2011 Saab 9-3

Routine

Owners filed 30 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags25
100
Unknown or Other1
000
Service Brakes1
000
Seat Belts1
000
Power Train1
000
Engine1
000

4 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.

Fuel System, Other › Delivery › Fuel Pump11V015000
Filed Jan 19, 20114,400 vehiclesSaab Cars North America, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Seat Belts
Filed Jun 1, 2021NY

Driver side seat belt not retracting, there is a recall but does not include this vin number.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Aug 31, 202090,000 milesTN

DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET GOING IN A FORWARD, STRAIGHT MOTION.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 1, 2020103,000 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

Engine
Filed Nov 15, 2018120,000 milesKY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT DETECTED A STRONG ODOR OF COOLANT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT AND SCREWS WERE MISSING THAT CONNECTED THE TRANSMISSION TO THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE WARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 22, 2018DC

PUMP ON REAR XWD FAILURE

Air Bags
Filed Jun 29, 2017MA

LETTER IS RESPONSE TO THE RECALL OF A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG; SEEKING HELP FOR THIS DILEMNA NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 16V063. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. UPDATED 06/29/2017 *JS

Air Bags
Filed Jun 20, 2017CA

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-955-9007. THE CONTACT ASKED THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE THE DEALER NEARBY REPAIR THE AIR BAGS. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO DEALER THAT WAS 60 MILES AWAY FROM THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 2, 2017NY

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. DORSHAL AUTOMOTIVE WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INITIALLY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS BEING SENT; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STILL WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE RECALL REMEDIED DUE TO THE LACK OF PART AVAILABILITY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 08/29/17*LJ *CN

Air Bags
Filed Apr 27, 2017MI

TAKATA RECALL. THE RECALL ISSUE HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW YET NO REMEDY IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS MODEL VEHICLE. CONSIDERING THE DANGER AND GRAVITY BEHIND THIS KNOWN ISSUE, IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT A REMEDY IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR ALL VEHICLES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY THE PERSONS INVOLVED.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 24, 2017NY

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000(AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN FEBRUARY OF 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 5, 2017MA

TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME FOR THE AIRBAG TO BE FIXED ON MY CAR. I CHECK EVERY MONTH FOR THE STATUS OF THE RECALL AND EVERY MONTH I SEE NO ACTION. THIS COULD SERIOUSLY INJURE ME OR MY FAMILY. AN UNKNOWN TIME FRAME FOR RESOLUTION ON AN ISSUE KNOWN TO INJURE PEOPLE IS UNACCEPTABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Jan 18, 2017NY

TAKATA RECALL. I NEED AN IMMEDIATE SOLUTION TO THE SAFETY HAZARD THIS RECALL PRESENTS. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS FOR GETTING A MANUFACTURER BUYOUT ON MY VEHICLE?

Air Bags
Filed Jan 1, 2017112,148 milesOH

TAMARA RECALL NO REPLACEMENT YET

Air Bags
Filed Dec 27, 2016MT

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS) AND 16V063000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUES. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AND PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 02/21/17*LJ UPDATED 03/01/17.*JB

Air Bags
Filed Dec 9, 2016MA

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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 30, 2016FL

TAKATA RECALL. WE RECEIVED NOTICE, BY MAIL, OF THE AIRBAG RECALL IN MARCH 2016. IT IS NOW 8 MONTHS LATER AND WE ARE TOLD THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 27, 2016CA

HI ALL, WE RECEIVE A NOTICE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO REGARDING A RECALL TO THE AIRBAGS IN OUR CAR. AT THE TIME THEY SAID THERE WAS CURRENTLY NO REMEMDY. I JUST CHECKED SAFECAR.GOV TO CHECK IF THERE WERE ANY UPDATES AND IT SAYS "RECALL INCOMPLETE. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE " WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT USING THIS CAR AS RECENTLY AN ELEVENTH PERSON WAS KILLED BY THESE AIRBAGS. IS THERE SOME WAY TO EXPEDITE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAGS? THANKS YOU SO MUCH FOR ANY HELP YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO OFFER. SCOTT

Air Bags
Filed Oct 26, 2016CA

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. 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.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 12, 2016MA

TAKATA RECALL - I WAS APPRISED BY MAIL THAT THE AIRBAGS ON MY SAAB 9-3 NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THAT THE REMEDY IS NOT YET AVAILABLE. EIGHT MONTHS HAVE PASSED AND THE REMEDY IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE. WHY MUST I CONTINUE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH AIRBAGS THAT MAY CAUSE INJURY OR WORSE? WHEN WILL REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS BE AVAILABLE?

Air Bags
Filed Oct 1, 201675,000 milesIL

TAKATA RECALL. SAAB VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AIRBAG, BUT MANUFACTURER IS OUT OF BUSINESS AND PREVIOUS PARENT COMPANY (GM) HAS NOT INDICATED ANY TIMEFRAME FOR FIXING THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG. THIS CAR IS NOW GOING ON 5 YEARS WITH THIS DEFECTIVE AIRBAG IN PLACE. WHAT CAN BE DONE?

20 of 30 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2011 — this page30400Routine
201030400Routine
200943300Routine
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.