Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
120–25K
1825–50K
2250–75K
975–100K
12100–150K
5150K+
78 reports with mileage · 17 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Suspension. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
95 reports
1,000 miles · Mar 11, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
ONGOING DURING ROUTINE DRIVING: THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 SAAB 9-3 BURN OUT ON APPROXIMATELY A MONTHLY BASIS REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE BULB. ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGEABLE SOURCES THIS IS DUE TO A CORROSION ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHT SOCKETS KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER AND SERVICE PROVIDERS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO THE FACT T…
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ONGOING DURING ROUTINE DRIVING: THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005 SAAB 9-3 BURN OUT ON APPROXIMATELY A MONTHLY BASIS REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE BULB. ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGEABLE SOURCES THIS IS DUE TO A CORROSION ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHT SOCKETS KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER AND SERVICE PROVIDERS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHEN ONE HEADLIGHT BULB BURNS OUT - THE OTHER HEADLIGHT BULB BURNS OUT SHORTLY THEREAFTER EXPOSING ME TO FOUR OCCURRENCES WHERE I HAVE LOST ILLUMINATION IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHT SOCKETS ARE OF POOR CONSTRUCTION AS I HAVE HAD TWO OCCURRENCES OF ONE OF THE THREE TABS WHICH SECURE THE HEADLIGHT SOCKET INTO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY BREAK OFF. THIS INITIALLY CREATES A SITUATION WHERE THE HEADLIGHT BULB MOVES OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING IMPROPER ILLUMINATION OF THE ROADWAY AHEAD. ULTIMATELY, THE BROKEN TAB ON THE SOCKET LEADS TO BULB FAILURE DUE TO VIBRATION ASSOCIATED WITH VEHICLE OPERATION. REPLACEMENT SOCKETS AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER ARE OF THE SAME CONSTRUCTION AND THE UNDERLYING ISSUES HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10318923
73,000 miles · Mar 1, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I HAVE A 2005 SAAB 9-3, 2.0 LITER TURBO ENGINE. MY DAUGHTER OWNS THE SAME CAR, BUT A 2004 MODEL. THE ABS CONTROL UNIT WITH ESP HAD TO BE REPLACED ON BOTH VEHICLES; IN MY VEHICLE AT 73,000 MILES AND HER CAR AT 121,000 MILES. WAS THERE A RECALL ON THIS PART? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10315051
60,000 miles · Feb 2, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK WHEN DEPRESSED FULLY DURING TAKEOVER MANEUVERS OR PASSING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THREE OCCASIONS SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR USED EXACTLY TWO YEARS AGO IN VIRGINIA AND AFTER THE THIRD TIME, I DECIDED NEVER TO PUSH THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY IN FOR FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT SPECIALLY WHEN MY CHILDREN ARE PRESENT. THE …
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GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK WHEN DEPRESSED FULLY DURING TAKEOVER MANEUVERS OR PASSING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THREE OCCASIONS SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR USED EXACTLY TWO YEARS AGO IN VIRGINIA AND AFTER THE THIRD TIME, I DECIDED NEVER TO PUSH THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY IN FOR FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT SPECIALLY WHEN MY CHILDREN ARE PRESENT. THE PEDAL DID BECOME UNSTUCK AFTER A FEW FRIGHTENING SECONDS ON ALL OCCASIONS. SPEED WAS NOT HIGH, 35 MPH ONCE AND 45 OR SO THE OTHER AT THE MOST. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10303768
756,464 miles · Jan 30, 2010
Suspension
2005 SAAB 93 - FRONT PASSENGER COIL BROKE AND DUG INTO TIRE. NO WARNING INDICATED SUCH AS STRANGE SOUNDS OR CAR HANDLING DIFFERENTLY. JUST SUDDENLY BROKE NEAR BOTTOM OF COIL AND THE BROKEN END OF THE COIL DUG INTO THE TIRE. THE TIRE HAS AN INDENTATION THE GOES COMPLETELY AROUND THE INSIDE. TIRE IS DAMAGED/DANGEROUS NOW AND NEEDS…
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2005 SAAB 93 - FRONT PASSENGER COIL BROKE AND DUG INTO TIRE. NO WARNING INDICATED SUCH AS STRANGE SOUNDS OR CAR HANDLING DIFFERENTLY. JUST SUDDENLY BROKE NEAR BOTTOM OF COIL AND THE BROKEN END OF THE COIL DUG INTO THE TIRE. THE TIRE HAS AN INDENTATION THE GOES COMPLETELY AROUND THE INSIDE. TIRE IS DAMAGED/DANGEROUS NOW AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ALSO. WAS DRIVING SLOWLY AT THE TIME SO NO PERSONAL INJURY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10303283
49,700 miles · Jan 24, 2010
Suspension
THE PROBLEM APPARENTLY OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. I HEARD A LOUD "CLUNK" THAT SOUNDED LIKE I HAD HIT SOMETHING BUT THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD. FOLLOWING THAT, EVERY TIME I WOULD DRIVE OVER AN IRREGULARITY IN THE ROAD I WOULD HEAR A "CLUNK" IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP TO FIND OUT WHA…
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THE PROBLEM APPARENTLY OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. I HEARD A LOUD "CLUNK" THAT SOUNDED LIKE I HAD HIT SOMETHING BUT THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD. FOLLOWING THAT, EVERY TIME I WOULD DRIVE OVER AN IRREGULARITY IN THE ROAD I WOULD HEAR A "CLUNK" IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS MAKING THE NOISE AND THEY DISCOVERED THE BROKEN RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING. THE SHARP BROKEN END WAS VERY CLOSE TO ROTATING INTO THE SIDE OF THE TIRE WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I HAVE THE BROKEN PIECE OF THE SPRING. I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT THIS IS A DISTURBINGLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF SAAB AS I RAN ACROSS A WEB SITE WITH MANY SAAB 9-3 OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING AT ROUGHLY THE SAME MILEAGE I HAVE WHICH IS 49700. MY FOUR YEAR, 50,000 MILE WARRANTY RECENTLY EXPIRED. I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE BROKEN SPRING YESTERDAY AND HAVE NOT YET HAD IT REPAIRED. I INTEND TO CONTACT THE DEALER TOMORROW MORNING BUT I WANT YOUR ORGANIZATION TO BE AWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10302094
40,500 miles · Jan 22, 2010
Visibility
WIPERS ARE NOT PARKING CORRECTLY. DEALER FOUND WIPER MOTOR FAULTY AND REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10301902
41,700 miles · Jan 22, 2010
Power Train
WHILE SHIFTING FROM STOP THE PLASTIC SHIFT KNOB FELL OFF EJECTING ITSELF INTO THE REAR SEAT. DEALER CLEANED OLD GLUE OFF AND REASSEMBLED SHIFT LEVER MECHANISM. REINSTALLED SHIFT KNOB WITH TWO STEP EPOXY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10301901
37,428 miles · Jan 22, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE LIGHT IS ON. DEALER FOUND YAW RATE SENSOR FAILURE AND REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10301898
53,000 miles · Jan 5, 2010
Suspension
WITH A LITTLE OVER 50,000 MILES AN ODD NOISE STARTED IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THIS CLUNKING NOISE BEGAN I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT A SAAB DEALER AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BROKEN SPRING. I HAD BOTH SPRINGS REPLACED (THE RIGHT FRONT WAS BROKEN) AS A PRECAUTION, BECAUSE I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PR…
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WITH A LITTLE OVER 50,000 MILES AN ODD NOISE STARTED IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THIS CLUNKING NOISE BEGAN I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT A SAAB DEALER AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BROKEN SPRING. I HAD BOTH SPRINGS REPLACED (THE RIGHT FRONT WAS BROKEN) AS A PRECAUTION, BECAUSE I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR NEWER SAAB 9-3'S. ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE BROKEN SPRING, A SPRING FAILURE OF THIS NATURE COULD CAUSE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TIRE, HENCE THE SAFETY CONCERN. THE FREQUENCY OF BROKEN SPRINGS IN THIS MODEL OF CAR LEADS ME TO CONCLUDE THAT A RECALL IS IN ORDER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10298331
38,000 miles · Dec 21, 2009
Suspension
2005 SAAB 9-3 ARC, FRONT RIGHT SPRING BROKE AND DESTROYED FRONT RIGHT TIRES. APPROXIMATELY 38K MILE ON VEHICLE. *TR
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
CERTAIN SPORT SEDAN AND CONVERTIBLE PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH A VACUUM PIPE CHECK VALVE FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER THAT MAY FAIL FROM EXPOSURE TO ELEVATED TEMPERATURES. THIS COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST, USUALLY WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION WERE TO OCCUR WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REDESIGNED CHECK VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 17, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
EA08026 · 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.
2005 Saab 9-3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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