2003 Saab 9-3 Complaint Log

AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK ENGINE REVVED AT A HIGH RATE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A WALL. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *TS

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DEALER STATDS AXLE EXPLODED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK

REOCCURING ENGIN STALL WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC (SPOKE WITH CONSUMER ON 4/5/2005 - SAID HIS STALL WAS DUE TO FAULTY ENGINE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE - CAR)

WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE. AFTER 2 MONTHS OF WAITING FOR SAAB TO RESPOND TO MY LEMON LAW FILING WITH AN ATTORNEY, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET RID OF MY 9-3 LINEAR. CAR STILL HAS HESITATION AFTER THEY HAVE CLAIMED TO HAVE REPAIRED THE SOFTWARE PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION IS NOW SLIPPING, ONSTAR MALFUNCTIONS ONCE A WEEK, AND HAVE A RATTLE IN THE DASH BOARD. SAAB IS FULLY AWARE OF ALL OF THE PROBLEMS. JUST WANTED TO GIVE OTHERS THE CONFIDENCE TO FIGHT THEM ON THE PROBLEMS OF THE ENGINE STALLING. *AK

I PURCHASED MY SAAB 9-3 LINEAR ON 1/16/03, AND WITHIN 2 MONTHS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TURNING ON, AND STALLED OUT 3 TIMES. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 11 TIMES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND EVERY TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS MY GAS CAP, GAS EVAP LEAK, OR SOFTWARE UPDATES. MIND YOU I AM 6 MONTHS PREGNANT AND THE LAST STALL OUT I WAS ON A VERY BUSY STREET GOING 40MPH (LAST MONTH). THEY HAVE REPLACED MY GAS CAP TOO - SAYING THIS WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I CAN NEVER GET A HOLD OF ANY ONE AT SAAB TO DISCUSS - SO I HAVE RESULTED TO THE LEMON LAW. BUT IN REALITY THIS IS A CRITICAL PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS MANY PEOPLE ON THIS SIGHT HAVE ESCAPED INJURY. *AK

THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE. THE REPAIRS WORKED FINE FOR TWO WEEKS, THEN THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, THE FOG AND HEAD LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT ONCE A MONTH, THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RECOIL TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE PASSENGERS, THE CLUTCH PEDAL DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER PRESSURE WHEN APPLIED, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT "SPIN OVER," THERE WAS A BLOWN FUEL PUMP FUSE, THE DRIVER WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE, THE SUNROOF DEFLECTOR DID NOT COLLAPSE WHEN CLOSING THE GLASS CAUSING THE GLASS TO RE-OPEN ON IT'S OWN, THE DRIVER DOOR PANEL DID NOT FIT THE FLUSH TO THE DOOR PANEL, THE RADIO AND THE ONSTAR FEATURE DID NOT WORK. *SC *JB

SHORT IN FUSE BOX IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED AND ELECTRICAL FIRE WITH SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE BAY, ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING/ CAR WAS ABLE TO RESTART WITH THE LOST OF THE LIGHT, TURN SIGNALS, HORN AND WINDSCREEN WIPERS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THRU A S CURVE, MY CAR STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER. THE SPLIT SECOND LOSS OF POWER ON A TURN CAUSED ME TO CROSS INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC BEFORE I REACTED TO BRING MY CAR BACK INTO MY OWN LANE. I WAS LUCKILY THAT NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OR I WOULD HIT THEM HEAD ON. MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 COASTED TO AN AREA OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. AGAIN LUCKILY THAT THERE WAS A ROAD SHOULDER TO PULL OVER ON. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE DEALER RESPONSE AT THE FIRST TIME WAS "THAT'S OK IF IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE"...BUT GUESS WHAT IT IS STILL HAPPENING AND SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM.. HOPEFULLY WE DONT HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO BE KILLED BEFORE SAAB FIXES IT.

2003 SAFE 9-3 2.0T LINEAR, PURCH NEW 2/21/03 DIES' UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN BEING DRIVEN. FIRST INCIDENT: CAR 'DIED' RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD COMPLETELY UNEXPECTEDLY. ASSUMED IT WAS A 'FLUKE' AND TOOK NO ACTION. AFTER SECOND INCIDENT: DEALER "RESET FUEL ADAPTATION VALVE". AFTER THIRD INCIDENT (DANGEROUS - MERGING INTO FREEWAY) DEALER "REPROGRAMMED T8 AND RESET FUEL ADAPTATION PER SAFE TECHNICAL HOT LINE" ALL INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITHIN LAST TWO WEEKS. CAR RESTARTS WITH NO WARNING LIGHT OR "SIDE" INDICATION OF PROBLEM UPON IGNITION. *CB

LEASED 2003 SAAB 9-3 ARC ON 9/26 AND THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT (10051379) AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM SAAB CUSTOMER CARE REGARDING THEIR FIXING THE LOUD RIGHT REAR RATTLING/KNOCKING NOISE. I HAVE CALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO CALL BACK. I NOW HAVE TWO MORE PROBLEMS... THE CAR HESITATES, SPUTTERS AND ALMOST STALLS... THE DEALER INCREASED THE IDLE AND THAT WAS THE FIX... I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WHEN STARTING OFF FROM A STOP OR DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN GEARS BETWEEN 10 AND 30 MPHS... IT STARTED A FEW DAYS AGO AND IS BECOMING MORE PREVALENT AS EACH DAY PASSES..BOTH THESE PROBLEMS ALONG WITH THE LOUD RATTLING/KNOCKING NOISE FROM RIGHT REAR THAT DEALER SAYS IS NORMAL TELL ME THAT THIS CAR HAS PROBLEMS THAT SAAB DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH AND THAT IS NOT RIGHT. *LA

PURCHASED 2003 9-3 LINEAR IN AUGUST 2003. THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP.*AK FIRST TIME CAR WAS IN ON COMPLAINT OF FRONT WHEELS OUT OF ALIGNMENT (CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT ALL THE TIME COASTING, UNDER ACCELERATION, ETC.). THE STEERING WHEEL MUST BE HELD SLIGHTLY OFF CENTER TO ALLOW THE CAR TO GO STRAIGHT. DEALER DENIED PROBLEM AND ATTRIBUTED IT TO CURVATURE IN THE ROAD. I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER CARS OVER THE SAME ROAD EVEN THE SAME MODEL LOANER CAR WITHOUT THE PULL TO THE LEFT. COMPLAINED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE FROM DEALER. BECAUSE THE CAR HAS MORE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS I HAVE GIVEN UP ON THIS ONE FOR NOW. SECOND TIME CAR WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR OVER 20 CONSECUTIVE DAYS WHILE DEALER DIAGNOSED AND FIXED ONSTAR AND STEREO MALFUNCTION. THE STEREO WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AT SEVERAL POINTS IN THE DAY AND THEN WOULD COME BACK ON AUTOMATICALLY AT THE NEXT START-UP. DEALER REPLACED ALL COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM STEREO, CD PLAYER, ONSTAR MODULE, ECT. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIRD TIME WAS A MAJOR COMPLAINT. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SLIPPAGE IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AT ALMOST EVERY OTHER SHIFT UNDER MODERATE TO HARD ACCELERATION. THE CAR ACTUALLY REVS RPMS BETWEEN SHIFT FOR 3 TO 4 SECONDS BEFORE SHIFTING TO THE NEXT GEAR. ADDITIONALLY, UNDER HARD ACCELERATION FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT UNTIL AFTER FUEL PUMP CUT-OFF IN THE RPM RANGE. DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE VIA COMPUTER; HOWEVER I SUGGESTED A TECH DROVE THE CAR FOR A DAY OR TWO. TECH ACKNOWLEDGED SLIPPAGE PROBLEM AND SAID HE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON OTHER 2003 9-3 VEHICLES; HOWEVER; WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR FIX. HE PUT IN A CALL TO SAAB TECHNICAL TO SEE IF THEY HAVE FURTHER INFORMATION. WE AWAIT SAAB TECHNICAL RESPONSE.

TWICE WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT MY CAR HAS STALLED. IT HAS STALLED ONCE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 35 MPH. IT HAS ALSO GOTTEN STUCK IN PARK TWICE AFRTER I START IT. THE SID SAYS GEAR BOX MALFUNCTIONED. THE LIGHTS BURN OUT AND THE INTERIOR IS FALLING APART. THIS CAR HAS 17,000 MILES IN IT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION, AND GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC UPGRADED THE SOFTWARE FOR THE ENGINE. *AK

CAR LEASED 9/23/03 AND ONE WEEK AFTER A LOUD RATTLING/KNOCKING NOISE STARTS UP FROM RIGHT REAR. TO DEALER 6 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. RIGHT REAR SHOCK REPLACED TWICE AND ON 12/19/03 DISTRICT SAAB REP CONCLUDED THAT NOISE COMES FROM SHOCK AND IS A NORMAL NOISE. I DISAGREE AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS EXPLANATION. DELEARSHIP WILL NOT MAKE ANY MORE ATTEMPTS TO FIX THIS RATTLING/KNOCKING NOISE. FILED A COMPLAINT WITH SAAB CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 12/23/03 AND HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM. AM DISAPPOINTED AND UPSET THAT THE NOISE CAN NOT BE LOCATED AND FIXED.

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD A SHORTAGE. *PH

HEADLIGHTS WAS TOO LOW WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *LA THERE WAS NOISE IN THE REAR WHILE BACKING AND TURNING (THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM), THE ONSTAR FEATURE WOULD NOT WORK AND WAS INTERMITTENT, THE SEAT BELT LIGHT HAD COME ON AND WOULD GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY (UNABLE TO DUPLICATE), NEED SERVICE SOON LIGHT WOULD COME ON (UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED), THE SQUEAL IN THE REAR, COULD HAVE ALSO BEEN LINKED TO SALT AND SAND IN THE ROTORS, THE TRUNK WOULD NOT STAY OPEN, THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE FOUND TO BE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, AND THE PADS HAD RUST ON THEM. *SC *JB

THE LEASE ON THIS VEHICLE BEGAN ON OCTOBER 6, 2003. IT HAS HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES STARTING LESS THAN 30 DAYS AFTER DELIVERY. MOST RECENTLY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2005. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED THREE TIMES AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TWICE. EACH TIME THE ONSTAR DID NOT WORK BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. WE NO LONGER HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN THIS VEHICLE AND IF WE OWNED IT WE WOULD SELL IT. PROBLEMS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: * CD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING AND WAS REPLACED WITHIN FIRST 30 DAYS OF LEASE. * BRAKES REPLACED WITHIN FIRST 60 DAYS OF LEASE. * ONSTAR COMPUTER REPLACED WITHIN FIRST 60 DAYS OF LEASE. * VEHICLE COMPUTER UPDATED WITHIN FIRST YEAR OF LEASE. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED AND ALMOST REQUIRED A TOW DUE TO INOPERATIVE TRANSMISSION BUT, THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY SHIFTED INTO LIMP MODE BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED ALLOWING US TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. * VEHICLE COMPUTER UPDATED AGAIN WITHIN FIRST YEAR OF LEASE. * ONSTAR COMPUTER REPAIRED AGAIN WITHIN FIRST YEAR OF LEASE. * DOOR HANDLES FADED AND REPLACED WITHIN SECOND YEAR * PARKING BREAK STUCK AND VEHICLE REQUIRED A TOW WITHIN SECOND YEAR OF LEASE. * ENGINE IMMOBILIZER MALFUNCTION REQUIRING ANOTHER TOW OF THE VEHICLE WITHIN SECOND YEAR OF LEASE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE BATTERY ABRUPTLY DIED. * TRIP COMPUTER MUST BE RESET AFTER GAS IS ADDED IN ORDER TO SHOW CORRECT DISTANCE TO EMPTY. * MILES BETWEEN OIL CHANGES SEEM INCORRECT. WE ARE AT 27000 MILES AND HAVE ONLY HAD ONE OIL CHANGE. THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO TELL US TO WAIT UNTIL THE COMPUTER REQUESTS THE SERVICE. *NM

VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS DURING BRIEF PERIODS OF ACCELERATION. FREQUENTLY, THIS OCCURS WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN FROM A STOP SIGN, OR A TURN IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC. *LA

THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT. I HAD ORIGINALLY FILED COMPLAINT 10041666 A FEW WEEKS AGO. NOW THE PROBLEM WITH MY SAAB STALLING HAS BECOME WORSE. I WAS TRAVEL IN TRAFFIC, WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE STALLING CAUSED ME TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT ME. WHICH IN TURN CAUSED A FOUR CAR ACCIDENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED, BUT NOW MY PROBLEM IS MUCH MORE SEVERE. I HAVE CONTACTED SAAB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM (MUCH LIKE I DID THE FIRST TIME) AND NOTING IS BEING DONE TO HELP ME. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE THAT STALLS ALL THE TIME, AND IS AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED TOTALLY USELESS AND A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED OVER $15000 IN DAMAGE TO MY SAAB ALONE, ALONG WITH DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. I AM REALLY SURPRISED THAT I WAS NOT KILLED OR SEVERELY HURT IN THE ACCIDENT. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND HELP OUT ALL THE SAAB 9-3 OWNERS HERE... THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE, AND THE REPRESENT A VERY LARGE PROBLEM JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. *LA

MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 HAS STALLED 3 TIMES IN TRAFFIC. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAME UP WITH NOTHING. CAR IS IN SHOP RIGHT NOW AND WILL SEE IF ANYTHING IS FOUND BUT I DOUBT IT. SAAB CUSTOMER CARE IS OBLIVIOUS TO PROBLEM. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHILE CRUISING IN TRAFFIC AT SPEED UNDER 30 MPH. CAR COMPLETELY LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT START UNTIL PULLED OFF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF AND TURNED ON AGAIN. *LA

MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 ARC (PURCHASED THIS JULY) WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEARLY STALLED (SPUTTERED, HESITATED AND NEARLY LOST POWER) WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN BETWEEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHILE THIS CAR HAS NOT FULLY STALLED OUT, I HAVE FELT IT HESITATED ON A NUMBER OF OTHER OCCASIONS. I OWNED ANOTHER 2003 SAAB, IDENTICAL IN EVERY WAY, THAT COMPLETELY STALLED OUT AT IDLE SPEED WHILE STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND ALSO WHILE STARTING OUT IN REVERSE AND IN FORWARD. THE FACT THAT THIS NEW CAR NEARLY STALLED IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAS REALLY SCARED ME. I HAVE READ A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT STALLING IN THE 2003 SAAB 9-3. I SPOKE TO SAAB CUSTOMER SERVICE YESTERDAY AND THEY DENIED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE STALLING ISSUE. I AM BRINGING MY CAR TO THE DEALER ON MONDAY, HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT SAAB NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIALLY VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

DEALER - SAAB EXCHANGE WON'T/CAN'T FIX VEHICLE. STEERING PROBLEM, RATTLE PROBLEM, FAN BLOWER PROBLEM, SEAT PROBLEM, BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM, ETC... *LA

CAN NOT DIM LIGHTS WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. ENTRY TO SOME MILITARY BASE OR OTHER ENTRY GATES REQUIRE LIGHTS TO BE DIMMED TO PARKING LIGHTS. THERE IS A THREE WAY SWITCH TO TUNE LIGHT TO PARKING BUT ONLY WORK WHEN ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN MY OPINION. YES SAAB JUST GIVES YOU THE RUN AROUND ON WHAT'S THE FIX, EVEN SUGGEST TO REMOVE A FUSE?? I DEMAND ACTION!!!! *JB

I PICKED UP MY CAR ON FEBRUARY 24, 2003 AT NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING I WAS TESTING THE CD PLAYER IN THE CAR AND IT WOULDNT WORK. SO I BROUGHT BACK THE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY SAID THEY HAD TO FIX SOMETHING WITH THE COMPUTER. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY 2 MONTH OLD SON AND THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. WHILE I WAS TRYING TO BRING IT INTO SAAB IT STALLED ANOTHER 2 TIMES. THEY SAID THEY HAVE TO REPLACE SOME COMPUTER. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER I STARTED NOTICING THAT I WAS HAVING SERIOUS PICKUP ISSUES. FOR EXAMPLE, IF I WAS ACCELERATING AFTER A RED LIGHT I COULD HIT THE GAS AS HARD AS POSSIBLE AND I STILL WOULDNT MOVE FOR A SOLID 2 SECONDS. THIS ALMOST BECAME DISASTROUS WHEN A TRUCK NEARLY HIT ME BECAUSE I COULDNT MOVE THE CAR. AGAIN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND AGAIN THEY REPLACED SOME COMPUTER. THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL INJECTOR SO THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE COMPUTER. NOW ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER THE CAR SEEMS TO BE HAVING THE FIRST STAGES OF THE SAME PROBLEM. IM TRYING TO GET OUT OF MY LEASE BUT SAAB SAYS THEY BELIEVE MY CAR IS FIXED. *AK

I HAVE A 2003 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR STALL ON ME IN TRAFFIC 4 TIMES NOW OVER THE LAST 4 MONTHS. I NOW REALIZE I'M FAR FROM THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I HAVE BEEN IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC 3 OF THE 4 TIMES. LUCKILY IN THE OUTSIDE LANE AND ABLE TO PULL OFF. I HAVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND RUN HIGH OCTANCE FUEL (RECOMMENDED). HOPEFULLY SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO PRESS GM AND FORCE THEM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.*AK

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A 30-35MPH FRONTAL COLLISION WITH AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. SEATBELT RESTRAINT INJURED BOTH PASSENGERS, BUT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

SINCE OWNING MY 2003 9-3, THE PARKING BRAKE STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE ULTIMATELY HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR BUSHINGS ON THE SWAY BAR HAD TO BE REPLACED, MULTIPLE LIGHT BULBS. AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, MOST RECENTLY THE POWER STERRING PUMP NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE SEAT BELT ALSO LET GO AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I THOUGHT THAT ALL THAT COULD GO WRONG, HAD GONE WRONG UNTIL THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT. NOW READING OTHER OWNER COMMENTS I HAVE NO FAITH IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS MY FOURTH SAAB, MY LAST I TRADED AT OVER 180,000 MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS.*AK

LEFT REAR PIRELLI TIRE ON MY 3 MONTHS OLD SAAB 9-3 BLEW UP ON FREEWAY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 5,500 MILES ON IT. I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE. CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL, IT VEERED LEFT, THEN RIGHT, THEN CIRCLED AROUND. I WAS SO SCARED THAT IT WILL HIT A DIVIDER OR OTHER CARS BUT A MIRACLE HAPPENED, I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. EVENTUALLY THE CAR STOPPED. I AM VERY UPSET WITH SAAB AND PIRELLI, SO FAR CUSTOMER SERVICES HAVE BEEN VERY POOR. I'M WAITING FOR PIRELLI TO DO THEIR INVESTIGATION. I AM SO WORRY ABOUT PIRELLI TIRES BLOWING UP ON ME AGAIN. NEXT TIME I MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. PLEASE HAVE OTHER SAAB OR PIRELLI CONSUMER WITH COMPLAINTS CONTACT ME AT MY EMAIL ADDRESS. THANK YOU.

MY SAAB 9-3 SS 2003 STALLED TODAY .COMPLETELY LOST E POWER ALSO COULDNT TURN STEERING WHEEL.LUCKY NOT TO GET HIT FROM BEHIND SINCE I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA .THE CAR STARTED AFTER I TURNED IT BACK ON ,THERE WAS NO ERROR MESSAGES,ONLY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THE PROBLEM HAPPENED.AN OCCURANCE LIKE THIS IN THE FREEWAY WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC .FROM VARIOUS INTERNET FORUMS I HAVE READ OWNERS OF THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE HAVING SIMILIAR PROBLEM.NHTSA WILL NEED TO TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT INJURIES OR EVEN FATALITIES IN THE FUTURE

BRAND NEW 2003 SAAB 9-3 ARC JUST STALLS. MY ENGINE HAS STALLED FOR NO REASON NUMEROUS TIMES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE DAYS AFTER I GOT THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED, EVERY TIME THEY TELL ME THAT I AM JUST ABOUT MAKING IT UP. THEY CAN NEVER FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, AND SAAB CORPORATION IS NO HELP. *LA

MESSAGE OF "HEADLIGHT LEVELING MALFUNCTION, CONTACT SAAB DEALER" CAME UP ON CAR COMPUTER. TAKEN TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY. CAME UP DURING THE DAY SO WAS UNAWARE IF THERE WAS A LIGHTING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.*AK

I OWNS A 2003 SAAB 1993 LINEAR WITH AUTOMATIC. WHEN DRIVING A CAR, CAR STALLED MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT HAPPEND 3 TIMES SO FAR. CAR STALLED AND HANDLE GOT LOCKED UP. ENGINE LIGHT CAME UP. IT WAS DANGEROUS EPECIALLY AT THE FREEWAY. LUCKILY NEVER RESULTED IN BIG ACCIDENTS. DEALER ARE SAYING IT'S COMPUTER PROBLEM, BUT SOME PEOPLE SAID IT MIGHT BE THE FAULTY FUEL PUMP.*AK

SINCE PURCHASING MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 IN JUNE THE CAR HAS STALLED 4 TIMES WHILE EITHER AT STOP LIGHTS OR SITTING IN TRAFFIC. ONCE THE CAR STALLED WHILE GOING 40 MPH. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. EACH TIME A SOFTWARE UPGRADE IS PERFORMED. AND EVERY TIME I CONTACT THE SERVICE DEPT THEY ARE SURPRISED AS TO THIS OCCURRENCE.*AK

REAR LIGHT OVER LICENSE PLATE WOULD NOT GO OUT, LEAVING MY CAR AT NIGHT ILLUMINATED. TAKEN TO DEALER. PROBLEM RESOLVED.*AK

MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 HAD INTERMITTENT STALLING AND LOSS OF POWER ISSUES. SINCE DELIVERY ON 1/09/2003, THE CAR HAS STALLED 4 TIMES AND LOST POWER TWICE. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND SAAB AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. ON 5/13/03 NEW ENGINE MANAGEMENT FIRM WARE WAS INSTALLED. ON 5/17/03 THE CAR AGAIN MALFUNCTIONED. THERE APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE THAT SAAB IS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE. *JB

THE CAR STALLED ON ME UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS - TWICE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND WAS ON A SIDE ROAD GOING ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE GAS PEDAL TOTALLY STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE THE CAR ACTUALLY HAD STALLED. THE SECOND TIME WAS ABOUT A WEEK LATER AND UNFORTUNATELY I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR CRAWLING AT ABOUT 5 MPH AND THE CAR TOTALLY STALLED AGAIN. IN BOTH INSTANCES I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT ON AGAIN AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. WHEN I CALLED MY SAAB DEALER AFTER THE SECOND OCCURRENCE, THE SERVICE CONSULTANT TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A REPROGRAMMING EFFORT THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS SURPRISED THAT HE OFFERED A SOLUTION RIGHT AWAY, SO I ASKED IF HE KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND THEY WEREN'T SENDING A RECALL NOTICE TO FIX IT. HE SAID THAT NOT ALL CARS WERE STALLING, ONLY ABOUT A QUARTER OF THEM, AND IF A CUSTOMER CALLED WITH A COMPLAINT THEN THEY WOULD FIX IT. SO I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE THE NEXT DAY, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY CALLED THE HOTLINE, FOUND A PROBLEM AND WERE ABLE TO REPROGRAM THE CAR SO IT SHOULD BE ALL FIXED. *NLM

TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND THE VEHICLE STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.*AK

FAILURE OF EMERGENCY BRAKE CAUSING CAR TO ROLL WHILE UNOCCUPIED. *NLM

I JUST BOUGHT A 2003 SAAB 9-3 ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND IT HAS APPROX. 1800 MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING FOLLOWED BY COMPLETE POWER. LUCKILY I WAS ON A BACK ROAD AND PULLED OVER SAFELY. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT OUTCOME. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE.

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE ACCELERATING. LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE ASSIST. COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF I HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO STOP SAFELY. THE CAR STARTED WITH NO ISSUES AFTER THE STOP.

PARKING BRAKE FAILED -- CAR ROLLED WHILE UNOCCUPIED -- ROLLED DOWN SLIGHT HILL AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR. *NLM

MY BRAND NEW 2003 SAAB 9-3 WITH 1100 MILES ON IT, FAILED ME. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A RIGHT TURN IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AND MY ENGINE QUIT - THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WERE OFF SO IT MADE THE CAR INCREDIBLY HEAVY TO TURN. I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT WITHOUT GETTING HIT, BUT IT WAS STILL TERRIFYING. I TURNED THE KEY OFF, AND STARTED THE CAR RIGHT BACK UP, DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP A MILE AWAY WHERE IT'S BEEN AWAITING A "SOFTWARE UPGRADE" FOR 5 DAYS. ON WWW.EDMUNDS.COM I FOUND THAT SEVERAL OWNERS OF 2003 SAAB 9-3S HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. HOW DANGEROUS! *JB

AIR BAG DEFECT(S). EIGHT SAAB CERTIFIED SERVICE TECHNICIAN ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT FAULTY SAFETY SYSTEM, WITHOUT SUCCESS. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE FOR ON-ROAD AND/OR HIGHWAY TRAVEL. I HAVE ALREADY NOTIFIED SAAB (MANUFACTURER) MANY TIMES VIA EMAIL AND TELEPHONE, AGAIN WITHOUT FOLLOW UP FROM MANUFACTURER.*AK

THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THE STEERING COLUMN WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

I PURCHASED A 2003 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR W/ LAUNCH PACKAGE (STEEL GREY) APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO. FOUR DAYS AFTER MY PURCHASE I WAS DRIVING USING THE STEPTRONIC SHIFTING AND THE CAR LOST POWER. WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DASH SAID TO PULL OVER AND CONTACT SAAB. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND PULL OVER, A SEVERE GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD AND FELT UNDER MY RIGHT FOOT. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY SAW A COMPUTER EVENT "WHEEL SPEED MISMATCH" BUT WAS NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED OR HOW THIS WAS CAUSED. THEY SAID WHEN THE CAR DETECTS A PROBLEM IT DISABLES PORTIONS OF THE ENGINE AND COMPUTERS AND ONLY ALLOWS YOU TO GO APPROX 20 MPH TO MAKE A SAFE STOP. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED THIS "LIMP HOME MODE" THEY SAID IT WAS SIMILAR TO A WINDOWS "SAFE MODE". AS YOU COULD IMAGINE I WAS ANGRY BUT UNDERSTAND SOMETIMES UNEXPLAINABLE THINGS HAPPEN. NOW LESS THAN 2 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME THOUGH I WAS ON THE FREEWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. AFTER NEARLY GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT I MANAGED TO CALL SAAB ROADSIDE AND AGAIN THEY HAD TO TOW ME. ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS WERE THE SAME AND EVEN THE GRINDING.. I SIT HERE WITH A LOANER WAITING FOR INFO ON THE CAUSE. I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE HERE HAS EXPERIENCED ANYTHING SIMILAR? OR HAS ANYONE HERE HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS WITH THE SAAB? ANY INFORMATION OR INSIGHT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.*JB

ENGINE STALLS WHILE STOPPING OR COASTING TO INTERSECTIONS. 4 INDICENTS OF THIS TO DATE AND VEHICLE HAS UNDER 2000 MILES. DEALER SERVICE HAS TWICE SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS AND THERE IS NO SOFTWARE OR UPDATES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. RUNNING RECOMMENDED OCTANE FUEL (PREMIUM).

AFTER SLOWING DOWN IN TRAFFIC, MY WIFE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, BUT THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE ENGINE ICON ON THE DASH DISPLAY WAS ILLUMINATED. THE SAAB INFORMATION DISPLAY (SID) DID NOT SHOW ANY PROBLEMS. LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND CONTINUE ON TO WORK. APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES LATER THE ENGINE WAS SLUGGISH AND ALMOST STOPPED AGAIN. IN ADDITION THE RADIO HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CHANGE STATIONS BY ITSELF, AND THE REMOTE MIRRORS WILL SOMETIMES MOVE BY THEMSELVES. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SAAB DEALER AND A SOFTWARE UPDATE HAS SUPPOSEDLY TAKEN CARE OF THE MIRRORS AND ENGINE/IGNITION, BUT THE RADIO PROBLEM IS NEW. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF SAAB HAD BEEN PROACTIVE AND SOUGHT OUT OWNERS OF THIS PARTICULAR MODEL (9-3 LINEAR) SOONER AND NOTIFIED THEM OF A NECESSARY SOFTWARE UPDATE. AN ENGINE DYING IN TRAFFIC, AN INTERSECTION, A TRAIN CROSSING, ETC., CAN BE A DANGER. ALSO, I'M STILL WAITING FOR THE ONSTAR SERVICE TO BE INSTALLED. WE PURCHASED THE CAR THE FIRST WEEK IN JANUARY, AND NOW IT'S MAY AND STILL NO ONSTAR! *JB

SINCE PURCHASING SAAB 9-3 ARC IN AUGUST 2003, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE 7 TIMES. PROBLEMS INCLUDE: KEY INOPERABLE, BACK BRAKES LOUD SOUND, FRONT BRAKES SQUEALING, WINDOW PROBLEMS, SUNROOF PROBLEMS, LOOSE HEAT CONSOLE, ONSTAR MALFUNCTION. SAAB HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND CAN NOT FIX THE BRAKE ISSUE. THEY STATE THAT THE LOUD FOGHORN LIKE SOUND IS NORMAL. I HAVE CONTACTED A LAWYER AND AM PURSUING THE ISSUE.*AK

I RECEIVED MY SAAB 9-3 BACK IN FEB 2003 AND HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ONSTAR SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (RADIO SND SID). THE ONSTAR COMPUTER HAS BEEN REBOOTED TWICE, THE SID HAS FINALLY BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER, I STILL EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO. PERIODICALLY, WHEN YOU START THE CAR, NOTHING BUT STATIC COMES OUT OF THE SPEAKERS AND THE SYSTEM NEEDS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ONE LAST ITEM I FORGOT TO MENTION. AFTER THE LAST REBOOT OF THE ONSTAR SYSTEM, I DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS NO LONGER WORK EXCEPT FOR THE VOLUMN AND CHANNEL CHANGER.*AK