2009 Saab 9-3

Routine

Owners filed 43 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 3 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
70,000 milesMedian miles at failure

26 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 75,00090,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags17
000
Engine12
000
Fuel/Propulsion System3
000
Service Brakes2
000
Seat Belts2
000
Wheels1
000
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs1
000
Structure › Body1
100
Steering1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module16V063000
Filed Feb 3, 2016113,716 vehiclesGeneral Motors Llc

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor14V318000
Filed Jun 12, 201428,789 vehiclesGeneral Motors Llc

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump11E009000
Filed Feb 28, 20114,887 vehiclesTi Group Automotive Systems, Llc

Defect. TI AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN FUEL PUMPS, PART NUMBERS TU456 AND TU303, SOLD UNDER VARIOUS BRAND NAMES AS AFTERMARKET AND REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MAY SEIZE, STOPPING THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE CREATING A STALLING CONDITION.

Risk. A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE IN USE.

Remedy. TI AUTOMOTIVE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND WILL REPLACE ANY DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP WITH A NEW OR REWORKED FUEL PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TI AUTOMOTIVE AT 1-866-867-3759 OR LOG ON TO WWW.RECALLRESPONSE.COM.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Mar 14, 201978,000 milesIN

MY 2009 SAAB 9-3 STARTED AND RAN FINE ON THE WAY TO WORK, BUT AT LUNCH IT STARTED FOR A COUPLE SECONDS AND SHUT OFF. THE CAR CRANKS, BUT IS AUDIBLY TOO FREE SPINNING. A LOCAL SHOP SAID COMPRESSION IN THE ENGINE WAS VERY LOW, AND AFTER MULTIPLE CALLS IT SEEMS THAT MY CAR HAS THE INFAMOUS "SOFT INTAKE VALVES" PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN A WIDESPREAD PLAGUE FOR THESE CARS FOR MODEL YEARS 07-11. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 78,000 MILES ON IT, AND HAS ALWAYS HAD THE OIL CHANGED WITH THE CORRECT GM SPEC OIL. I WOULD THINK AN ENGINE SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THIS.

Engine
Filed Mar 5, 201871,000 milesGA

MISFIRES WHEN COLD, RESULTING IN ROUGH LOW IDLE SPEED AND POSSIBLE STALLING AFTER COLD START.

Engine
Filed Jan 5, 201870,000 milesMA

MY CAR HAS FALLEN VICTIM TO THE SOFT INTAKE VALVE ISSUE. MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, IT RAN PERFECTLY WELL THE NIGHT BEFORE. I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE IT ON CHRISTMAS EVE MORNING 12/24/2017 BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL SAAB MECHANIC, AUTOMOTION IN BILLERICA, MA- THE OWNER SAID THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE HE HAS SEEN ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS; HE SAID HE SAW IT SO MANY TIMES HE PURCHASED NEW EQUIPMENT TO BE PREPARED FOR THE VOLUME OF CUSTOMERS. THIS IS BEING WELL DOCUMENTED AT THE SAABCENTRAL FORUM FOUND AT WWW.SAABCENTRAL.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=329066 MY 2009 9-3 IS ABOUT TO HIT 70,000 MILES; MECHANIC IS CURRENTLY WORKING TO FIX THE INTAKE VALVE ISSUE AT A COST OF $2,245.00 PLUS TAX. THERE ARE 35 PAGES OF DOCUMENTED INSTANCES AT SAABCENTRAL. IT ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED WHETHER OR NOT GM ALLOWED THESE FAULTY ENGINES TO BE IN PRODUCTION AND SOLD TO CUSTOMERS. IT HAS BEEN STATED THAT GM ALLOWED SOFT, NON-HEAT HARDENED INTAKE VALVES TO BE USED; THESE INTAKE VALVES WILL DEFORM OVERTIME AND LEAD TO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER NOT HAVING A PERFECT SEAL.

Engine
Filed Dec 6, 201780,000 milesOH

THE INTAKE VALVES ARE WORN ON THE ENGINE THIS STARTED AROUND 80,000 MILES AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. THE CAR WILL NOT START ON VERY COLD DAYS. IF IT DOES, IT IDLES VERY ROUGH AND HARD. DATE BELOW IS AN ESTIMATE OF WHEN THIS STARTED.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Oct 13, 201780,000 milesOH

I HAVE OWNED MY 2008 SAAB 9-3 FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW AND I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING ROUGH RUNNING ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. WHEN I START MY CAR UP IN THE MORNING IT RUNS VERY ROUGH. IHAVE GOTTEN IT DIAGNOSED AND IT IS MISFIRING DRAMATICALLY LIKE 6000 ON ONE CYLINDER AND 1081 ON ANOTHER . I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAD THIS PROBLEM DIAGNOSED, SEVERAL TIMES, AS HAVING BAD INTAKE VALVES. AFTER DOING MORE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE COME TO FIND THIS IS A RATHER COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS SPECIFIC YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE I HAVE HAD THIS REPAIR QUOTED AT OVER $2500.00. I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH MANUFACTURER RECALLS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS TO SUBMIT A COMPLAINT IN ORDER FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER RECALL DUE TO FAULTY PARTS. THERE IS ONLY 80,000 MILES ON THE CAR!!!!!!!!!!!

Air Bags
Filed Jun 26, 2017FL

I WAS FIRST NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL IN 2016, BUT TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. WHEN I GOT THE NOTICE EARLY THIS YEAR THAT PARTS AVAILABLE, I CALLED THE AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND NEVER GOT A RESPONSE. ON ONE OCCASION I SPOKE TO SOMEONE WHO SAID HE WOULD CALL ME BACK BUT NEVER DID, AND WHO TOLD ME THAT MY CAR DOESN'T HAVE THE TAMARA AIRBAG (WHICH IT APPEARS IT DOES), AND THAT NOTHING HAD HAPPENED WITH ANY SAAB. HE WAS VERY DISMISSIVE OF THE RISK.

Air Bags
Filed Apr 20, 2017TN

TAKATA RECALL I WAS INFORMED IN A LETTER THAT GM IS WORKING ON AIRBAG RECALL FOR MY CAR. IT STATED THAT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT MY AIRBAG CAN EXPLODE AND I MAY DIE. THEY ALSO SAID THAT IN ANOTHER LETTER THEY WILL SPECIFY WHEN THE REPLACEMENT PART IS AVAILABLE. IT HAS BEEN A WHILE AND I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING BACK SO I DECIDED TO DO MY OWN RESEARCH. AFTER CALLING LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER HERE IN NASHVILLE, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ONLY PLACE IN TENNESSEE THAT STILL DOES SAAB WARRANTY WORK IN IN MEMPHIS. AFTER CALLING THAT DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THAT THE PARTS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR A WHILE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER SINCE MY LIFE CAN BE AT DANGER EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR. I FEEL LIKE GM IS ACTING NEGLIGENT IN THIS CASE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DO NOT PRODUCE SAABS ANYMORE, BUT THEY SHOULD STILL DO THEIR BEST TO SUPPORT THE PRODUCT THAT THEY HAVE PRODUCED.

Air Bags
Filed Jan 20, 2017NH

TAKATA RECALL - MY COMPLAINT IS THAT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAS HAPPENED, AND THAT THE STATUS OF THE RECALL ISSUED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO IS: "RECALL INCOMPLETE. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE". PEOPLE ARE STILL DYING OUT THERE BECAUSE TAKATA HAS NOT YET SOLVED THIS PROBLEM. THOSE OF US WHO OWN VEHICLES THAT ARE UNDER THIS RECALL CAN'T JUST STOP DRIVING THEM WHILE WE WAIT FOR THIS PART TO BECOME AVAILABLE. SO, INSTEAD, WE EXPOSE OURSELVES TO RISK OF INJURY AND DEATH FROM AN AIR BAG THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT US IN A CRASH. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!!! *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jan 19, 2017TX

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL IN MAY 2016. THERE HAS BEEN NO FOLLOW-UP OR FIX AVAILABLE TO THIS DATE. THIS IS A DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG RECALL. I CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE MY CAR UNTIL THIS IS FIXED. I LIVE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS WHERE IT IS HOT AND HUMID MUCH OF THE YEAR. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR THAT INCREASES THE DANGER RELATED TO THIS RECALL.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 14, 2016FL

TAKATA RECALL--IT'S BEEN 9 MONTHS SINCE I WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL, AND CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER. BUT I'VE RECEIVED NO FURTHER WORD. I LOVE THIS CAR, HOWEVER, I AM VERY CONCERN, SINCE MY WIFE USES THIS CAR EVER DAY TO GO TO WORK. IF, GOD FORBID, SOMEONE HITS THE CAR AND THE AIR BAG IMPLODES AND SHE IS INJURED OR DIES, YOU WILL BE SUED. WHEN IS THE PROBLEM GOING TO BE FIXED? VERY CONCERN OWNER AND HUSBAND!!!!!

Air Bags
Filed Nov 16, 2016140,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 3, 2016MI

IT IS PUBLIC INFORMATION THAT TAKATA'S AIRBAGS CARRY A VERY HIGH RISK SINCE THE INFLATOR PROPELLANT DEGRADES TO THE POINT OF BRAKING THE STEEL HOUSING AND THROWING IT TO THE OCCUPANT CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES OR DEATH. IN SPITE OF ALL THESE FACTS, THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT INITIATED A RECALL AND DOES NOT PROVIDE ANSWERS AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO THEIR CUSTOMER OFFICE. MY VEHICLE HAS A TAKATA AIRBAG ACCORDING TO NHTSA'S DATABASE, THE INFLATOR MUST BE REPLACED.

Air Bags
Filed Sep 28, 201650,000 milesTX

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE BEEN AWARE OF MY VEHICLE'S RECALL FOR GREATER THAN 6 MONTHS AND MY MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PRESENTED A SAFE SOLUTION.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 27, 2016OK

TAKATA RECALL--IT'S BEEN 5 MONTHS SINCE I WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL, BUT I'VE RECEIVED NO FURTHER WORD. SAAB'S ARE NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED AND SOLD AS NEW CARS, AND THEREFORE I EXPECT I'M AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST. BUT I JUST PUT A GREAT DEAL OF MAINTENANCE INTO THE CAR, IT HAS 60,000 MILES AND I'M NOT IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW CAR. HOWEVER, I'M TERRIFIED TO TAKE A PASSENGER OR DRIVE THE CAR MYSELF. WHEN I WANT TO KNOW WILL MY CINCINNATI OR COLUMBUS, OH DEALER HAVE A NEW AIRBAG TO INSTALL.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 21, 2016NH

TAKATA RECALL - IT HAS BEEN OVER SIX MONTHS SINCE THIS RECALL WAS ISSUED, AND THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE TO FIX A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING CONDITION. IT IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT MAY KILL ME IF I AM INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN WILL THE REPLACEMENT AIR BAGS BE AVAILABLE? WHY IS THE MANUFACTURER NOT MANDATED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME? I PERSONALLY THINK THAT SIX MONTHS IS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TIME TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RECTIFIED.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 21, 2016CA

TAKATA RECALL: GM ANNOUNCED THIS RECALL 6 MONTHS AGO. STILL NO REMEDY AND NO COMMUNICATION. MY CHILDREN ARE ABOUT TO START LEARNING TO DRIVE - I DON'T WANT TO RISK THEIR LIVES BY ALLOWING THEM TO DRIVE THE SAAB - I NEED A NEW AIRBAG. SORRY IF THIS IS THE WRONG FORM - I FOLLOWED THE SAFER LINKS.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 17, 2016MD

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SABB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 16, 2016MA

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 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. UPDATED 10/05/16*LJ *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jul 12, 2016FL

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 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.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 8, 2016MO

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20 of 43 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
201130400Routine
201030400Routine
2009 — this page43300Routine
2008184311Fatalities reported
2007155350Routine
2006179330Routine
200595320Routine
2004207620Above average
2003212560Above average
200237410Routine
200159411Fatalities reported
200050210Routine
199964300Routine
19941000Routine

Compare every 9-3 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Feb 3, 2016. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.