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, MY CAR SIMPLY SHUT DOWN, ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD TO COAST ACROSS THREE LANES OF BUSY TRAFFIC TO GET TO SHOULDER. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART, BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL AND SMOKE CAME FROM ENGINE. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE FAILED THE CASSETTE WAS DIAGNOSED. IS STILL IN SHOP 4 DAYS LATER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON FOR 8 MONTHS, HAVE BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY BY SAAB THAT IT'S BECAUSE I AM NOT TIGHTENING THE GAS CAP ENOUGH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, AS USUAL, BUT I IGNORED IT, AS IT'S ON HALF THE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043261 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051886 · 2003-12-18 (December 18, 2003)
REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR PROBLEMS RECURRING WITH PIRELLI TIRES AND FACTORY RIMS.*MR SAAB REFUSED TO PROVIDE A WARRANTY EXPLANATION ON THE CONSUMERS TIRES AND RIMS THAT WERE REPLACED AND REFUSED TO OFFER ANY TYPES OF EXPLANATION ON THE INTEGRITY AND SAFETY OF THESE SPECIFIC TIRES AND RIMS. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED ONE PAYMENT BUT WANTS TO REMIND SAAB ABOUT THE REMAINDER OF PAYMENTS WHICH HE WAS ENTITLED TO. *CB THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TIRES BALLOONED OUT 12 INCHES ON THE INSIDE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE RIMS AND …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052912 · 2004-01-12 (January 12, 2004)
MY SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE BEGAN POURING FUEL AT AN ALARMING RATE (MORE THAN 1/2 A TANK POURED OUT FROM THE BOTTOM-REAR). NO ACCIDENT, BUMP, OR ROAD DEBRIS WAS INVOLVED. WHEN THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF, THE FUEL SPILL STOPPED. THIS IS CLEARLY A FIRE-HAZARD. AT THE RATE IT WAS FLOWING OUT, A LIT CIGARETTE IN THE ROAD, A SPARK FROM ROAD DEBRIS, OR OTHER FLAME SOURCE WOULD HAVE LIT THE CAR UP LIKE AN EXPLOSIVE TORCH. I WAS ALSO INFORMED BY SAAB ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD NEED TO CERTIFY THE CAR WAS OK TO TOW - AND WAS ALSO T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052912 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055759 · 2004-01-23 (January 23, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE MANUAL GEAR SHIFT BECAME STUCK. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 20,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055759 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067146 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL AT AN ALARMING RATE. *PH THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP LINE. FUEL PRESSURE WAS FOUND AND THE HOSE AT THE PUMP BLOWN (CLIP BROKEN). THE FUEL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097868 · 2004-11-22 (November 22, 2004)
THE VEHICLE HAS A FUEL LEAK. THE FITTING THAT GOES ON THE FUEL PUMP IS CRACKED. WHEN THE VEHICLE LEAKED IT WOULD RUN ALONG THE GAS LINE WHICH WAS NEAR THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST COULD CAUSE A FIRE IF CONTACT WAS MADE. *AK *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 35,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10098857 · 2004-11-15 (November 15, 2004)
NOT A FAILURE, BUT MISLEADING INFORMATION TO CONSUMERS WHICH MIGHT LEAD TO PROBLEMS. I WAS SOLD DUNLOP SP SPORT FM901 TIRES FOR MY SAAB 9-3 (I AM FAIRLY SAFETY CONSCIOUS) AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE SNOW LEGAL BY JUST TIRES, A GOODYEAR OWNED DEALER. RECENTLY, I CHECKED INFLATION AND LOOKED FOR THE M&S RATING ON THE SIDEWALL--NOT THERE. I LOOKED ON THE DUNLOP WEB SITE...IT SHOWED THAT THE TIRES RATED A "5" FOR SNOW ON THEIR 1-10 PERFORMANCE SCALE (INDICATING TO A REASONABLY INTELLIGENT PERSON THAT THEY WOULD BE AVERAGE, I.E., WHAT ONE WOULD …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10098857 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129769 · 2005-07-22 (July 22, 2005)
DIC FAILURE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILUER DI CASSETTE FAILURE. THOSE ARE THE TERMS I'VE HEARD FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS ALL SAABS IN THE MODEL YEARS 99-04. I HAVE A 2001 9-3 CONVERTIBLE AND IT LOST POWER ALL OF A SUDDEN BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE PART THAT IS IN EVERY SINGLE SAAB FOR MANY YEARS. LOSING POWER AT HIGH SPED IS NOT ONLY INCONVENIENT, BUT DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING. SAAB NEEDS TO BE FORCED TO RECALL ALL SAABS AND REPLACE THE DI CASSETTE WITH ONE THAT WORKS. PLEASE ORDER THIS IMMEDIATELY. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129769 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V557000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 2004-11-19 (November 19, 2004)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINES WERE DAMAGED DURING PRODUCTION.
Consequence: OVER TIME, THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL LINES TO LOOSEN FROM THE PUMP RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL MAY IGNITE RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL DEVELOP A SECURING BRACKET THAT WILL SECURE THE FUEL LINES TO THE FUEL PUMP EVEN IF THE PLASTIC RETAINING TABS SHOULD BREAK. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 14, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
NHTSA campaign record ↗