2000 Saab 9-3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
50 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
93,559 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Module is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 50 complaints (24.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 9 | 18.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 8.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 2.0% |
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 | 12 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 2 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 12; Air Bags: 10; Electrical System: 9; Electrical System:Ignition: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8; Seat Belts: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 7; 2005: 6; 2006: 8; 2007: 2; 2008: 6; 2009: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Module leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10033880 · 2003-08-14 (August 14, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING HEADLIGHTS DIM, INHIBITING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. CAUSE OF PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047492 · 2003-11-24 (November 24, 2003)
FAILED DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE LEAVES MOTORIST STRANDED. THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS THAT THE ENGINE WILL STOP WITH NO WARNING - EVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS OF TRAVEL. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053174 · 2004-01-14 (January 14, 2004)
I AM THE CURRENT OWNER OF A SAAB 9-3SE. THIS VEHICLE WAS LEASED NEW 2-28-2000 AND THEN PURCHASED 2-27-03. THE ORIGINAL ENGINE WAS REBUILT AT 46,000 MILES IN 2001 AND NOW HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN 12-15-2003 AT 100,000 MILES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053174 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061172 · 2004-02-23 (February 23, 2004)
DRIVER BRIEFLY FORGOT THAT THE CAR HAD A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY ON AND THE VEHICLE WENT BACKWARDS THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON, BUT DIDN'T HOLD THE VEHICLE. *LA *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061172 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069245 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
TIRE RIM'S DENTED IN NORMAL USE & TIRES BLEW. TIRES & RIMS EACH $250 FOR TOTAL OF $2000 TURBO FAILED; INSTALLED NEW TURBO AT COST OF $1200.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069245 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086627 · 2004-08-11 (August 11, 2004)
DI CASSETTE FAILURE I WAS DRIVING IN THE I80 DURING RUSH HOUR (5:30 PM NEAR SAN FRANCISCO-RICHMOND) AT ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE ENGINE DIED ON ME. I HAD TO CUT ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH A DEAD ENGINE TO GET TO THE SIDE. I AM SURPRISED THAT I COULD EVEN DO THIS GIVEN THE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC. IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY NASTY SINCE I WAS JUST COMING AROUND A CORNER WHEN IT OCCURRED. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SAAB DEALER. APPARENTLY THE DI CASSETTE HAS FAILED AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED PLUS SPARK PLUGS ($725) AND POSSIBLY THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 35,143 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086627 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089579 · 2004-08-24 (August 24, 2004)
CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED THE VEHICLE, EXAMINED FUEL RAIL, AND NOTICED ONE OF THE CLIPS BROKE. AS RESULT, VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GAS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089579 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091066 · 2004-09-15 (September 15, 2004)
MY SON AND HIS GIRLFRIEND WERE IN A SERIOUS ROLL OVER CAR ACCIDENT IN HER 2000 SAAB HATCHBACK. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, NEITHER FRONT NOR SIDE, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT AND DAMAGE ON FRONT AND SIDES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091066 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
01V168000 · Air Bags
Reported: 2001-05-18 (May 18, 2001)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE AIR BAG ALERT LABELS MAY NOT BE PERMANENTLY AFFIXED AS REQUIRED BY THIS STANDARD.
Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE SUNVISOR SURFACE AND APPLY A NEW AIR BAG ALERT LABEL ON BOTH SUNVISORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 30, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
NHTSA campaign record ↗05V399000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Module
Reported: 2005-09-14 (September 14, 2005)
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH B205/B235 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND B308 6-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE OVERHEATING AND BURNOUT OF THE ISOLATED GATED BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR (IGBT) WITHIN THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE (IDM) DUE TO INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ELECTRICAL LOADS.
Consequence: OVERHEATING OF THE IGBT OCCURS MOST OFTEN AT ENGINE START-UP, BUT IT MAY ALSO OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. ENGINE STALLING MAY OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE WHAT VERSION IDM IS IN THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE IDM IF IT IS A VERSION BUILT PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTION OF QP3. AN INTERIM LETTER WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS IN OCTOBER 2005, INFORMING THEM OF THE CONDITION. PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AND OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN TO THE DEALERS TO HAVE THE IDM REPLACED BY LETTER DATED MARCH 13, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
NHTSA campaign record ↗