2003 Saab 9-3 complaints

A REOCCURRING ERROR WILL DISPLAY ON THE SAAB INFORMATION MANAGEMENT DISPLAY INDICATING A WHEEL LOCK ERROR. THIS ERROR SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. SAAB HAS REVIEWED THE VEHICLE MORE THAN FOUR TIMES, EACH TIME REPLACING PARTS; THESE PARTS HAVE BEEN: A NEW KEY, A NEW STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, AND TWO NEW SOLENOIDS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SAAB DELEARSHIP HAS INDICATED THAT THERE IS POSSIBLY A FAULTY SOLENOID BUT IS UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING BUT TO KEEP REPLACING PARTS. *AK

RECALL ISSUES ABOUT SAAB AND PIRELLI. *BF AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD HYDROPLANE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TREAD WEAR DID NOT QUALIFY THE TIRES FOR THE RECALL. *SC RECALL# 03V006000 PER THE CONSUMER *JB

THIS IS A SECOND COMPLAINT AND UPDATE TO 1/1/04 COMPLAINT PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED. SINCE THEN CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 2 ADDITIONAL TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE WITH NO RESOLUTION. ALSO CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR BROKEN FRONT SEAT, FAULTY FINISH ON DOOR HANDLES AND DASH BOARD, BRAKE SQUEAL, AND PROBLEMS CLOSING SUN ROOF. ALL PROBLEMS CURED OTHER THAN TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AND STEERING ALIGNMENT. CALLED SAAB USA PREVIOUSLY WHOM ADVISED TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE DEALER, WHO CAN NOT FIX. TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE CAN BE DANGEROUS WHEN DEPENDING ON AN AUTO TO REACT A CERTAIN WAY IN ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE SITUATIONS AND AUTO RESPONDS DIFFERENTLY. IN MY OPINION THIS PROBLEM COUPLED WITH ALL THE OTHERS IS A VIOLATION OF EXPRESS WARRANTIES OF THE MANUFACTURE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE ISSUE AS THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS MESSAGE BOARD. THANK YOU.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DEALER STATDS AXLE EXPLODED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK

AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK ENGINE REVVED AT A HIGH RATE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A WALL. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *TS

EXPERIENCED A SIDEWALL BLOWOUT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE ON MY RECENTLY-PURCHASED SAAB 9-3 LINEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD 13.5K MILES WHEN PURCHASED, THE TIRE BLEW AT 14.2K. WAS DRIVING 50 MPH ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY, DID NOT HIT ANYTHING, TIRES HAD VERY RECENTLY BEEN INSPECTED FOR WEAR AND INFLATION, THERE WAS NO PRECIPITATING EVENT PRIOR TO HEARING A LOUD "POP"; SHORTLY THEREAFTER FELT AND HEARD THE EFFECTS OF THE DEFLATED TIRE. TIRE REMAINED ON THE WHEEL, BUT WAS FLAT WITH A SIGNIFICANT HOLE IN THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE PIRELLI P6 FOUR SEASON TIRES 215/55R16.*AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN SOMEONE HONKED THE HORN. AFTER PULLING INTO THE SERVICE STATION GAS WAS POURING FROM THE FUEL LINE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

SINCE OWNING MY 2003 9-3, THE PARKING BRAKE STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE ULTIMATELY HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR BUSHINGS ON THE SWAY BAR HAD TO BE REPLACED, MULTIPLE LIGHT BULBS. AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, MOST RECENTLY THE POWER STERRING PUMP NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE SEAT BELT ALSO LET GO AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I THOUGHT THAT ALL THAT COULD GO WRONG, HAD GONE WRONG UNTIL THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT. NOW READING OTHER OWNER COMMENTS I HAVE NO FAITH IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS MY FOURTH SAAB, MY LAST I TRADED AT OVER 180,000 MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS.*AK

SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I HAVE A 2003 SAAB 9-3 ARC, BOUGHT ON 9/03, AROUND 13,000 MILES, YESTERDAY I WENT TO OFFICE AND STOPPED IN THE RIGHT POSITION TO PARK IN FRONT OF THE WALL, I STEPPED ON BRAKE, PUSH THE GEAR TO "P", ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE STARTED "HOWLING", AND ACCELERATED TO HIT THE WALL, IM PRETTY SURE THAT'S NOT THE HUMAN ERROR, 'CAUSE THE GEAR'S IN PARK, AND MY FOOT STEPPED ON BRAKE( I HAVE MORE THAN 20 YEARS DRIVING EXPERIENCE, TO PARK A CAR IS LIKE NORMAL REACTION), I WALK OUT THE CAR, THERE'RE TWO SHORT TIRE BURN MARK( IF IM NOT STEPPED ON BRAKE, WHY DOES IT HAVE THE BURN MARK), SO I CALLED MY CAR DEALER, THEY TOWED THE CAR AND TRY TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM, BUT IT COME OUT THE RESULT IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR! I REALLY WANT TO KNOW IF THERE'RE ANYBODY HAS THE EXPERIENCES. IM GLAD THAT THE THING OCCURRED IN FRONT OF A WALL, IF IT'S IN FRONT OF A STORE THAT MIGHT CAUSE LIVES!!!!!*AK IM AFRAID OF DRIVING MY SAAB AGAIN; ILL CALL SAAB TOMORROW TO FIND OUT IF THEY CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? IF YOU NEED SOME PICTURE EVIDENCE THAT I TOOK AFTER THE THING HAPPEN, I CAN SEND YOU BY MAIL!

HEADLIGHTS WAS TOO LOW WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *LA THERE WAS NOISE IN THE REAR WHILE BACKING AND TURNING (THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM), THE ONSTAR FEATURE WOULD NOT WORK AND WAS INTERMITTENT, THE SEAT BELT LIGHT HAD COME ON AND WOULD GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY (UNABLE TO DUPLICATE), NEED SERVICE SOON LIGHT WOULD COME ON (UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED), THE SQUEAL IN THE REAR, COULD HAVE ALSO BEEN LINKED TO SALT AND SAND IN THE ROTORS, THE TRUNK WOULD NOT STAY OPEN, THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE FOUND TO BE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, AND THE PADS HAD RUST ON THEM. *SC *JB

OWNER HAD JUST LEFT THE DEALER AFTER HAVING THE 15,000 MILE OIL CHANGE AND CHECK UP. WHILE DRIVING, THE OWNER HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. PASSING MOTORIST INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

SINCE PURCHASING SAAB 9-3 ARC IN AUGUST 2003, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE 7 TIMES. PROBLEMS INCLUDE: KEY INOPERABLE, BACK BRAKES LOUD SOUND, FRONT BRAKES SQUEALING, WINDOW PROBLEMS, SUNROOF PROBLEMS, LOOSE HEAT CONSOLE, ONSTAR MALFUNCTION. SAAB HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND CAN NOT FIX THE BRAKE ISSUE. THEY STATE THAT THE LOUD FOGHORN LIKE SOUND IS NORMAL. I HAVE CONTACTED A LAWYER AND AM PURSUING THE ISSUE.*AK

REOCCURING ENGIN STALL WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC (SPOKE WITH CONSUMER ON 4/5/2005 - SAID HIS STALL WAS DUE TO FAULTY ENGINE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE - CAR)

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *MR

WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE. AFTER 2 MONTHS OF WAITING FOR SAAB TO RESPOND TO MY LEMON LAW FILING WITH AN ATTORNEY, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET RID OF MY 9-3 LINEAR. CAR STILL HAS HESITATION AFTER THEY HAVE CLAIMED TO HAVE REPAIRED THE SOFTWARE PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION IS NOW SLIPPING, ONSTAR MALFUNCTIONS ONCE A WEEK, AND HAVE A RATTLE IN THE DASH BOARD. SAAB IS FULLY AWARE OF ALL OF THE PROBLEMS. JUST WANTED TO GIVE OTHERS THE CONFIDENCE TO FIGHT THEM ON THE PROBLEMS OF THE ENGINE STALLING. *AK

AIR BAG DEFECT(S). EIGHT SAAB CERTIFIED SERVICE TECHNICIAN ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT FAULTY SAFETY SYSTEM, WITHOUT SUCCESS. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE FOR ON-ROAD AND/OR HIGHWAY TRAVEL. I HAVE ALREADY NOTIFIED SAAB (MANUFACTURER) MANY TIMES VIA EMAIL AND TELEPHONE, AGAIN WITHOUT FOLLOW UP FROM MANUFACTURER.*AK

TWICE WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT MY CAR HAS STALLED. IT HAS STALLED ONCE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 35 MPH. IT HAS ALSO GOTTEN STUCK IN PARK TWICE AFRTER I START IT. THE SID SAYS GEAR BOX MALFUNCTIONED. THE LIGHTS BURN OUT AND THE INTERIOR IS FALLING APART. THIS CAR HAS 17,000 MILES IN IT.*AK

I PURCHASED MY SAAB 9-3 LINEAR ON 1/16/03, AND WITHIN 2 MONTHS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TURNING ON, AND STALLED OUT 3 TIMES. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 11 TIMES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND EVERY TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS MY GAS CAP, GAS EVAP LEAK, OR SOFTWARE UPDATES. MIND YOU I AM 6 MONTHS PREGNANT AND THE LAST STALL OUT I WAS ON A VERY BUSY STREET GOING 40MPH (LAST MONTH). THEY HAVE REPLACED MY GAS CAP TOO - SAYING THIS WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I CAN NEVER GET A HOLD OF ANY ONE AT SAAB TO DISCUSS - SO I HAVE RESULTED TO THE LEMON LAW. BUT IN REALITY THIS IS A CRITICAL PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS MANY PEOPLE ON THIS SIGHT HAVE ESCAPED INJURY. *AK

SHORT IN FUSE BOX IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED AND ELECTRICAL FIRE WITH SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE BAY, ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING/ CAR WAS ABLE TO RESTART WITH THE LOST OF THE LIGHT, TURN SIGNALS, HORN AND WINDSCREEN WIPERS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THRU A S CURVE, MY CAR STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER. THE SPLIT SECOND LOSS OF POWER ON A TURN CAUSED ME TO CROSS INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC BEFORE I REACTED TO BRING MY CAR BACK INTO MY OWN LANE. I WAS LUCKILY THAT NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OR I WOULD HIT THEM HEAD ON. MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 COASTED TO AN AREA OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. AGAIN LUCKILY THAT THERE WAS A ROAD SHOULDER TO PULL OVER ON. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE DEALER RESPONSE AT THE FIRST TIME WAS "THAT'S OK IF IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE"...BUT GUESS WHAT IT IS STILL HAPPENING AND SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM.. HOPEFULLY WE DONT HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO BE KILLED BEFORE SAAB FIXES IT.

I HAVE HAS 2 SAABS IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILING CONSTANTLY AND THE ENGINE STALLING. AFTER 3 MONTHS OF INCONVENIENCE AND ARGUMENTS SAAB GAVE ME ANOTHER CAR. NOW WITH 3800 MILES THE CAR COMPLETELY DROPPED DEAD ON ME AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 55 MPH. IT WAS -40 DEGREES AND IT TOOK ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 2.5 HOURS TO GET ME. SAAB HEADQUARTERS WAS NOTHING BUT USELESS AFTER DRIVING AROUND IN A TWO TRUCK FOR 8 HOURS SINCE SAAB ROADSIDE AND SAAB HEADQUARTERS COULD NOT TELL ME WHERE TO TAKE MY CAR. I WAS TOWED FROM QUEENS, TO BROOKLYN, TO MANHATTAN AND TREATED WITH NO RESPECT. I ENDED UP GETTING EXTREMELY SICK FROM SITTING IN THE CAR WAITING FOR ROADSIDE FOR 2.5 HOURS. WHEN I CALLED SAAB THEY TOLD ME ITS THE WEATHER THAT CAUSED MY CAR TO DROP DEAD. I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT MY CAR WOULD BE TEMP. TEMPERAMENTAL AND I HAD TO GO TO FLORIDA FOR THE WINTER. THIS IS WHY AMERICAN CAR COMPANIES SUCK. *CB

2003 SAFE 9-3 2.0T LINEAR, PURCH NEW 2/21/03 DIES' UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN BEING DRIVEN. FIRST INCIDENT: CAR 'DIED' RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD COMPLETELY UNEXPECTEDLY. ASSUMED IT WAS A 'FLUKE' AND TOOK NO ACTION. AFTER SECOND INCIDENT: DEALER "RESET FUEL ADAPTATION VALVE". AFTER THIRD INCIDENT (DANGEROUS - MERGING INTO FREEWAY) DEALER "REPROGRAMMED T8 AND RESET FUEL ADAPTATION PER SAFE TECHNICAL HOT LINE" ALL INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITHIN LAST TWO WEEKS. CAR RESTARTS WITH NO WARNING LIGHT OR "SIDE" INDICATION OF PROBLEM UPON IGNITION. *CB

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION, AND GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC UPGRADED THE SOFTWARE FOR THE ENGINE. *AK

I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STALLING WITH MY 2003 SAAB 9-3. AFTER GIVING THE DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 5 CHANCES TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY WERE UNABLE TO. I THEN CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DENIED THAT THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND TRIED TO SAY THIS WAS THE NORMAL FUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE. THEY HAVE MADE ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO FIX THE CAR. I THEN LEARNED ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT OTHERS HAD EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE IT IS RESOLVED. *LA

CONSUMER STATED WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE IT FELT AS THOUGH TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER PERFORMED AN ADAPTATION ADJUSTMENT. *AK

LEASED 2003 SAAB 9-3 ARC ON 9/26 AND THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT (10051379) AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM SAAB CUSTOMER CARE REGARDING THEIR FIXING THE LOUD RIGHT REAR RATTLING/KNOCKING NOISE. I HAVE CALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO CALL BACK. I NOW HAVE TWO MORE PROBLEMS... THE CAR HESITATES, SPUTTERS AND ALMOST STALLS... THE DEALER INCREASED THE IDLE AND THAT WAS THE FIX... I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WHEN STARTING OFF FROM A STOP OR DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN GEARS BETWEEN 10 AND 30 MPHS... IT STARTED A FEW DAYS AGO AND IS BECOMING MORE PREVALENT AS EACH DAY PASSES..BOTH THESE PROBLEMS ALONG WITH THE LOUD RATTLING/KNOCKING NOISE FROM RIGHT REAR THAT DEALER SAYS IS NORMAL TELL ME THAT THIS CAR HAS PROBLEMS THAT SAAB DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH AND THAT IS NOT RIGHT. *LA

PURCHASED 2003 9-3 LINEAR IN AUGUST 2003. THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP.*AK FIRST TIME CAR WAS IN ON COMPLAINT OF FRONT WHEELS OUT OF ALIGNMENT (CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT ALL THE TIME COASTING, UNDER ACCELERATION, ETC.). THE STEERING WHEEL MUST BE HELD SLIGHTLY OFF CENTER TO ALLOW THE CAR TO GO STRAIGHT. DEALER DENIED PROBLEM AND ATTRIBUTED IT TO CURVATURE IN THE ROAD. I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER CARS OVER THE SAME ROAD EVEN THE SAME MODEL LOANER CAR WITHOUT THE PULL TO THE LEFT. COMPLAINED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE FROM DEALER. BECAUSE THE CAR HAS MORE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS I HAVE GIVEN UP ON THIS ONE FOR NOW. SECOND TIME CAR WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR OVER 20 CONSECUTIVE DAYS WHILE DEALER DIAGNOSED AND FIXED ONSTAR AND STEREO MALFUNCTION. THE STEREO WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AT SEVERAL POINTS IN THE DAY AND THEN WOULD COME BACK ON AUTOMATICALLY AT THE NEXT START-UP. DEALER REPLACED ALL COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM STEREO, CD PLAYER, ONSTAR MODULE, ECT. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIRD TIME WAS A MAJOR COMPLAINT. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SLIPPAGE IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AT ALMOST EVERY OTHER SHIFT UNDER MODERATE TO HARD ACCELERATION. THE CAR ACTUALLY REVS RPMS BETWEEN SHIFT FOR 3 TO 4 SECONDS BEFORE SHIFTING TO THE NEXT GEAR. ADDITIONALLY, UNDER HARD ACCELERATION FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT UNTIL AFTER FUEL PUMP CUT-OFF IN THE RPM RANGE. DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE VIA COMPUTER; HOWEVER I SUGGESTED A TECH D

CAR LEASED 9/23/03 AND ONE WEEK AFTER A LOUD RATTLING/KNOCKING NOISE STARTS UP FROM RIGHT REAR. TO DEALER 6 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. RIGHT REAR SHOCK REPLACED TWICE AND ON 12/19/03 DISTRICT SAAB REP CONCLUDED THAT NOISE COMES FROM SHOCK AND IS A NORMAL NOISE. I DISAGREE AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS EXPLANATION. DELEARSHIP WILL NOT MAKE ANY MORE ATTEMPTS TO FIX THIS RATTLING/KNOCKING NOISE. FILED A COMPLAINT WITH SAAB CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 12/23/03 AND HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM. AM DISAPPOINTED AND UPSET THAT THE NOISE CAN NOT BE LOCATED AND FIXED.

SINCE PURCHASING MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 IN JUNE THE CAR HAS STALLED 4 TIMES WHILE EITHER AT STOP LIGHTS OR SITTING IN TRAFFIC. ONCE THE CAR STALLED WHILE GOING 40 MPH. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. EACH TIME A SOFTWARE UPGRADE IS PERFORMED. AND EVERY TIME I CONTACT THE SERVICE DEPT THEY ARE SURPRISED AS TO THIS OCCURRENCE.*AK

THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THE STEERING COLUMN WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

DEALER - SAAB EXCHANGE WON'T/CAN'T FIX VEHICLE. STEERING PROBLEM, RATTLE PROBLEM, FAN BLOWER PROBLEM, SEAT PROBLEM, BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM, ETC... *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD A SHORTAGE. *PH

THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT. I HAD ORIGINALLY FILED COMPLAINT 10041666 A FEW WEEKS AGO. NOW THE PROBLEM WITH MY SAAB STALLING HAS BECOME WORSE. I WAS TRAVEL IN TRAFFIC, WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE STALLING CAUSED ME TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT ME. WHICH IN TURN CAUSED A FOUR CAR ACCIDENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED, BUT NOW MY PROBLEM IS MUCH MORE SEVERE. I HAVE CONTACTED SAAB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM (MUCH LIKE I DID THE FIRST TIME) AND NOTING IS BEING DONE TO HELP ME. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE THAT STALLS ALL THE TIME, AND IS AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED TOTALLY USELESS AND A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED OVER $15000 IN DAMAGE TO MY SAAB ALONE, ALONG WITH DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. I AM REALLY SURPRISED THAT I WAS NOT KILLED OR SEVERELY HURT IN THE ACCIDENT. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND HELP OUT ALL THE SAAB 9-3 OWNERS HERE... THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE, AND THE REPRESENT A VERY LARGE PROBLEM JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. *LA

VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS DURING BRIEF PERIODS OF ACCELERATION. FREQUENTLY, THIS OCCURS WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN FROM A STOP SIGN, OR A TURN IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC. *LA

MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 HAS STALLED 3 TIMES IN TRAFFIC. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAME UP WITH NOTHING. CAR IS IN SHOP RIGHT NOW AND WILL SEE IF ANYTHING IS FOUND BUT I DOUBT IT. SAAB CUSTOMER CARE IS OBLIVIOUS TO PROBLEM. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHILE CRUISING IN TRAFFIC AT SPEED UNDER 30 MPH. CAR COMPLETELY LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT START UNTIL PULLED OFF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF AND TURNED ON AGAIN. *LA

MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 ARC (PURCHASED THIS JULY) WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEARLY STALLED (SPUTTERED, HESITATED AND NEARLY LOST POWER) WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN BETWEEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHILE THIS CAR HAS NOT FULLY STALLED OUT, I HAVE FELT IT HESITATED ON A NUMBER OF OTHER OCCASIONS. I OWNED ANOTHER 2003 SAAB, IDENTICAL IN EVERY WAY, THAT COMPLETELY STALLED OUT AT IDLE SPEED WHILE STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND ALSO WHILE STARTING OUT IN REVERSE AND IN FORWARD. THE FACT THAT THIS NEW CAR NEARLY STALLED IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAS REALLY SCARED ME. I HAVE READ A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT STALLING IN THE 2003 SAAB 9-3. I SPOKE TO SAAB CUSTOMER SERVICE YESTERDAY AND THEY DENIED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE STALLING ISSUE. I AM BRINGING MY CAR TO THE DEALER ON MONDAY, HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT SAAB NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIALLY VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. *LA

BRAND NEW 2003 SAAB 9-3 ARC JUST STALLS. MY ENGINE HAS STALLED FOR NO REASON NUMEROUS TIMES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE DAYS AFTER I GOT THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED, EVERY TIME THEY TELL ME THAT I AM JUST ABOUT MAKING IT UP. THEY CAN NEVER FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, AND SAAB CORPORATION IS NO HELP. *LA

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

CAN NOT DIM LIGHTS WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. ENTRY TO SOME MILITARY BASE OR OTHER ENTRY GATES REQUIRE LIGHTS TO BE DIMMED TO PARKING LIGHTS. THERE IS A THREE WAY SWITCH TO TUNE LIGHT TO PARKING BUT ONLY WORK WHEN ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN MY OPINION. YES SAAB JUST GIVES YOU THE RUN AROUND ON WHAT'S THE FIX, EVEN SUGGEST TO REMOVE A FUSE?? I DEMAND ACTION!!!! *JB

I RECEIVED MY SAAB 9-3 BACK IN FEB 2003 AND HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ONSTAR SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (RADIO SND SID). THE ONSTAR COMPUTER HAS BEEN REBOOTED TWICE, THE SID HAS FINALLY BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER, I STILL EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO. PERIODICALLY, WHEN YOU START THE CAR, NOTHING BUT STATIC COMES OUT OF THE SPEAKERS AND THE SYSTEM NEEDS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ONE LAST ITEM I FORGOT TO MENTION. AFTER THE LAST REBOOT OF THE ONSTAR SYSTEM, I DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS NO LONGER WORK EXCEPT FOR THE VOLUMN AND CHANNEL CHANGER.*AK

I PICKED UP MY CAR ON FEBRUARY 24, 2003 AT NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING I WAS TESTING THE CD PLAYER IN THE CAR AND IT WOULDNT WORK. SO I BROUGHT BACK THE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY SAID THEY HAD TO FIX SOMETHING WITH THE COMPUTER. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY 2 MONTH OLD SON AND THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. WHILE I WAS TRYING TO BRING IT INTO SAAB IT STALLED ANOTHER 2 TIMES. THEY SAID THEY HAVE TO REPLACE SOME COMPUTER. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER I STARTED NOTICING THAT I WAS HAVING SERIOUS PICKUP ISSUES. FOR EXAMPLE, IF I WAS ACCELERATING AFTER A RED LIGHT I COULD HIT THE GAS AS HARD AS POSSIBLE AND I STILL WOULDNT MOVE FOR A SOLID 2 SECONDS. THIS ALMOST BECAME DISASTROUS WHEN A TRUCK NEARLY HIT ME BECAUSE I COULDNT MOVE THE CAR. AGAIN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND AGAIN THEY REPLACED SOME COMPUTER. THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL INJECTOR SO THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE COMPUTER. NOW ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER THE CAR SEEMS TO BE HAVING THE FIRST STAGES OF THE SAME PROBLEM. IM TRYING TO GET OUT OF MY LEASE BUT SAAB SAYS THEY BELIEVE MY CAR IS FIXED. *AK

I HAVE A 2003 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR STALL ON ME IN TRAFFIC 4 TIMES NOW OVER THE LAST 4 MONTHS. I NOW REALIZE I'M FAR FROM THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I HAVE BEEN IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC 3 OF THE 4 TIMES. LUCKILY IN THE OUTSIDE LANE AND ABLE TO PULL OFF. I HAVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND RUN HIGH OCTANCE FUEL (RECOMMENDED). HOPEFULLY SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO PRESS GM AND FORCE THEM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.*AK

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A 30-35MPH FRONTAL COLLISION WITH AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. SEATBELT RESTRAINT INJURED BOTH PASSENGERS, BUT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

LEFT REAR PIRELLI TIRE ON MY 3 MONTHS OLD SAAB 9-3 BLEW UP ON FREEWAY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 5,500 MILES ON IT. I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE. CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL, IT VEERED LEFT, THEN RIGHT, THEN CIRCLED AROUND. I WAS SO SCARED THAT IT WILL HIT A DIVIDER OR OTHER CARS BUT A MIRACLE HAPPENED, I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. EVENTUALLY THE CAR STOPPED. I AM VERY UPSET WITH SAAB AND PIRELLI, SO FAR CUSTOMER SERVICES HAVE BEEN VERY POOR. I'M WAITING FOR PIRELLI TO DO THEIR INVESTIGATION. I AM SO WORRY ABOUT PIRELLI TIRES BLOWING UP ON ME AGAIN. NEXT TIME I MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. PLEASE HAVE OTHER SAAB OR PIRELLI CONSUMER WITH COMPLAINTS CONTACT ME AT MY EMAIL ADDRESS. THANK YOU.

MY SAAB 9-3 SS 2003 STALLED TODAY .COMPLETELY LOST E POWER ALSO COULDNT TURN STEERING WHEEL.LUCKY NOT TO GET HIT FROM BEHIND SINCE I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA .THE CAR STARTED AFTER I TURNED IT BACK ON ,THERE WAS NO ERROR MESSAGES,ONLY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THE PROBLEM HAPPENED.AN OCCURANCE LIKE THIS IN THE FREEWAY WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC .FROM VARIOUS INTERNET FORUMS I HAVE READ OWNERS OF THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE HAVING SIMILIAR PROBLEM.NHTSA WILL NEED TO TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT INJURIES OR EVEN FATALITIES IN THE FUTURE

REAR LIGHT OVER LICENSE PLATE WOULD NOT GO OUT, LEAVING MY CAR AT NIGHT ILLUMINATED. TAKEN TO DEALER. PROBLEM RESOLVED.*AK

MESSAGE OF "HEADLIGHT LEVELING MALFUNCTION, CONTACT SAAB DEALER" CAME UP ON CAR COMPUTER. TAKEN TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY. CAME UP DURING THE DAY SO WAS UNAWARE IF THERE WAS A LIGHTING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.*AK

PURCHASE DATE FEB 12, 2003. ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AFTER CAR SHOOK A BIT IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING CAR. TOLD CAUSE WAS "MISS FIRING" TAKEN TO DEALER. PROBLEM RESOLVED.*AK

I OWNS A 2003 SAAB 1993 LINEAR WITH AUTOMATIC. WHEN DRIVING A CAR, CAR STALLED MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT HAPPEND 3 TIMES SO FAR. CAR STALLED AND HANDLE GOT LOCKED UP. ENGINE LIGHT CAME UP. IT WAS DANGEROUS EPECIALLY AT THE FREEWAY. LUCKILY NEVER RESULTED IN BIG ACCIDENTS. DEALER ARE SAYING IT'S COMPUTER PROBLEM, BUT SOME PEOPLE SAID IT MIGHT BE THE FAULTY FUEL PUMP.*AK

PARKING BRAKE FAILED -- CAR ROLLED WHILE UNOCCUPIED -- ROLLED DOWN SLIGHT HILL AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR. *NLM