2002 Saab 9-3: complaints, problems and recalls

WET BRAKING PERFORMANCE: WET BRAKING PERFORMANCE IN TERRIBLE IN MY 2002 SAAB 93. THERE IS LITERALLY NO BRAKING RESPONSE FOR THE FIRST 2-3 SECONDS AFTER APPLYING SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE TOTHE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY WATER BUILDING UP ON THE BRAKE DISCS THAT IS CAUSING THE DELAYED BRAKE RESPONSE. CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

Owner-reported narrative. 8,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000555 at NHTSA ↗

THE DRIVERS SEAT SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE. IT IS COCKED IN A MANNER THAT FORCES THE DRIVER TO SIT AT AN ANGLE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SEAT CUSHION IS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE SEAT BACK AND FORCES THE DRIVER TO SIT ALMOST ACROSS THE SEAT TO BE ABLE TO FACE STRAIGHT FORWARD. ALSO THE LUMBAR SUPPORT IS UNEVEN AND ONLY SUPORTS THE LEFT SIDE. THIS FURTHER ADDS TO THE "TWIST" THAT THE DRIVER HAS TO ENDURE IN ORDER TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE COMPANY TECH REP TOLD ME THE SOLUTION IS TO NOT USE THE LUMBAR FUNCTION. ALSO THE SEAT BOTTOM SEEMS TO COLL…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025886 at NHTSA ↗

THE BLOWER ON THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT WORKING. IN ADDITION I WENT IN TWICE TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE HEATING UNIT OR CLIMATE CONTROL. THE THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED IT, BUT IT STILL TURNS OFF AND SETS TO ZERO. NOW THE HEAT WILL COME ON WHEREAS IT DIDN'T BEFORE. I RECENTLY (LAST WEEK FEB. 16) DOWN SHIFTED IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AHEAD. I DOWN SHIFTED FOR FIVE TO FOUR TO THREE AND THE CAR TURNED OFF AND I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY LOOKED AT IT LATER THE FOLLOWING WEEK. I HAD TO CALL…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070014 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2002 SAAB 9-3 STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND COULD NOT BE STARTED AGAIN. THE DIRECT IGNITION MODULE HAD BURNT OUT SUDDENLY, AND SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING OUT OF THE CONNECTOR WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR. THE MODULE FAILED WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, AND I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN IN HEAVY, BUT SLOW TRAFFIC. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR IS RUNNING. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT, SO THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT IS SURPRISING AND DISCONCERTING. I HAVE LITTLE FAITH THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING.*A…

Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116082 at NHTSA ↗

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 45 MPH. CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. CONSUMER BUT MANAGED TO PULL VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118876 at NHTSA ↗

DT: THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING SLOWLY SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR FACILITY. THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE. *JB THE VEHICLE STALLED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE RADIO AND CD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING. THE CONSUMER HEARD TIRE NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TIRES WERE CUPPED AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE ALIGNMENT WAS OK ON THE FRONT BUT THE REAR COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED, THE PIRELLI TIRES WERE CHANGED TO YOKOHAMA BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 59,163 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121404 at NHTSA ↗

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 2002 SAAB 93SE HAD A FUEL LEAK. THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TAB WAS DEFECTIVE. IT BROKE AND CAUSED ONE FUEL LINE TO DISENGAGE ANDS SPILL FUEL ALL OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. WITH THE CAR IDLING A LARGE POOL OF GAS WOULD GATHER UNDER THE CAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED FOR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. THE CAR WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO START, AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. THE OWNER CONTACTED SAAB, AND THEY WERE CONTACTING THE DEALER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132615 at NHTSA ↗

2002 9-3 SAAB STALLED ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT SINCE HE DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED WAS RECALL RELATED. *JB UPDATED

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10155191 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-10-03 (October 3, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE ROD END RETAINING NUTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED AT THE FACTORY.

Consequence: THE NUT COULD LOOSEN AND FALL OFF RESULTING IN A SUDDEN REDUCTION OR LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy: ALL VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND CORRECTED PRIOR TO CUSTOMER DELIVERY. NO OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE REQUIRED.

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.

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.

Reported: 2007-03-07 (March 7, 2007)

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 JUNE 13, 2007. THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGNS - SEE 04V557 AND 06V126. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.