1999 Saab 9-3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
55 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
79,570 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 55 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 7 | 12.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 9.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 5.5% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 3.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.8% |
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 | 10 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 10 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Windshield:Electrical Heating Element | 3 |
Air Bags: 10; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 10; Air Bags:Frontal: 5; Electrical System: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Seat Belts: 3; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Windshield:Electrical Heating Element: 3
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 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 15 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 5; 2001: 3; 2002: 1; 2003: 6; 2004: 5; 2005: 8; 2006: 11; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10006384 · 2001-01-21 (January 21, 2001)
WHEN TURNING THE DIAL WHICH CONTROLS THE DIRECTION OF VENTILATION OUTPUT (WINDSHIELD/DASH VENTS/FLOOR VENTS), THE ASSEMBLY INSIDE THE DASHBOARD BREAKS, NOT ALLOWING YOU TO CONTROL VENTILATION OUTPUT. THIS KEEPS THE DRIVER FROM BEING ABLE TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS OF FOG. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IT HAS BROKEN, AND THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***739722
Owner-reported narrative. 14,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008127 · 2003-02-26 (February 26, 2003)
99 SAAB 93 - AT 60K MILES..NEEDED TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD...TURN THE VENTILATOR CONTROL AND IT SNAPPED OFF...SAAB TELLING ME THEY ISSUED DEALERS A BULLETIN ON THIS..REPAIR COST ESTIMATED BETWEEN $600 AND UP TO $2000.00 US DOLLARS...WILL ONLY WARRANTY THE REPAIR FOR 1 YEAR INFERRING THAT AT 120K MILES THIS MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN...PERSONALLY FEEL THE ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVELY ENGINEERED . VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT THE COST TO REPAIR CAN APPROACH 1/5 THE CAR'S BLUE BOOK VALUE...VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL OCCUR AGAIN AFTER BEING REPAIRED AND PUT M…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008127 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016750 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)
CRADLE BOLT HEAD (SAAB PART NUMBER 43-45-674) WAS FOUND UNDER LEFT SIDE OF CAR. IT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN FRACTURED. CAUSE UNKNOWN, BUT DEALER STATED IT WAS DUE TO POT HOLE. IT COULD HAVE ALSO BEEN OVER TOQURED AT INSTALLATION/SERVICE, OR DEFETIVE BOLT.
Owner-reported narrative. 48,143 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016750 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018437 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IF TRAFFIC COMES TO A SUDDEN STOP, BRAKING IS HORRIBLE. THE CAR DOES NOT GRIP THE ROAD IT SLIDES. WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, CAR HESITATES FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS THEN JERKS INTO ACTION. THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. THE CAR IS LITERALLY FALLING APART PIECE BY PIECE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018437 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030295 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
THE CONTROL KNOB FOR THE DEFROSTER/AIR DIRECTION HAS BROKEN 7 TIMES. THE SAAB DEALER, SAAB NASHUA NORTH SAID IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THAT YEAR AND MODEL. SAAB HAS REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR NOW THAT THE WARRENTY HAS RUN OUT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040562 · 2003-09-25 (September 25, 2003)
THE CONSUMER HAD JUST FILLED THE GAS TANK WITH FUEL AND WAS DRIVING AWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED FOR NO REASON. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING PROBLEM. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 8,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043249 · 2003-10-20 (October 20, 2003)
I WANTED TO ALERT YOU TO A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE '99 SAAB 9-3. THEY HAVE A CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE THE VENTILATION SYSTEM CONTROLS TO BECOME SO STIFF THAT IT CAUSES THE KNOB TO SNAP OFF RENDERING THE SYSTEM USELESS. SAAB IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND REQUIRES THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS THAT IN THEIR TERMS "MAY" SOLVE THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME. THESE INCLUDE REPLACING THE KNOB ($10.00), THE SHAFT ($200.00), AND THE VENTILATION CONTROL BOX ($600.00). IT APPEARS THAT SAAB CONSIDERS THE EN…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060024 · 2004-02-29 (February 29, 2004)
THE AIR BAG ALARM IS "ON" IN THE CAR, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IT WILL BE IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR OF THIS DEFECT WITHIN THE LAST 15 MONTHS! APPARENTLY, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT?? *JB SINCE THERE IS NO WAY TO DETERMINE IF THE AIRBAGS WILL WORK WHILE THE LIGHT IS "ON", AND SINCE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH A SAFETY FEATURE, IT COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. AFTER ALL, THE CAR IS STILL DRIVABLE WHILE THE LIGHT IS ON. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060024 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
98V139000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 1998-06-23 (June 23, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG ALERT LABEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR WAS OMITTED. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Consequence: THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT MAY NOT PROPERLY UNDERSTAND THE OPERATION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND THE NEED TO USE SEAT BELTS.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ALERT LABEL TO BE INSTALLED ON THE VISIBLE SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SUN VISOR. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V246000 · Seats
Reported: 1999-09-13 (September 13, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSSENGER VEHICLES. FAILURES OF THE "EASY ENTRY" CABLE IN THE FRONT DRIVER OR PASSENGER MANUAL SEATS CAN CAUSE THE SEAT FORE/AFT ADJUSTABLE MECHANISM TO BE UNLOCKED.
Consequence: SINCE THE ANCHOR POINTS FOR THE LAP PORTION OF THE FRONT SAFETY BELTS ARE ATTACHED TO THE SEAT ASSEMBLY, RELEASE OF THE FORE/AFT LOCKING MECHANISM REDUCES THE RESTRAINT CAPABILITY OF THE SAFETY BELTS IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW CABLE AND SPRING ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V362000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 1999-12-29 (December 29, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE RESERVOIR LABEL WAS OMITTED. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS."
Consequence: WITHOUT THIS LABEL, SOMEONE MAY USE THE INCORRECT SPECIFICATION BRAKE FLUID, GET DIRT INTO THE RESERVOIR, OR ALLOW MOISTURE INTO THE BRAKE FLUID, RESULTING IN LESS EFFECTIVE BRAKING AND POSSIBLY A CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE MAILED LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗