2002 Saab 9-3 CONVERTIBLE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
29,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 9 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 11.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 11.1% |
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:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 2; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 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 10068218 · 2004-05-03 (May 3, 2004)
2002 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE, ABOUT 13,000 MILES CAUGHT ON FIRE. DROVE TO OFFICE, TURNED OFF ENGINE, & PARKED CAR. GOT OUT OF CAR & NOTED UNUSUAL SMELL DESPITE THAT GUAGES INDICATED "CHECKING OK"AY. *AK WENT INTO MY OFFICE & CALLED ZEE SAAB OF MILFORD WHERE NEW CAR WAS ORIGINALLY LEASED FROM & WHERE ALL SERVICES HAD BEEN PERFORMED. NO PROBLEMS HAD EVER BEEN NOTED WITH THE CAR. TOLD TO CALL SAAB ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, WHICH I DID. WENT BACK OUTSIDE TO WHERE CAR WAS PARKED TO WAIT FOR ROADSIDE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD AREA…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068218 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078840 · 2004-06-26 (June 26, 2004)
A CRACK FORMED ON THE INSIDE LAYER OF THE GLASS RIGHT WHERE THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONVERTIBLE TOP LATCH IN THE FRAME IS LOCATED. THE DEALER DECLARED THAT THIS OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF AN IMPACT AS OPPOSED TO STRESS FROM THE FRAME AND REFUSED TO CORRECT IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF AN EXTERIOR IMPACT AND THE CRACK ORIGINATED ON THE INTERIOR SIDE OF THE GLASS. THERE IS CLEARLY A DEFECT EITHER IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WINDSHIELD OR IN THE MANNER IN WHICH THE TOP LATCHES TO THE FRAME, WHICH CAUSED THE GLASS TO CRACK *JB.
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078840 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088961 · 2004-09-01 (September 1, 2004)
ON APRIL 8, 2004 MY WIFES 2002 SAAB CONVERTIBLE WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE THAT FAILED TO YIELD AT A STOP SIGN. THE CAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND WAS TOWED TO NIMNICHT SAAB, THE ONLY AUTHORIZED SAAB DEALER IN JACKSONVILLE, FL. ALTHOUGH THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN MORE THAN $8,000 TO OUR VEHICLE AND THE IMPACT ZONE WAS A T-BONE TYPE IMPACT TO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. AS OF THIS WRITING, OUR CAR REMAINS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED. THIS REPAIR DELAY SITUATION HAS BEEN CREATED, IN LARGE PART, B…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120254 · 2005-05-09 (May 9, 2005)
DT: 5/4/05, CAR WAS AT DEALER5 FOR REGULARLY MAINTENANCE. DEALER REPORTED REAR BRAKES WERE RUSTED TO THE POINT OF NOT BEING ABLE TO OPERATE. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT SAAB HAD A HISTORY OF BRAKES DETERIORATING AT LOW MILES. CALLER COMPLAINED ABOUT SAAB, DEALER COULD NOT OFFER ANY HELP. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE, WHICH WAS IS REGULARLY SERVICED, AND RECORDS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166447 · 2006-08-24 (August 24, 2006)
2002 SAAB 9-3 WITH 54K MILES CAUGHT FIRE WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2006. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10166447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172272 · 2006-10-31 (October 31, 2006)
ON AUGUST 13, 2006, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR SAFELY, BUT THE CAR WAS DESTROYED. INVESTIGATIONS BY INTERNATIONAL MOTORS (FALLS CHURCH, VA) AFTER THE EVENT SHOWED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD DISINTEGRATED AND TRANSMISSION FLUID HAS SPRAYED THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING THE FIRE.
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10325364 · 2010-04-13 (April 13, 2010)
USE OF HIGH BEAMS CAUSES QUICK FAILURE OF HEADLAMPS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10325364 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10406287 · 2011-06-06 (June 6, 2011)
SLOWLY APPROACHING STOPLIGHT, AND DRIVERS SIDE, SIDE AIRBAG GOES OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DRIVER WAS STRUCK IN SIDE OF HEAD, AND UPPER BODY, SOME HEARING LOSS SUFFERED ALSO.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10406287 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 ↗