2011 Saab 9-3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
30 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 30 complaints (83.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 3.3% |
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 | 25 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Air Bags: 25; Seat Belts: 3; Engine: 1; Power Train: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Suspension: 1; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 23 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2012: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 15; 2017: 8; 2018: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags 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 10474034 · 2012-09-06 (September 6, 2012)
THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE HYDRAULIC PUMP WENT BAD AND THERE ARE NONE AVAILABLE TO FIX CAR. THE HALDEX ALL WHEEL DRIVE IS BEING USED ON VARIOUS OTHER MAKES AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM. WHEN I CHECKED ON LINE THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF PEOPLE REPORTING THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE HYDRAULIC PUMP ON THEIR ALL WHEEL DRIVE CARS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 25,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10474034 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10783711 · 2015-10-20 (October 20, 2015)
LARGE SECTIONS OF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE FLAKING APART. THE ROTOR SURFACE IS REDUCED TO ABOUT HALF OF NORMAL AND NO LONGER PROVIDES SAFE STOPPING ABILITY. STOPPING DISTANCE IS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED AND SAFETY IS SEVERELY COMPROMISED. VEHICLE MILEAGE AT TIME PF PROBLEM DISCOVERY 14,000 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10783711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10854974 · 2016-04-12 (April 12, 2016)
TAKATA RECALL GM/SAAB HAS NO PARTS TO DELIVER TO THE LOCAL SAAB DEALER TO REPLACE THE NECESSARY PARTS TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE TO DRIVE. GM CLAIMS THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT A HIGH RISK IN NEW YORK.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10854974 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10870823 · 2016-05-25 (May 25, 2016)
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10870823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10873277 · 2016-06-08 (June 8, 2016)
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10873277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10881815 · 2016-06-30 (June 30, 2016)
I HAVE CONTACTED WRIGHT AUTOMOTIVE (WEXFORD PA) MULTIPLE TIMES REGARDING THE RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS. THERE RESPONSE TO ME IS "SORRY WE DON'T HAVE THE PART YET. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO. THIS IS MY PRIMARY VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10881815 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10893128 · 2016-08-04 (August 4, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10893128 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10893133 · 2016-08-04 (August 4, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10893133 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.
11V015000 · Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2011-01-19 (January 19, 2011)
SAAB IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 AND 2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2010 THROUGH DECEMBER 2010. CERTAIN FUEL PUMPS INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MAY HAVE INTERNAL COMPONENTS WITH INCORRECT SPECIFICATIONS.
Consequence: THE SUBJECT FUEL PUMPS CAN SEIZE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: SAAB WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 3, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
NHTSA campaign record ↗14V318000 · Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V063000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2016-02-03 (February 3, 2016)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2017. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 28810.
NHTSA campaign record ↗