2004 Saab 9-3 complaints

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT ON SEAT BELT, THE RETRACTOR FAILED AND THE SEAT BELT IS EXTENDED TO IT'S LARGEST CAPACITY AND WILL NOT RETRACT. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING. I TOOK THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED AT A REPAIR SHOP FOR SWEDISH CARS AND WAS TOLD THAT FIXING IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. I WAS TOLD THAT RECALL APPLIED TO ONLY SEDANS. I WAS QUOTED A COST OF OVER $800 TO FIX THE PART. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THE 2004 SAABS. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

THE SIDE SEAM OF THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT TORE WITH OUT WARNING. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG IS LOCATED HERE AND MAY BECOME EXPOSED IN A DANGEROUS MANOR. CAR HAS ONLY 39,000 MILES IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED. DRIVER IS NOT OVERWEIGHT/FAT. THIS IS UNSAFE. I HAVE OWNED MANY OTHER CARS AND SEATS SHOULD NOT TEAR WHERE AIR BAG IS LOCATED. THIS IS DEFECT. GM WILL NOT REPAIR, "CAR OUT OF WARRANTY". INDEPENDENT SHOP WILL NOT STITCH "LIABILITY CONCERN DUE TO AIRBAG". HELP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT AFTER HAD BEEN EXTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

VEHICLE OWNER PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND STOPPED, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. OWNER REPORTED THAT THE SMOKE BECAME BLACK AND A FIRE ERUPTED. FIRE ORIGIN IN RIGHT REAR OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSE UNDETERMINED. VEHICLE HAS 2.0 LITER TURBOCHARGED 4-CYLINDER ENGINE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3 AERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FASTEN THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WAS DRIVING 2004 SAAB 9-3 VEHICLE WHEN THE STRUT SPRING BROKE, AND STARTED DIGGING INTO THE TIRE CREATING A LOT OF SMOKE FROM BURNT RUBBER. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION IT APPEARS THAT THE STRUT STRINGS HAD BROKE ON BOTH SIDES, ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE SPRING CAME OFF OF ITS 'MOUNT' AND DUG ITS WAY INTO THE TIRE. NOTHING WAS HIT TO CAUSE THIS REACTION. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET, THIS SEEMS TO BE A MORE COMMON, THAN NOT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF 9-3. SAAB HAS AGREED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND THESE SPRINGS SHOULD BE RECALLED. A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE TIRE BEFORE I STOPPED. IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TRAVELING ANY FASTER, I BELIEVE THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DECIDED TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY DUE TO THE MILEAGE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 05/18/11 *BF UPDATED 2/9/12 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT ABRUPTLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKES TO AVOID A CRASH AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO TIGHTEN AND RESTRAIN HIM PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE SEAT BELT UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V043000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR)BUT THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. SAAB OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE PARTS AS A GOODWILL GESTURE, BUT WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER BEING INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED EVOQ 06/14/11

I HAVE A 2004 SAAB 9-3; THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEATBELT RETRACTOR WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE RETRACTORS FOR THE REMAINING THREE OUTER SEATBELTS DO NOT FUNCTION WELL, EVEN THOUGH THEY TECHNICALLY RECEIVE LESS USE THAN THE DRIVER'S. I HAVE TO HELP TAKE UP THE SLACK IN THE BELTS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE SNUG FOR BACKSEAT PASSENGERS (IN BOOSTER SEATS), MUCH AS I HAD TO DO WITH THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT BEFORE THE RECALL. *TR

2004 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. CONSUMER STATES ISSUES WITH FUEL TANK AND SENSOR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS THE GREENBOX MALFUNCTION LIGHT DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT HAVING THE LATEST SOFTWARE. SO, THE DEALER HAD TO PERFORM THE SPS OF THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE TO UPDATE TO THE NEWEST SOFTWARE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE HE RAN THE VEHICLE ON LOW FUEL, IT SHORTED OUT THE FUEL SENSOR. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHEN HE FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. *JB

THE GAS GAUGE FLUCTUATES FROM FILLED TO EMPTY, RANDOMLY, EVEN THOUGH THE TANK IS FULL EVERY TIME THE TANK IS FILLED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NO LONGER RETRACT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FAILURE AND THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V226000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH PARTIAL REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE FAILURE DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE WITH PIRELLI P6 TIRES, LINE SIZE 215/55/16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VALVE STEM WOULD CONTINUOUSLY FRACTURE CAUSING THE TIRE TO DEFLATE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS NOR WERE THE TIRES REPLACED. THE ESTIMATED MILEAGE ON THE FAILED TIRE WAS 13,400. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

2004 SAAB 9-3. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT TENSIONING MAY FAIL. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED SINCE HE PAID FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF HIS POCKET. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE SUBMITTED THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK, BUT HE STILL HAS NOT RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS SINCE RECEIVED A SECOND LETTER REGARDING THE RECALL. *JB

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT ON MY 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE SEAT BELT IS USELESS. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT MY VIN# IS NOT COVERED! *TR

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED ON MY 2004 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. THIS HAPPENED AT ABOUT 43,000 MILES. SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT AND NO LONGER USABLE. I CONTACTED SAAB AND MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TR

LEFT WORK PARKING LOT AND FELT SOMETHING RUBBING ON DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND SMELLED A TIRE SMELL AND NOTICED BLUE SMOKE FROM MY REARVIEW MIRROR. STARTED TO PULL OVER AND THE TIRE BLEW. THOUGHT I BLEW A TIRE. GO TO PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON AND SEE THE SPRING FROM THE STRUT HAD ALMOST CUT MY TIRE OFF THE INSIDE OF THE RIM. CALLED MY LOCAL SAAB DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ONE SPRING. AS I WAS LOOKING UP HOW MUCH THIS WAS GOING TO COST ME(BEFORE I FOUND OUT I WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY) EVERY SITE I VISITED SAID THE SAME THING SAAB RECOMMENDS REPLACING BOTH SPRINGS YET THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE THE ONE THAT BROKE AND SHREDDED MY TIRE. LOOKING ON THE INTERNET I SEE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT TURNED INTO A RECALL. IF I HAD MADE IT TO THE FIRST ROUND ABOUT THE SPEED LIMIT GOES TO 55MPH THE AMOUNT OF FORCE THAT PULLED MY CAR TO THE RIGHT AT 15MPH WAS ALMOST ENOUGH TO HIT AN ON COMING CAR. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD HAVE DONE AT 55MPH ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY. *TR

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SAAB DATED FEB 2010 TO OWNERS OF 2003 - 2006 SAAB 9-3S THERE WAS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM OF THE SUSPENSION SPRING CORROSION MAY WEAKEN AND/OR BREAK. 3RD PARAGRAPH BOLD UNDERLINED: DO NOT TAKE YOUR CAR TO THE DEALER AS A RESULT OF THE LETTER UNLESS YOU BELIEVE YOUR CAR HAS THE CONDITION. I DID NOT TAKE IT IN. ON MAY 18, 2010 THE SPRING ON THE LEFT FRONT BROKE RESULTING IN THE FRONT END DROPPING. DURING THE LOADING ON FLAT BED TOW TRUCK THE OIL PAN WAS DAMAGED WITH A $1055 REPAIR AT MY EXPENSE. NO OIL LEAK PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. *TR

2004 SAAB 9-3 ARC. THE CIRCUIT LOCATED IN THE REAR OF THE CAR, WHICH CONTROLS THE REAR LIGHT CLUSTERS INCLUDING THE TOP MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHT OFTEN FAILS. I HAVE REPLACED IT TWICE IN JUST OVER A YEAR AND IT HAS FAILED AGAIN. IT STARTS WITH ONE BULB FAILING AND THE WARNING MESSAGE SHOWS UP ON THE DISPLAY. THEN IN A SERIES ALL THE OTHER BULBS START TO FAIL. THEY EITHER DON'T WORK OR ARE ALWAYS ON EVEN IF THE CAR IS SWITCHED OFF AND LOCKED. THE ENTIRE CIRCUIT BOARD WAS REPLACED TWICE AT A PRICE OF OVER $700 INC OF LABOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEATBELT MADE A POPPING SOUND AND NO LONGER RETRACTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 10V043000 (SEAT BELTS: FRONT: RETRACTOR). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING HALF A MILE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, HE HEARD ANOTHER LOUD POP AND THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE AND CONTACT DROVE TO A REPAIR CENTER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE AND PIERCED THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT WAS BEING SERVICED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 72,000.

THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ON MY 2004 SAAB 9-3 FAILED. SAAB ISSUED A RECALL FOR SOME FAILED SEAT BELT RETRACTORS IN 2004 9-3S, BUT NOT FOR THE FULL MODEL YEAR. MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. IT SEEMS THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN SUFFICIENTLY COMPREHENSIVE IN THEIR RECALL. *TR

CAR INSTRUMENTATION PANEL TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. CAR "ACTS" AS IF IT WAS OFF WITH THE RED CIRCULAR ALARM FLASHING, CONSOLE LIGHTS OFF, CLOCK OFF, YET I AM DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND THE BRAKES, STEERING ARE PERFORMING AS IF I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (AS I AM). STOPPED FOR DINNER CAME OUT AND CAR DID NOT TURN ON, LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BUT NOTHING ELSE - COULD NOT OPEN TRUNK FROM THE KEY FOB THING OR FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR SWITCH. CALLED AAA THEY COULD NOT TURN THE CAR ON AND THE CAR BATTERY WAS CHARGED. KEY IN IGNITION AND BRAKE DEPRESSED DID NOT RELEASE CAR SHIFTER TO NEUTRAL. THIS WENT ON FOR AN HOUR. FINALLY I NEED TO GET INTO TRUNK AND FOUND A PLASTIC CAP BEHIND THE REAR SEAT HEAD REST AND DEPRESSED A SWITCH THAT OWNED THE TRUNK ALTHOUGH IT WAS TO PULL DOWN THE REAR SEAT... WE JOKED THAT NOW THE CAR WOULD TURN ON AND IT DID WHEN BY HAPPENSTANCE THE HIGH BEAMS WERE DEPRESSED. GOT IN THE CAR AND DROVE IT HOME BUT AGAIN THE CAR STILL DRIVING NORMALLY LOST THE CONSOLE LIGHTS AND FUNCTIONALITY SO I FLASHED THE HIGH BEAM AND ALL CAME BACK EXCEPT FOR CLOCK, OH, DID I MENTION NOW I HAVE A "GEAR BOX MALFUNCTION" DISPLAYED AS AN ERROR CODE. OH, I REPORTED THAT I REPLACE HEADLIGHTS ALMOST EVERY 2-3 MONTHS. MY INTERIOR CABIN FAN ISN'T WORKING AND THAT WAS AFTER IT WORKED EVEN WITH THE CAR TURNED OFF. *TR

IN FEB 2010 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SAAB SAYING THAT THE FRONT SPRINGS OF MY CAR COULD FAIL DUE TO CORROSION. THEY SAID COULD CAUSE THE HEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE TO DECREASE BY AN INCH OR TWO. WHAT THEY NEGLECTED TO SAY WAS THAT THE BROKEN SPRING CAN HIT THE TIRE AND CAUSE THE TIRE TO FAIL, WHICH IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME AND MAY OTHER SAAB OWNERS. THEIR LETTER SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THIS SINCE TIRE FAILURE CAUSED MY CAR TO BREAK DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD WHICH HAD NO SHOULDER AND I HAD NO WARNING THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR BROKE. THE SEAT BELT COMPLETELY UNWOUND. ALSO THE PASSENGER SIDE RETRACTOR IS VERY SLOW TO RETRACT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 93. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH SHE HEARD SOMETHING SNAP AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WAS LOOSE AND HAD BROKEN. SHE WAS UNABLE TO SECURE OR TIGHTEN IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO ORDER A SEAT BELT MECHANISM TO REPAIR IT. THE SEAT BELT WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 103000. UPDATED 4/7/2010 *CN UPDATED 06/02/10*JB

MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL HAS SNAPPED AND I'VE FOUND OUT THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE FROM SAAB. THIS IS QUITE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I'VE NOT SEEN ANY LETTER WARNING US OF THIS POTENTIAL DANGER. *TR

2004 SAAB 9-3 FRONT RIGHT SPRING COIL FAILURE. NO WARNING PRIOR TO DEFECT. LOUD NOISE IN WHEEL WELL FIRST/ONLY SIGN UPON STARTING CAR AND PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. RETURNED HOME IMMEDIATELY AND MADE APPOINTMENT WITH INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. DROVE APPROX. 2 MILES TO MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION SPRING COIL FRACTURED/BROKEN. MADE APPOINTMENT WITH SAAB DEALER WHO ASSURED ME IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE CAR TO DEALER. DROVE APPROX. 1.5M WHEN BROKEN COIL SPRING PUNCTURED TIRE RESULTING IN BLOWN-OUT TIRE. SAAB TOWED CAR, REPLACED BOTH FRONT SPRING COILS AND TIRE AT NO CHANGE. *TR

LEFT FRONT SPRING FAILURE. THERE WAS AN ERRATIC OCCASIONAL METAL TO METAL NOISE COMING FROM THE UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF THE SPRING BEING BROKEN. TOOK CAR TO SERVICE CENTER AND DISCOVERED SPRING FAILURE. UPON FURTHER INQUIRY WITH SAAB DEALER DISCOVERED THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. HAD CAR REPAIRED AND PARTS REPLACED WITH NEW REDESIGNED SPRINGS TO CORRECT DEFECT. OLD PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. WHY HASN'T A RECALL BEEN ISSUED? WHY HASN'T A WARNING BEEN SENT OUT TO SAAB OWNERS? WE OWN A SECOND SAAB 9-3 AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT FRONT SPRING FAILURE ON THIS CAR! *TR

FRONT COIL SPRING HAS BROKEN. *TR

MY 2004 SAAB 9-3 ARC HAD A DANGEROUS SEAT HEATER ISSUE. I WAS NEARLY BURNED WHEN THE SEAT HEATER WENT CRAZY. SO, HOT I COULDN'T TOUCH THE SEAT. I HAD TO STOP THE CAR AND GET OUT. THIS IS DANGEROUS!!! *TR

THE SEAT BELT ON MY SAAB 9.3 - 2004 STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. I FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT THE ITEM HAD BEEN RECALLED BUT SAAB REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL. NHTSA NUMBER 04V226000. *TR

THE HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS ON THE SAAB 9-3, FROM 2003 THROUGH PRESENT, DO NOT ADEQUATELY ILLUMINATE THE ROADWAY. THIS TYPE OF HEADLIGHT LAMP DESIGN IS KNOWN AS A "PROJECTOR BEAM" & IS A DIFFERENT CONCEPT THAN TRADITIONAL HEADLIGHTS. THEY'RE DESIGNED TO BETTER ILLUMINATE ROAD SIGNS & PERIPHERAL ROAD MARKERS, WHICH THEY DO, BUT AS FAR AS THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF HEADLIGHTS, (TO ILLUMINATE THE ROADWAY IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE) THEY ARE INADEQUATE & ONLY EXTEND LIGHT ABOUT 40' DOWN THE ROADWAY, WHICH IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO DRIVE SAFELY AT NIGHT. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS COMPLAINT IS ONLY REGARDING THE LOWBEAM HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS, AS BOTH THE HIGHBEAMS & OPTIONAL XENON TYPE HEADLIGHTS ARE MORE THAN ADEQUATE. THE IRONY OF THIS PROBLEM IS THAT THE SAAB 9-3 IS AMONG THE VERY SAFEST CARS AVAILABLE TODAY, FROM A CRASH TEST PERSPECTIVE, BUT NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY IS A SEPARATE SAFETY RELATED ISSUE WHICH I'VE NEVER SEEN TEST RESULTS FOR. MY FAMILY HAS OWNED SAABS EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS & HAVEN'T HAD THIS HEADLIGHT PROBLEM UNTIL WE PURCHASED A SAAB MODEL 9-3, OF WHICH WE NOW OWN 2: AN '04 & AN '07, BOTH OF WHICH SUFFER FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. IF YOU ACCESS THE WEBSITE WWW.SAABNET.COM & SEARCH ON "DIM HEADLIGHTS", YOU'LL SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

I WAS USING MY CAR'S SEAT WARMER AND THE SEAT BEGAN TO GET VERY HOT IN ONE SPOT ON THE SEAT. I ALSO NOTICED A BURNING SMELL THAT SMELLED LIKE BURNING LEAD OR RUBBER. THE LEVEL OF HEAT THAT WAS COMING FROM THE SPOT ON THE SEAT LEAD ME TO LIFT MYSELF OFF OF THE SEAT IN ORDER TO PREVENT BURNING MY LEG. I TURNED THE SEAT WARMER OFF, WHICH SEEMED TO MAKE THE BURNING SUBSIDE. THIS SEQUENCE CONTINUED UNTIL ABOUT A WEEK LATER WHEN THE SEAT WARMER STOPPED WORKING. ABOUT A MONTH LATER, WITH THE HELP OF A FAMILY FRIEND I REMOVED THE SEAT FROM THE CAR AND REMOVED THE UPHOLSTERY IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE AND TRY TO FIX IT. UPON REMOVING THE UPHOLSTERY, WE FOUND THAT THE WIRING OF THE SEAT WARMER HAD STARTED A SMALL FIRE IN THE SEAT CUSHION AND BURNED A HOLE (3 INCHES WIDE AND 1 INCH DEEP) IN THE CUSHION. THE BACKING OF THE LEATHER THAT COVERS THE CUSHION HAD ALSO BEEN BURNED THROUGH. THE WIRING WAS NOT RECOGNIZABLE AND REPAIR WAS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT PROFESSIONAL SERVICE. WE LEFT THE SEAT AS IT IS FOR NOW UNTIL WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE, AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO PREVENT THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION FROM OCCURRING AGAIN. *TR

HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT; SOON AFTER, THERE WAS A RUBBER(TIRE) BURNING SMELL AND VIBRATION ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE. THE COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND WAS PRESSING AGAINST THE TIRE AND RIM. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. CHANGED BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS. MILEAGE ON THE CAR-44,000. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE LEFT COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND THEN PUNCTURED A WHOLE IN HIS DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR HAS THE MANUFACTURER BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3 PURCHASED OCTOBER 2006. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 20 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD WHIZZING NOISE, AND THEN NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS STILL CONNECTED TO THE PILLAR, BUT THE TENSIONER HAD BECOME DISLODGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, BUT THEY COULD NOT PERFORM THE WORK BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL. HOWEVER HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V226000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR). NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 79,037.

DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING "BROKE" WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 SAAB 9-3 ON THE HIGHWAY AT OVER 50 MPH. CAUSED SIGNIFICANT STRUT DAMAGE AND RATTLING OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS AS I WAS WORKING TO SCHEDULE IN A MECHANIC VISIT. THEY FINALLY QUOTED ME $930 IN REPAIRS TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS, STRUTS AND TO PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT. APPARENTLY, A LOT OF OTHER SAABS OF THE SAME MODEL HAS HAD THIS ISSUE ARISE FOR THEM, I THINK THE SPRINGS SHOULD BE RECALLED. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 93. THE FRONT DRIVER-SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WOULD NOT RETRACT THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE RETRACTOR. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V226000 (SEAT BELTS FRONT:RETRACTOR). THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAD BROKEN WHICH CAUSED THE BELT WEBBING TO NOT RETRACT. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 04V226000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR). HE WAS ADVISED THAT HE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, SO HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 106,000.

I OWN A 2004 SAAB 9-3 SEDAN. A FEW DAYS I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SEATBELT RETRACTOR AS DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT : PE09048. I CALLED SAAB IN REFERENCE TO RECALL #5938 FOR SOME 2004 MODELS, BUT THEY CLAIM THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL. *TR

COIL SPRING ON FRONT RIGHT TIRE OF 2004 SAAB 9-3 BROKE. SHREDDED TIRE. *TR

UPON DRIVING OUR 2004 SAAB 9-3 INTO A PARKING LOT WE NOTICED THE CAR WAS NOT HANDLING CORRECTLY. FRONT END WAS VERY LOW TO GROUND, CAR NOT TURNING CORRECTLY, AND MAKING A NOISE. UPON HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALER IT APPEARED ONE OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS HAD SNAPPED. BASED ON NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTED COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO OURS, WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED VERY CLOSE TO WORK, AFTER GETTING OFF OF THE MASS PIKE OR WE COULD HAVE HAD A BLOWN TIRE AT 70 MPH. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH THE SAAB DEALER AND THEIR DISTRICT MANAGER, SAAB REPLACED BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS AT NO COST TO US WITHOUT ANY ARGUMENT. IRONICALLY A FRIEND OF OURS HAD JUST HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM A MONTH EARLIER WITH THE SAME OUTCOME. *TR

NOTICED A SUDDEN STEERING PULL AND THUMP/RATTLE IN FRONT END. DROVE TO NEAREST SHOP TO HAVE A LOOK AND WAS TOLD MY FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND LUCKY THAT THE SPRING DID NOT SHRED THE TIRE AND CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT! I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS HAS BEEN A SOMEWHAT COMMON DEFECT ON SIMILAR YEAR MODELS. SHOP RECOMMENDED REPLACE BOTH SPRINGS BEFORE DRIVING AGAIN. *TR

AS I WAS PUTTING ON MY SEATBELT I HEARD A SNAP AND AN UNROLLING SOUND IN THE DOOR OF THE CAR AND THE SEATBELT LOST TENSION. THE SEATBELT WOULD NOT REGAIN TENSION. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE RETRACTOR HAD BROKEN. THERE IS A RECALL ON 2004 SAAB 93 SEATBELT RETRACTORS, BUT THEY SAID THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THEREFORE I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR ($455). THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART IN STOCK TO FIX IT SO THEY SENT ME HOME, WITHOUT OFFERING A RENTAL CAR EVEN THOUGH I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN THAT I WAS LACKING A CRITICAL SAFETY FEATURE OF MY CAR. *TR

FRONT SPRING COIL IS BROKE. DURING OIL CHANGE, DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND A PIECE OF THE COIL MISSING. I WOULD LIKE SAAB TO REIMBURSE FOR THIS $400+ REPAIR JOB. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXAMINING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 45000.

ON, 8/18/2009 AS I WAS DRIVING I HEARD SOMETHING SNAP IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE B-PILLAR TRIM AT THIS SAME MOMENT MY SEATBELT WENT COMPLETELY LOOSE. IT WILL NO LONGER RETRACT, THE BELT PULLS OUT FREELY WITH NO RESISTANCE AND IS NOW COMPLETELY OUT AND WILL NOT RETRACT. IN THE EVENT OF AN EVASIVE MANEUVER/CRASH I (THE DRIVER) WILL NOT BE HELD INTO THE SEAT PROPERLY AND RISK BEING EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL IN THE 03/04 SAAB 9-3'S FOR THE FRONT SEATBELT RETRACTORS. I HAVE CONTACTED SAAB USA; THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE RETRACTOR BECAUSE MY VIN FALLS RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE COVERED RECALLED CARS. I BELIEVE THAT MY CAR IS SUFFERING FROM THE RECALLED ITEM, AND THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE A LARGER VIN RANGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. WHEN THE CONTACT RELEASED THE SEAT BELT, THE MECHANISM ON THE DOOR POST MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND THEN HAVE THE DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED AND WOULD COST $400 TO REPAIR. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V226000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR); HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS RECALL DOES NOT EXIST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 49,200. UPDATED 08/04/09 *BF THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN. UPDATED 08/10/09.*JB

LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BROKEN. *TR