There are 9 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2004 Saab 9-3in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL FILTER HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
FILLED GAS TANK AND GAUGE READ FULL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, GAUGE READ EMPTY. ONCE 1/4 OF THE TANK WAS USED, GAUGE POPPED BACK UP TO 3/4 FULL. *TR
FILLED GAS TANK AND GAUGE READ FULL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, GAUGE READ EMPTY. BEGAN OCCURRING WHEN GOING AROUND A CORNER, BUT NOW READS EMPTY IMMEDIATELY AFTER FILLING. ONCE 1/8 TO 1/4 OF THE TANK IS USED, GAUGE READS ACCURATELY. *TR
THE GAS GAUGE FLUCTUATES FROM FILLED TO EMPTY, RANDOMLY, EVEN THOUGH THE TANK IS FULL EVERY TIME THE TANK IS FILLED. *TR
2004 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. CONSUMER STATES ISSUES WITH FUEL TANK AND SENSOR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS THE GREENBOX MALFUNCTION LIGHT DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT HAVING THE LATEST SOFTWARE. SO, THE DEALER HAD TO PERFORM THE SPS OF THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE TO UPDATE TO THE NEWEST SOFTWARE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE HE RAN THE VEHICLE ON LOW FUEL, IT SHORTED OUT THE FUEL SENSOR. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHEN HE FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FUEL GAUGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS ALSO FUNCTIONING ERRATICALLY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
FUEL GAUGE IS NORMAL. I FILL THE CAR UP COMPLETELY AND THEN THE FUEL GAUGE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE NEEDLE DROPS TO EMPTY. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS FILLED WITH FUEL. *TR
EVERYTIME I FILL THE GAS TANK TO FULL AND I START DRIVING (ESP. ON A HIGHWAY), THE FUEL GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY--EVEN THOUGH IT IS FULL. THE, I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR AND TURN IT ON SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE FUEL GAUGE GOES BACK UP TO FULL AGAIN. *TR
CONSUMER HAS ATTEMPTED TO HAVE RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON 2004 9-3, MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT THEY HAD TO ORDER PART. *TS *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026