NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
95 reports82,000 miles · Aug 2, 2011
Suspension
APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS AGO MY RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE ON MY 2005 SAAB 9-3 AT AROUND 75,000 MILES. I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY GARAGE WHEN IT SNAPPED, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE SOUND AS NOTHING APPEARED BROKEN TO MY UNTRAINED EYE AND THE VEHICLE STILL OPERATED FINE. OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS I BROUGHT IT IN T…
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APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS AGO MY RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE ON MY 2005 SAAB 9-3 AT AROUND 75,000 MILES. I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY GARAGE WHEN IT SNAPPED, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE SOUND AS NOTHING APPEARED BROKEN TO MY UNTRAINED EYE AND THE VEHICLE STILL OPERATED FINE. OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR FRONT END NOISE AND THE BROKEN SPRING WAS DISCOVERED. NOT A BIG DEAL AS THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER A SERVICE BULLETIN AND NO DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, A FEW DAYS AGO MY RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING SNAPPED AS I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO APPARENT CHANGE IN HOW THE VEHICLE HANDLED, BUT AFTER MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE FRONT SPRING THE SOUND WAS FAMILIAR AND THEREFORE I HAD MY HUSBAND INSPECT IT. APPARENTLY, THERE IS NO SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE REAR SPRINGS, JUST THE FRONT SPRINGS AND I'M WONDERING WHY BOTH FRONT AND REAR ARE NOT COVERED BY THIS SERVICE BULLETIN. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10416748
37,440 miles · Jun 24, 2011
Electrical SystemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE AIR CONDITIONAER, HEADLIGHTS AND THE MOTOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR ALL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A BURN OUT OCCURRED IN THE ELECTRICAL SOCKETS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE AIR CONDITIONAER, HEADLIGHTS AND THE MOTOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR ALL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A BURN OUT OCCURRED IN THE ELECTRICAL SOCKETS FOR EACH COMPONENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,440.
NHTSA ODI #10408755
95,000 miles · Jun 1, 2011
Seat Belts
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER FOLDING THE SEAT BACK THE SEAT BELT BECAME LOCKED IN PLACE AND HE WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE IT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED HIM TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER FOLDING THE SEAT BACK THE SEAT BELT BECAME LOCKED IN PLACE AND HE WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE IT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED HIM TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
NHTSA ODI #10404027
74,155 miles · May 4, 2011
Suspension
I HAVE A 2005 SAAB 9-3 THAT BECAME UNDRIVEABLE AFTER THE FRONT LEFT COILS/SPRINGS BROKE, PUNCTURING THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN A POPPING SOUND WAS HEARD, FOLLOWED BY GRINDING AND A BURNING RUBBER SMELL. AT THAT POINT THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEN TO …
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I HAVE A 2005 SAAB 9-3 THAT BECAME UNDRIVEABLE AFTER THE FRONT LEFT COILS/SPRINGS BROKE, PUNCTURING THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN A POPPING SOUND WAS HEARD, FOLLOWED BY GRINDING AND A BURNING RUBBER SMELL. AT THAT POINT THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEN TO A SAAB DEALERSHIP TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE IS A CAMPAIGN OUT FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT NOT A RECALL. THE SPRINGS/COILS WERE REPLACED FOR FREE BUT THE TIRE COST WAS PRORATED AND THE CAR REQUIRED AN ALIGNMENT AFTER THE REPAIRS WHICH WAS NOT COVERED IN THE COST. THIS CAR HAD BEEN IN THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE AND THE COILS/SPRINGS WERE SPECIFICALLY CHECKED DUE TO THE CAMPAIGN. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE PARTS DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGN OF DAMAGE AND SO WERE NOT REPLACED. BOTH TOW TRUCK DRIVERS AND THE REPAIR SHOP OWNER COMMENTED THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY, CONSIDERING HOW QUICKLY IT RENDERED THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE AND WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN GOING AT A FAST RATE OF SPEED, SURROUNDED BY OTHER CARS. I AM SHOCKED THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT A RECALL AS IT IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10398885
53,000 miles · Apr 5, 2011
Suspension
SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR (NEW) IN JUNE '05 I HAVE COMPLAINED OF A "CRUNCHING NOISE" IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION EVERY TIME THE WEATHER TURNED COLD. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEMS VARIED FROM BALL BEARINGS TO THE SWAY BAR, TO JUST DIRT BUILD UP. EACH TIME THE DEALER MADE SOME "REPAIR" TO GET ME OUT THE DOOR. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. NOW, APR…
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SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR (NEW) IN JUNE '05 I HAVE COMPLAINED OF A "CRUNCHING NOISE" IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION EVERY TIME THE WEATHER TURNED COLD. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEMS VARIED FROM BALL BEARINGS TO THE SWAY BAR, TO JUST DIRT BUILD UP. EACH TIME THE DEALER MADE SOME "REPAIR" TO GET ME OUT THE DOOR. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. NOW, APRIL '11 I HAVE A BROKEN SPRING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I HAVE TO PAY THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BEFORE THEY WILL CONSIDER FIXING IT UNDER ANY SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE FREE OF CHARGE. I HAVE SOURCED SOME PARTS FOR IT AND AM CONSIDERING HAVING IT FIXED BY MYSELF, RATHER THAN GO TO THE DEALER WHO BRUSHED ME OFF FOR 5 YEARS. THANKFULLY I WAS JUST PULLING OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT WHEN I HEARD THE GRINDING NOISE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE SPRING BROKE DOWNWARD AND WAS VERY NEAR THE TIRE. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS TIRE BLOWOUT ON THE HIGHWAY HAD I NOT BEEN SO LUCKY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10394268
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2011
Suspension
AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY GARAGE, I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO INSPECT WHAT HAPPENED, I NOTICED A BROKEN STRUT COIL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE WHEN I VISITED SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS, IT SEAMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SAABS, AND IT COULD BE DANGEROUS IF IT OCCURS AT HI…
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AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY GARAGE, I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO INSPECT WHAT HAPPENED, I NOTICED A BROKEN STRUT COIL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE WHEN I VISITED SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS, IT SEAMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SAABS, AND IT COULD BE DANGEROUS IF IT OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND IS CURRENTLY AWAITING REPAIR. THE DAMAGED PART IS AVAILABLE. AUTOMOBILE IS A 2005 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE ARC. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10392275
55,662 miles · Mar 6, 2011
Suspension
2005 SAAB 9-3 DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT STRUT SPRING JUST BROKE. NO WARNING, DROVE YESTERDAY AND CAR WAS FINE, WENT TO BACK OUT OF GARAGE AND A TERRIBLE GRINDING, SCRAPING NOISE OCCURRED. DISCOVERED THE SPRING BROKE AND RUBBING AGAINST TIRE. LUCKILY THIS DID NOT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS. SEEMS LIKE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED T…
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2005 SAAB 9-3 DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT STRUT SPRING JUST BROKE. NO WARNING, DROVE YESTERDAY AND CAR WAS FINE, WENT TO BACK OUT OF GARAGE AND A TERRIBLE GRINDING, SCRAPING NOISE OCCURRED. DISCOVERED THE SPRING BROKE AND RUBBING AGAINST TIRE. LUCKILY THIS DID NOT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS. SEEMS LIKE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED TIRE BLOW OUT AND POSSIBLY AN ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10386600
64,000 miles · Jan 11, 2011
Suspension
TO WHOM THIS MAY BE CONCERNED: I JUST CALLED SAAB CORP AND MY LOCAL SAAB DEALER, AND THEY'RE ACTING LIKE IT'S NO BIG DEAL???? I THINK IT'S A VERY BIG DEAL AND ACCORDING TO MY PERSONAL NON-SAAB MECHANIC, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LIFE-THREATENING ORDEAL IF THE COIL-SPRING WOULD HAVE BROKE AT A HIGHER SPEEDS... IT'S JUST …
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TO WHOM THIS MAY BE CONCERNED: I JUST CALLED SAAB CORP AND MY LOCAL SAAB DEALER, AND THEY'RE ACTING LIKE IT'S NO BIG DEAL???? I THINK IT'S A VERY BIG DEAL AND ACCORDING TO MY PERSONAL NON-SAAB MECHANIC, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LIFE-THREATENING ORDEAL IF THE COIL-SPRING WOULD HAVE BROKE AT A HIGHER SPEEDS... IT'S JUST PLAIN WRONG THAT SAAB-CORP IS NOT MAKING A BIGGER DEAL ABOUT THIS ISSUE??? WHY??? ANY AND ALL INFO WILL BE APPRECIATED. ALSO I'M THINKING ABOUT REPORTING THIS TO MY OUR LOCAL CONGRESSMAN AND STATE SENATOR?? THANK YOU AND SAFE-DRIVING:: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10376237
47,000 miles · Sep 18, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2005 SAAB 9-3 ARC CONVERTIBLE. BRAKE ISSUES. SPONGY BRAKES, PEDAL GOES ALMOST TO FLOOR. DEALER REPLACED HYDRAULIC UNIT & MASTER CYLINDER - PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. REPORTED TO SAAB CUSTOMER SERVICE - NO RESPONSE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10356286
67,000 miles · Apr 9, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 93. THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL SERVICE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE COOLANT WAS REFILLED YET THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS TOO …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 93. THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL SERVICE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE COOLANT WAS REFILLED YET THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS TOO POROUS, CAUSING THE COOLANT TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN SERVICED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10324702
NHTSA investigations
2EA08026 · Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture
Opened Dec 22, 2008 · Closed Jun 4, 2010
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
To date, ODI is aware of 142 non-duplicative complaints related to the alleged defect.In addition, ODI is aware of 2,626 subject vehicles with one or more warranty claims related to the alleged defect.In total, ODI is aware of 2,714 unique subject vehicles that have experienced one or more front suspension coil spring fractures.ODI is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the alleged defect.The engineering design and testing data supplied by GM, along with the frequency of consumer complaints and warranty claims related to the alleged defect, tends to support the position that, in general, the coil springs that fractured on many subject vehicles did not achieve the expected service life.However, in regard to the subject vehicles, a front suspension coil spring fracture itself has little safety consequence, as evidenced by the minimal impact on vehicle ride and handling and by the number of drivers who were unaware of the failure condition for some time until alerted by service personnel.The ratio of tire punctures to coil spring fractures appears low and there are no reports of crashes, deaths or injuries related to the alleged defect. A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor this issue and will take further action if warranted by the circumstances.See the EA08-026 Engineering Analysis Closing Report for more details.
PE08051 · Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture
Opened Aug 28, 2008 · Closed Dec 23, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
ON AUGUST 28, 2008, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE08-051) TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURES IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003-2004 SAAB 9-3 VEHICLES SOLD OR REGISTERED IN SALT BELT STATES.(NOTE: FOR PURPOSES OF THIS INVESTIGATION, THE SALT BELT INCLUDES CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN).SUBSEQUENT ANALYSIS OF DATA PROVIDED BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM) HAS LED THE AGENCY TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE ALL MY 2003-2006 SAAB 9-3 VEHICLES SOLD OR REGISTERED IN SALT BELT STATES. TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF 53 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS AND/OR FIELD REPORTS THAT ALLEGE COIL SPRING FRACTURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, INCLUDING 23 ALLEGING THE FRACTURED SPRING DAMAGED A TIRE, WITH 16 OF THOSE INVOLVING A TIRE PUNCTURE.ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY GM IDENTIFIED 1,218 CLAIMS PAID TO REPAIR SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCED THE ALLEGED DEFECT, OF WHICH 138 VEHICLES ALSO SUFFERED DAMAGE TO THE ADJACENT TIRE AND OF THOSE, 79 VEHICLES EXPERIENCED A TIRE PUNCTURE.ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT. GM MADE SEVERAL DESIGN CHANGES TO THE COIL SPRINGS AND/OR MCPHERSON STRUT ASSEMBLIES USED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IN AN APPARENT EFFORT TO ADDRESS THE ALLEGED DEFECT CONDITION.HOWEVER, GM MAINTAINS THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES REMAIN WELL CONTROLLED IN THE EVENT OF TIRE PUNCTURE, THAT THE RATE OF TIRE PUNCTURE INCIDENTS RELATED TO COIL SPRING FRACTURES IS LOW, AND THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT DOES NOT POSE AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA08-026) TO FURTHER STUDY THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.