2003 Saab 9-3 complaints

ON 8/2/09, I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. CAR PULLED TO THE EXTREME RIGHT WITH A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING RUBBER. LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. IT WAS QUITE OBVIOUS THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS LOWER THAN THE BACK. THE SMELL OF RUBBER WAS FROM THE SPRING GOING INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THE FRONT PASSENGER SPRING BROKE & ATE INTO THE FRONT TIRE. IT ALSO PULLED OUT THE STRUTS & BROKE THE BRACKET/TOP AS WELL. I WAS VERY SATISFIED WITH SAAB UNTIL THIS. CAR IS 6 YEARS OLD, WELL MAINTAINED WITH ONLY 56,700 MILES. THIS INCIDENT HAS CERTAINLY MADE ME APPREHENSIVE ESPECIALLY WHEN I DID RESEARCH AN FOUND THERE HAS BEEN A RASH OF BROKEN FRONT PASSENGER SPRINGS REPORTED, YET NO RECALLS. PARTS REPLACED: STRUT ASSEMBLY, STRUT TOP, SPRING PAIR, BRACKET, STABILIZER BAR CONTROL LINK, PIRELLI TIRE. *TR

AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT HAD COME ON 4 DAYS PRIOR. I WAS PACKED THE KEY WAS OFF BUT STILL IN THE IGNITION. I WENT TO START THE CAR AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS WENT OFF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXPLOSION. SHE REALIZED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN IMPACT OR CRASH OCCURRING. THE AIR BAG INJURED A TEENAGER SEATED IN THE VEHICLE. THE TEENAGER SUFFERED TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS AND A CHEST ABRASION DUE TO THE SEAT BELT. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO SEND AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BUT THIS HAS NOT YET TRANSPIRED. NEITHER THE CONTACT NOR THE MANUFACTURER COULD DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 91,000.

MY 2003 SAAB 93 VECTOR HAD THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING BROKE, IM STILL DRIVING ON IT WITH THE PARTS ON ORDER. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER PEOPLES SAABS. AND SOUNDS LIKE THEIR WILL BE NO HELP FROM THE DEALER. I AM ASSUMING ITS GOING TO TAKE A FATALITY OR 2 BEFORE SAAB WAKES UP AND MAKES SOME BETTER SPRINGS OR JUST RECALL THE '!@#$% THINGS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION FRONT COIL SPRINGS HAVE BEEN FAILING SINCE SPRING OF 2008. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WANTED TO GO ON RECORD AND REFERENCED INVESTIGATION NUMBER EA08026. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,210.

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING FAILURE ON 2003 SAAB 9-3 SS LINEAR. I HAVE READ THAT THERE IS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE, AND THAT THE NHTSA HAS REVIEWED WARRANTY CLAIMS. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO IT WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THIS DATA. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXAMINING HIS VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING SPLIT IN HALF. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, HE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING HAD BECOME SLIGHTLY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,200. UPDATED 08/04/09 *BF THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AS A GOODWILL GESTURE. UPDATED 08/06/09.*JB

MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR WITH 79,500 MILES. DRIVING ON AVERAGE ROAD WHEN HEARING A POP. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION (AS RATTLING CONTINUED FOR SOME TIME AFTERWARDS) THE FRONT, DRIVER-SIDE COIL SPRING HAS BROKEN. WHILE THE PIECE HAS NOT (YET) POPPED OUT INTO MY TIRE, ANY FURTHER DRIVING RISKS DOING SO AND BURSTING A TIRE AS WELL. AM WAITING FOR SAAB DEALERSHIP TO ORDER THIS PART. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, AS INDICATED BY MANY ONLINE FORUMS AND YOUR WEBSITE. HTTP://WWW.SAABCENTRAL.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=155844&HIGHLIGHT=BROKE+SPRING&PAGE=1 HTTP://WWW.SAABSUNITED.COM/2009/05/ARE-SAAB-HAVING-ISSUES-WITH-SPRINGS.HTML. *TR

2003 SAAB SE SHOWING A 0340 CODE WONDERING IF IT IS RELATED TO THE DI CASSETTE. *TR

COIL SPRING FAILED ON 2003 SAAB 9-3 PUNCTURING TIRE AND CAUSING CAR TO CROSS CENTER LINE OF ROADWAY. HAD THERE BEEN ANY ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THIS COIL SPRING INDUCED TIRE BLOWOUT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A HEAD-ON FRONTAL COLLISION ON A BUSY TWO-LANE STATE HIGHWAY. HAD THIS BEEN ON AN INTERSTATE OR OTHER ROADWAY WITH HIGHER SPEEDS, IT MAY HAVE BEEN FATAL. *TR

ON MAY 14 I WENT OUT TO MY CAR AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LEFT OF MY CAR WAS LEANING TOWARDS THE GROUND. AFTER MY HUSBAND TOOK OFF THE TIRE, THE SPRING TO MY CAR JUST FELL OFF. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS ADVISE THAT THIS IS AN GOING ISSUE WITH SAAB. WHEN I CONTACTED SAAB USA THEY STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME PAY TO HAVE A NEW SPRING ON MY CAR. THE GENTLEMEN WHO TOWED MY CAR ALSO ADVISE ME THAT THIS WAS HIS 5TH SAAB HE TOWED THIS MONTH WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAVE - BROKEN SPRING. *TR

MY SAAB 9 3 HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE - "FRONT END CREAKS WHEN I TURN OR GOES OVER BUMPS" THIS STARTED ON MARCH 2, 2006 WITH 41,694 UP UNTIL OCTOBER 17 2008 WITH 98,508 (SEPT 2007, DEC 2007 JUNE 2008). OUT OF THE 5 TIMES 4 OF THOSE TIMES THEY HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT STABILIZERS. IN OCTOBER 17 THEY STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG HOWEVER, AFTER WE LEFT THE DEALERSHIP WE STILL HEARD THE FRONT END MAKING NOISE. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY WHO THEN TELLS ME THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING. MAY 2009 - MY SPRING BROKE OFF MY CAR. *TR

WHEN DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION WILL COME OUT OF GEAR AT ANY RPM'S. *TR

CAR DOESN'T WANT TO SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR. SECOND TIME THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THIS TIME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

A/C HAD AN ODOR OF MILDEW - HAD A DISINFECT HEATER BOX. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SPRING SNAPPED. WHILE DRIVING HOME, I NOTICED A LOUD METAL ON METAL TAPPING NOISE AFTER GOING OVER ANY BUMPS. I KNEW RIGHT AWAY SOMETHING WITH MY RIGHT FRONT WAS WRONG, ABOUT A MINUTE LATER I HEARD A LOUD BANG, FOLLOWED BY METAL BOUNCING ON PAVEMENT. I PULLED OVER AND FOUND A PIECE OF MY SPRING HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY OFF. RIGHT AFTER THIS HAPPENED IT WAS MUCH HARDER TO STEER AND THANK GOD THAT THIS HAPPENED IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I WAS ONLY DOING 20MPH. SUPPOSE THIS HAPPENED ON A FREEWAY DOING 65? SUPPOSEDLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AS I HAVE READ ABOUT IT ON FORUMS. *TR

2003 SAAB 9-3, SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT PROPERLY 1. SEAT BELT IS SLOW TO RETRACT, ALMOST TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE TO PUSH IT BACK INTO THE RETRACT SYSTEM. 2. IT FAILS EVERYTIME I ENTER MY CAR 3. NOTHING YET. SAAB USA IS UNWILLING TO HELP WITH THE ISSUE. *TR

NO ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING YET, BUT ACCORDING TO A FORUM I FOLLOW, {SAAB CENTRAL} THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING FRONT COIL SPRING FAILURE ON 2003 SAAB 9-3.THIS ON CARS WITH UNDER 100,000 MILES. DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT THIS COULD BE BAD NEWS IF THE BROKEN SPRING PUNCHED INTO THE TIRE AT SPEED. TO ME, HAVING TO REPLACE COIL SPRINGS AS A MAINTENANCE ITEM EVERY 70000 MILES IS UNACCEPTABLE. I WILL HAVE MY 03 SAAB UP ON JACK STANDS TO CHECK OUT THE SPRINGS AS BEST AS I CAN, BUT THIS IS THE TYPE OF FAILURE YOU CAN NOT REALLY SEE UNTIL IT IS TO LATE. I HAVE NO WAY OF CHECKING FOR METAL FATIGUE. HOPEFULLY, THIS IS A PROBLEM YOU CAN MOVE ON BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

LEFT FRONT SPRING SNAPPED WHILE IN NORMAL DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES. POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENT EXISTS. DEALER REPLACING BOTH FRONT SPRINGS STATING THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. *TR

FRONT COIL SPRING BRAKES AND THE BROKEN PIECE LAUNCHES OFF THE CAR INTO THE WHEEL WELL AREA WHICH MAY RESULT IN TIRE DAMAGE AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

WAS PARKED WHEN I TURNED THE KEY TO START THE CAR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND CURTAIN DEPLOYED. NO CRASH NO IMPACT NO NOTHING JUST WENT OFF SAAB DOES NOT WANT TO HELP! *TR

THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SPRING BROKE. HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING STILL. *TR

2003 SAAB 9-3 ARC. STARTED CAR AND SMELLED TIRE BURNING, DROVE AROUND BUILDING, CHECKED TIRES -- ALL 4 LOOKED FINE, CHECKED, DROVE ABOUT 1 MILE AND RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW. HAD AAA CHANGE TIRE, AND WAS SHOWN IT BLEW FROM THE INSIDE. TOOK VEHICLE TO COSTCO FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT. WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPRING COIL BROKE (WAS HANDED ABOUT A 6 INCH PIECE) AND THAT WAS WHAT BLEW THROUGH THE TIRE. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SAAB DEALERSHIP AND BOTH SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. THE LEFT FRONT IS VERY ERODED FROM RUST AND ALSO APPEARS READY TO BREAK. CONSEQUENCES - 2 NEW TIRES, 2 NEW FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND A TOW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT HEARD A STRANGE NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED. HE CHOSE NOT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE HE BELIEVES IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND AN OPEN INVESTIGATION FOR THE SAME FAILURE (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA08026 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS) DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED : DECEMBER 22, 2008). HE BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000.

FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION SPRINGS ON MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 BROKE. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY IF IT WAS ON THE FREEWAY. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN OF THIS. . SOMETHING LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON THIS TYPE OF CAR. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST DEALER THAT WANTS TO CHARGE $1100 FOR THE FIX BECAUSE I AM OUT OF WARRANTY BY. I AM ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING SAAB USA. *TR

ANOTHER FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FAILURE ON A SAAB 9-3. ON RETURNING FROM A 2 WEEK VACATION I STARTED THE CAR IN THE AIRPORT PARKING LOT AND HEARD A CLICKING / RUBBING NOISE FROM THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL. I STOPPED AND INSPECTED THE WHEEL AND NOTED RUST ON THE BRAKE ROTOR AND ASSUMED THAT THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE AND WOULD WEAR OFF WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DROVE ~1/4 MILE AND STOPPED AT A LIGHT BEFORE TURNING ON TO THE INTERSTATE WHEN I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE WHEEL. CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE FRONT LEFT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING HAD FAILED AND THE FRACTURED SPRING WAS RUBBING ON THE TIRE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SAAB DEALER WHERE THE FRONT SPRINGS WERE REPLACED AND THE DAMAGED TIRE REPLACED. I HAVE THE FAILED SPRING HARDWARE. DESPITE THE LARGE NUMBER OF SIMILAR FAILURES OF THE FRONT SPRING ON SAAB 9-3S, SAAB REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE AND CHARGED ME FOR THE REPAIR. I FEEL LUCKY THAT I STOPPED TO INVESTIGATE BEFORE TURNING ON TO INTERSTATE. IF I HAD NOT IT WOULD HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY RESULTED IN A HIGH SPEED TIRE FAILURE. *TR

FRONT DRIVER SIDE SPRING COIL BROKE WHICH CAUSED TIRE BLOWOUT AND CAR TO BE IMMOBILIZED..DID NOT CAUSE ANY INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS BUT VERY WELL COULD HAVE HAD THERE BEEN ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, IT REMAINED STUCK IN POSITION. IT TOOK THE CONTACT APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES TO RETURN THE PARKING BRAKE TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AAA AND THEY TOO WERE UNABLE TO MOVE THE BRAKE OUT OF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER SERVICE STATION TO SEE IF THE PARKING BRAKE COULD BE MOVED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT MUST APPLY MASKING TAPE OVER THE PARKING BRAKE SO IT CAN BE USED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 12,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000. UPDATED 12/11/08 *BF UPDATED 12/11/08. *JB

I AM ANOTHER SAAB OWNER WITH THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED COMPLAINT "INVESTIGATION # PE08051." THIS WAS DISCOVERED DURING OTHER WORK BEING PERFORMED ON THE CAR. ALONG WITH OTHER NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, THIS MAY EXPLAIN WHY WE HAVE GONE THROUGH MANY SETS OF TIRES AND ALIGNMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM. THE 1ST AND LAST SAAB I WILL EVER OWN. *TR

2003 SAAB 9-3 SE CONV (73K MIKES AT TIME OF INCIDENT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY CAR SUDDEENLY QUIT RUNNING DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED AND RUINED CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND O2 SENSORS SAAB FORCED TO RECALL THIS PART UP TO YEAR 2002. MY 2003 IS OLD SAAB BODY STYLE WITH DEFECTIVE DI CASSETTE. PART NUMBER ON CASSETE IS FROM THE 2002 AND EARLIER MODEL YEARS. *TR

FRONT SPRING FAILURE FROM CORROSION DAMAGE ' FRONT PASSENGER SPRING BROKEN, COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF PIECE APPROXIMATELY 5-6' FOUND. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE (AKA POTHOLE, DIRT ROAD, SPEED BUMP), A VIBRATION / RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. ORIGINALLY, IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO A WHEEL OR BRAKE ISSUE, SO WE DROVE THE CAR FOR QUITE SOME TIME THINKING IT WAS JUST A MINOR ANNOYANCE, NOT A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK (SOME DRIVERS HAVE HAD THE SPRING SHOOT OUT AND SHRED THEIR TIRES WHILE DRIVING!). WE GOT THE TIRES / WHEELS BALANCED, ROTATED AND ALSO REPLACED THE BRAKES, NONE OF WHICH HELPED THE PROBLEM. THEN ANOTHER MECHANIC CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM DURING AN OIL CHANGE WHEN THEY FOUND THE BROKEN OFF PIECE OF SPRING WHICH WAS CAUSING THE RATTLE. THE BROKEN OFF PIECE HAS A SIGNIFICANT CONCENTRATION OF RUST THE LAST 1' OR SO WHERE THE BREAK OCCURRED. THERE IS A RUBBER SHEATH THAT PARTIALLY COVERS THAT SECTION OF THE SPRING, BUT IT IS OBVIOUSLY FLAWED IN KEEPING WATER FROM CORRODING THE SPRING AS THERE IS A LOT OF RUST ALL THROUGHOUT. THE OTHER SPRING HAS RUST ON IT AS WELL, BUT HAS NOT FAILED YET' WE PLAN TO REPLACE BOTH SPRINGS NOW, HOPEFULLY WITH THE NEXT MODEL YEAR'S SPRINGS WHICH I HEARD HAVE A BETTER SHIELD TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING. RESEARCHING ONLINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM ALSO OCCURS ON THIS MODEL YEAR SAAB IN THE UK AS FOUND ON THE SAABSCENE.COM FORUM AND I READ THAT THE NHT

WAS ON MY WAY TO REPAIR SHOP FOR AN ONSTAR MALFUNCTION WHICH KNOCKED OUT MY ENTIRE SOUND SYSTEM, INCLUDING WARNING BUZZERS, ETC....WHILE ON THE FREEWAY I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN INVADED BY ALIENS THE CAR COULD BARLEY DRIVE THEN ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS AND MALFUNCTION LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON MY COMPUTER SCREEN IM LUCKY IT DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT I COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR I COULD NOT ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW, COULD NOT GET THE CAR FROM DRIVE TO PARK, COULD NOT STEER, SHUT IT OFF AND IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN WITHOUT A JUMP. BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED NO MORE THEN 6 MONTHS PRIOR. IT APPARENTLY WAS THE ALTERNATOR. IT IS A HAZARD WHEN IT MALFUNCTIONS DUE TO NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. I HAVE HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FOR 62,000 IT SHOULDN'T HAVE SO MANY BREAKDOWNS AND MALFUNCTIONS I HAVE OWNED IT FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND HAVE HAD MANY DIFFERENT MALFUNCTIONS IE. GEAR BOX MALFUNCTION, TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION, TEMP MALFUNCTION, AIRBAG MALFUNCTION AND THE LATEST ONSTAR MALFUNCTION WHICH HAS AFFECTED MY ENTIRE SOUND SYSTEM, THE CD PLAYER HAD TO BE REPLACED THE AMP WENT BAD HAD TO HAVE A NEW THERMOSTAT THE WINDOW ARM HAD TO BE REPLACED (DRIVING AND THE WINDOW JUST FELL INTO THE DOOR I AM SURPRISED IT DIDN'T SHATTER, THE SAAB LOGO ON THE TRUNK LOST ALL THE COLOR, THE DOOR HANDLES ARE PEELING AND FADING AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR PARTS. BATTERY DIED, ASHTRAY BROKE HAD TO HAVE REPLACED BROKE AGAIN BUT NO WARRANTY AND TOO MUCH TO REPLACE. THE BRAKE CALIPER HAD TO BE REPLACED BRAKE PADS WORN OUT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A GEAR BOX MALFUNCTION. THE WARNING LIGHT DIMMED A FEW DAYS LATER. AFTERWARDS, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ACCELERATION FAILURES. AFTER IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SHIFT UNEASILY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED AND ALLOW HER TO SHIFT GEARS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE LACK OF ACCELERATION COULD CAUSE A CRASH WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. SHE SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND IS AWAITING A RETURN CALL; HOWEVER, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THEY PROBABLY WOULD BE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000.

THE FRONT LEFT COIL SPRINGS SNAPPED IN HALF, SHOVING A JAGGED, BROKEN SPRING INTO THE INNER SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR SON TO SCHOOL. THE ENSUING DRAMA CONSISTED OF A NEARLY UNCONTROLLABLE VEHICLE AND PLUMES OF SMOKE BILLOWING OUT FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. FEARING FOR THE SAFETY OF HERSELF AND OUR SON, MY WIFE PULLED HIM OUT OF THE CAR AND RAN A DISTANCE AWAY AS SHE FEARED IT WAS ABOUT TO CATCH FIRE. SHE CALLED ME FROM HER CELL PHONE, CRYING, AND IN A NEAR PANIC AS OTHER DRIVERS PULLED OVER TO HELP. EVERYTHING TURNED OUT OKAY FOR US, BUT I CAN?T SAY THAT THE SAME WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE SPRING HAD BROKEN AFTER SHE DROPPED OFF OUR SON AND WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING TO WORK. WE ARE THANKFUL SHE WAS ONLY TRAVELING 35 MPH RATHER THAN 70 MPH. AFTER THIS OCCURRED, AND AFTER A COMPLETE LACK OF HELP OR EXPLANATION FROM OUR DEALER, WE WERE MOTIVATED TO RESEARCH THIS ISSUE FURTHER TO DETERMINE IF THIS WAS A ?FREAK ACCIDENT? OR IF IN FACT THERE WAS SOME ISSUE WITH THE DESIGN OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. IT APPEARS FROM A CURSORY SEARCH OF THE INTERNET THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST SEVERAL DOZEN OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING TO THIS PARTICULAR YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. IN MOST CASES, THE SAME THING HAPPENED EXACTLY AS IT DID TO US. AND WHEN WE LEARNED THAT SAAB HAD REDESIGNED THE FRONT COIL SPRING SEATS THE FOLLOWING YEAR (PRESUMABLY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE), IT BECAME APPARENT THAT EVEN THE MANUFACTURER HAD ACKNOWLEDGED THAT A PROBLEM EXISTED. I AM HOP

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER STOPPED WORKING IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HEAT FROM THE BLOWER MELTED THE WIRING IN THE ENGINE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000.UPDATE 10/01/08 *CW UPDATED 10/02/08.*JB

DOOR HANDLES AND SIDE BODY MOLDING ARE FADING ABNORMALLY. DOOR HANDLES ARE PRETTY MUCH WHITE IN COLOR. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY BLACK. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AFTER ONLY 4 YEARS, ESPECIALLY WITH A CAR LIKE A SAAB (FOR WHICH YOU THINK YOU ARE PAYING FOR QUALITY). *TR

DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS HAVE NO SOUND. THEY ARE HOOKED UP TO THE EHU UNIT WHICH THE MANUFACTURER SAYS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF CAN NOT HEAR THE SIGNAL AND YOU DO NOT KNOW IF THEY ARE STILL ON. THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THIS PART. MY SOUND SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING EITHER. *TR

I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. THE CAR WAS WORKING COMPLETELY FINE BEFORE I BROUGHT IT IN, BUT I FIGURED I SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS RECALL ITEM (THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS - RECALL ID# 12866). WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR AFTER THEY PERFORMED THE NECESSARY SERVICE, THE CAR WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AND SHAKING SIGNIFICANTLY. THE MECHANIC REASSESSED THE VEHICLE AND TOLD ME THAT MY IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE HAS AN INTERNAL FAULT. THE DEALER HAS OFFERED TO REPAIR THE CAR FOR $996. *TR

BOTH FRONT SUSPENSION SPRINGS ON MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 BROKE. A FRONT TIRE WAS PUNCTURED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION DUE TO THE BREAK. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY IF IT WAS ON THE FREEWAY. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN OF THIS. MY CAR ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT. SOMETHING LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON THIS TYPE OF CAR. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST DEALER THAT WANTS TO CHARGE $1100 FOR THE FIX BECAUSE I AM OUT OF WARRANTY BY 6,000 MILES. I AM ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING SAAB USA. *TR

1. THERE IS A DISTINCT SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES OVER BUMPS, IT RATTLES ON THE DRIVER SIDE, STRUT. BROUGHT IT TO A SAAB DEALERSHIP THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. BROUGHT IT TO A SMALL SHOP, THEY REPLACED THE DUST COVERS ON THE FRONT STRUTS AND AFTER BRINGING IT BACK SIX TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. BOTH SHOPS STATE THAT THE STRUTS ARE JUST FINE. RATTLES LIKE THE STRUT IS READY TO FALL OFF. HAVE NO MORE IDEA WHERE TO GO. SAAB DEALERSHIP STATES THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO SOUND LIKE THAT BECAUSE OF A SPORT SEDAN. I DON'T BELIEVE IT. BATTERY DRAW. DRAWS BATTERY DEAD AFTER TWO DAYS LETTING IT SIT. BROUGHT IT TO AUTHORIZED SAAB DEALERSHIP THEY CAN'T FIND A DRAW. BROUGHT IT TO SMALL SHOP, THEY FOUND A DRAW OF 1AMP. AFTER THREE NEW BATTERIES, STILL DRAWS AND DEAD BATTERY. *TR

DRIVING ON LOCAL CITY STREET, WHEN RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLOWS OUT. BLOW HAPPENED BECAUSE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING SHEERED INTO TWO PIECES AND CUT INTO RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAUSING BLOWOUT. RIGHT FRONT TIRE REPLACED AND NEW COIL SPRING INSTALLED ON RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION. YES, I HAVE THE FAILED COIL SPRING IN MY POSSESSION. *TR

WHILE BACKING UP OUT OF A DRIVEWAY ON A FLAT LEVEL SURFACE THE VEHICLES FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING BROKE IN TWO PIECES. THE CAR WAS RENDERED UN-DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE PART WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 SAAB 9-3 WITH ONLY 41,400 MILES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MADE A GRINDING SOUND AND WOULD NO LONGER GO UP OR DOWN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER WINDOW FAILED DUE TO FREEZING RAIN. THE WINDOW WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,895 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,700. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED A GMC SMART CURE WHICH IS A PACKAGE COIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION AT NO COST. UPDATED 03/05/08 *TR

AFTER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 40F, THE VEHICLE DISPLAYS A MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE DIAGNOSIS IS A FAILURE ON THE SECONDARY AIR PUMP AND CHECK VALVE. THIS IS AN EMISSIONS SYSTEM. THE PUMP WAS ADDED TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE UNDER EMISSIONS TESTING. THE VEHICLE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND SAAB IS NOT COVERING THIS ITEM UNDER EMISSIONS WARRANTY. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE, MANY SAAB OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ISSUE. *TR

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 SAAB 9-3. MY MOONROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION. AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR, IT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. GLASS RAINED DOWN ON ME. THERE WAS NO OBJECT THAT HIT THE MOONROOF. IT SIMPLY SHATTERED. IS THIS A PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT AND REMAINS LOOSE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT HE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V226000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT FELT THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH A MALFUNCTIONING SEAT BELT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

IN, APPROXIMATELY, THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, MY ENGINE WARNING LIGHT MY ENGINE WARNING LIGHT HAS GONE ON. IN CONTACTING THE DEALER, THE FIRST TIME, THE GAS CAP HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY PUT BACK ON. THE TWO SUBSEQUENT TIMES, I AM CERTAIN THAT IT HAD BEEN. AFTER THE THIRD TIME, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THINKING IT WAS EITHER THE O2 SENSOR, OR THE GAS CAP. I WAS TOLD, BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR, THAT THERE WAS (I BELIEVE HE SAID) A VAPOR LEAK. IT WOULD REQUIRE PUTTING ON A REDESIGNED GAS CAP. THE SERVICE WRITE-UP STATED IT WAS "REPLACED WITH AN UPDATED GAS CAP". *TR

I HAVE OWNED 4 DIFFERENT SAAB MODELS AND I HAVE ALLAYS HAD HEATED SEATS. THIS LAST WINTER WHILE WEARING A SUIT AND WOOL OVERCOAT I FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON MY BACK. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED MY SEAT OFF, WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR THERE WHERE COIL BURN MARKS IN MY LEATHER SEAT. THERE HAS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF A HEATED SEAT COIL CAN BURN THROUGH LEATHER, AND CAN BE FELT THROUGH AN INCH OF WOOL... *TR

MOON ROOF THINKS IT IS PINCHING AND RETRACTS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE. *TR

WHEN CAR IS LOCKED AND TRUNK LID IS OPENED WITH THE KEY FOR THE CAR ALARM WILL SOUND OFF, THE REAR TRUNK HANDLE ALSO ONLY WORKS WHEN REAR TRUNK HATCH IS ACTUALLY OPENED. *TR