2004 Saab 9-3: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND LEAVING A SHOPPING MALL CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES, AND SECONDS LATER THE TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE STALLED, AND COULD NOT BE STARTED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, WHO REPLACED THE T6ECM OR MAIN COMPUTER.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 766 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051943 at NHTSA ↗

THE HEATING SYSTEM, UPON EACH INITIAL START UP, BLEW A FOUL-SMELLING GAS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. (NAR) *PH *CB

Owner-reported narrative. 4,661 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066960 at NHTSA ↗

PULLED INTO A STANDARD, PAVED, PARKING SPACE TURNED ELECTRONIC IGNITION KEY TO OFF POSITION AND REMOVED KEY. CAR DID NOT TURN OFF, ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTINUED TO FUNCTION AS THOUGH KEY WAS IN IGNITION.*AK ONBOARD COMPUTER DISPLAYED "STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE: CONTACT SERVICE." TURNED STEERING WHEEL, CHECKED FOR OBSTRUCTIONS, AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN CAR OFF BY REINSERTING KEY INTO IGNITION. WHEN KEY INSERTED INTO IGNITION, ONBOARD COMPUTER TOGGLED TO "KEY NOT RECOGNIZED: CONTACT SERVICE" AND THEN BACK TO PREVIOUS MESSAGE. WAS ONL…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078583 at NHTSA ↗

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL." I HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH MY CAR. THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY YET THE PASSENGER SIDE DID. IT WAS A TOTAL FRONT COLLISION IN WHICH I HIT A FORD ECONOLINE VAN IN THE REAR END AND WAS DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF APPROX 50 KPH. NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I WAS DRIVING AND BELTED YET MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. ALL THE MECHANICS THAT SAW THE CAR AND HEARD OF THE ACCIDENT COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT TO OFF. THERE WAS OVER $17…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10099093 at NHTSA ↗

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2004 SAAB 9-3SS AND IT HAS COME TO MY IMMEDIATE ATTENTION THAT THERE MAY BE A FAULT WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK ENGAGEMENT ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ACCIDENT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF MY SEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL. BEFORE THE PHYSICAL LOCK-UP OF THE STEERING WHEEL I DEPRESS MY CLUTCH GETTING READY TO ENGAGE A GEAR COMING OUT OF NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE MAGICALLY DIES (THE RPM?S DROP FROM IDLE SPEED TO ZERO, THEY KEY IS IN THE ?ON? P…

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105635 at NHTSA ↗

AIR BAG CAN DISCHARGED WITHOUT BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THE AIR BAGS TO BE DISCONNECTED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DUE TO PREVIOUS INJURIES. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10107060 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE MAY STALL WHEN COLD AND CAR IS TRAVELING 30-45MPH. NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE ON 2 OCCASIONS DUE TO LOSS OF STEERING AND RAN ONTO SHOULDER/LAWN OF HOMEOWNER. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN 4 TIMES FOR REPAIRS OR MODIFICATIONS IN ATTEMPTS TO FIX THIS BUT SAAB WILL NOT EVEN ADMIT THERE IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS FIXING. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108508 at NHTSA ↗

OWNER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE "B" REAR ENDED OWNER'S VEHICLE WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT 70 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. OWNER SUSTAINED INJURIES, WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND RELEASED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 15,123 miles reported. Look up ODI 10115268 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." THE BACKREST LOCKING MECHANISM ON SOME FRONT SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO FOLD FORWARD IN A FRONTAL CRASH, RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND/OR FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SEATS TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED COMPONENT. IF EITHER OR BOTH OF THE SEATS HAVE THIS COMPONENT, THEY WILL BE REPLACED. THE DEALER MAY NEED TO ORDER A COMPLETE NEW SEAT OR SEATS (INCLUDING MATCHING UPHOLSTERY) AND THE PARTS MAY TAKE UP TO TWO TO FOUR WEEKS TO ARRIVE. SAAB WILL PROVIDE A RENTAL CAR FOR THE OWNER UNTIL THE NEW SEAT(S) IS (ARE) AVAILABLE AND INSTALLED BY THE DEALER. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.

Reported: 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)

SOME SPORT SEDANS WERE BUILT WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT WERE DAMAGED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. IF DAMAGED, OVER TIME, THE AUTOMATIC TENSIONING SYSTEM (ATS) CABLE IN THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR COULD BREAK CAUSING THE BELT WEBBING TO NOT RETRACT.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT MAY RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.

Reported: 2005-05-19 (May 19, 2005)

CERTAIN SPORT SEDAN AND CONVERTIBLE PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH A VACUUM PIPE CHECK VALVE FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER THAT MAY FAIL FROM EXPOSURE TO ELEVATED TEMPERATURES. THIS COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST, USUALLY WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING.

Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION WERE TO OCCUR WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REDESIGNED CHECK VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 17, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.

Reported: 2010-02-18 (February 18, 2010)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 SAAB 9-3 SEDANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT, OVER TIME, COULD FAIL TO RETRACT.

Consequence: USING A SEAT BELT THAT HAS NOT RETRACTED, AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE RETRACTOR FREE OF CHARGE. IF THE FRONT PASSENGER RETRACTOR WERE TO FAIL TO RETRACT, GM WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER RETRACTOR FREE OF CHARGE UNDER A SPECIAL COVERAGE THAT WILL BE RELEASED FOR THE SAME POPULATION FOR 10 YEARS FROM NEW VEHICLE DATE OF SALE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT SAABPARTS.COM/US. Note: In June 2014, GM expanded the special coverage from 10 years to be for the lifetime of the vehicle.

Reported: 2014-06-12 (June 12, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2011 Saab 9-3 Convertible vehicles manufactured July 30, 2003, to February 15, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the driver's side front seat belt retractor may break, causing the seat belt webbing not to retract.

Consequence: In the event of a crash, a seat belt that has not retracted may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt retractor, free of charge. The recall began on October 6, 2015. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007. GM's number for this recall is 14222. Note: Special Coverage 10086 will replace the passenger side seat belt retractor if it fails, free of charge, for the life of the vehicle.