2004 Saab 9-3 Suspension Problems

TAKATA RECALL? MY CAR KEEPS GIVING ME THE FOLLOWING ALERT: AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. HOW CAN I VERIFY IT IS PART OF THE RECALL?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SPRINGS AND FRONT STRUTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRACTURE HAPPENED TWICE, ONCE ON EACH SIDE. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPRINGS PREMATURELY FRACTURED AND THE FRONT STRUTS AND SPRINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR A BLOWER MOTOR MALFUNCTION AND A BRAKE JOB TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC WHO WORKS ON ALL MY VEHICLES. WHILE THEY HAD THE VEHICLE UP ON THE LIFT, HE NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING HAD BROKEN AND GOUGED THE TIRE LEAVING THE TIRE DAMAGED AND THE CAR INOPERABLE. WHEN THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO ORDER A NEW SPRING FROM SAAB, THE PARTS DEPARTMENT SAID THAT B/C OF MILEAGE AND AGE IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER A SERVICE BULLETIN. YEAH! SO, I CALLED DEALERSHIP AND INQUIRED ABOUT HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED (100 MILES) AND THE SAAB DEALERSHIP DO THE WORK. MILEAGE ON 9-3, 94,484 GOOD! 6 MONTHS PAST THE "TIME" LIMIT! BAD! NEEDLESS TO SAY, AFTER $700 LATER I HAVE REPLACED BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AS WELL AS THE $175 DAMAGED TIRE. THE SPRING COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE CAR, OCCUPANTS AS WELL AS OTHERS IF I WAS DRIVING WHILE THE DAMAGED TIRE GAVE OUT, DUE TO THE SPRING BREAKING! THE VEHICLE DROVE PERFECTLY & I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE BROKEN SPRING! THIS IS NOT MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I HONESTLY FEEL THAT SAAB SHOULD HONOR THE MILEAGE BEFORE THE "TIME" B/C THE AMOUNT OF THE VEHICLE BEING DRIVEN IS WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE SPRINGS.

RIGHT FRONT SPRING BROKE OFF DURING TRAVEL. 2ND INCIDENT. NOTE BROKEN COILS REPLACED IN 2010. *TR

THE LEFT FRONT STRUT SPRING SNAPPED AND THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT SPRING IS MOVING (CIRCULAR BACK AND FORTH MOTION). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE DAMAGED TIRE AND ALSO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY FRACTURED COIL SPRINGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

I WAS TRAVELING AT 50MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. AFTER THE POP THE FRONT END WOULD RATTLE OVER BUMPS. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I DISCOVERED THE FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING HAD CRACKED. AFTER LOOKING AT THE SPRING MORE I FOUND ANOTHER CRACK IN THE SAME SPRING. *TR

HEARD STRANGE NOISES IN FRONT END WHILE TURNING. HAD MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT AND FOUND RIGHT FRONT SPRING BROKEN. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A RECALL. CONCERNED WITH HOW TO GET THIS HANDLED BEFORE IT BREAKS ENTIRELY AND CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. *TR

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE WHEN I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT AREA OF MY CAR, ACCOMPANIED BY A BURNING RUBBER SMELL EMANATING FROM SOMEWHERE. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND THOUGHT IT LOOKED A LITTLE LOWER ON THE LEFT SIDE. I FELT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE LOUD NOISE WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE, NOT TO MENTION THE SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER. I GOT MY CAR TOWED FOR $75, ONLY TO FIND OUT I WAS CORRECT IN MY ONLINE ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEM BEING MY FRONT SUSPENSION COIL BEING BROKEN (AS PER A LOCAL AUTO BODY DIAGNOSTIC), DUE TO THE NUMEROUS AND VERY SIMILAR SOUNDING COMPLAINTS ESPECIALLY FOR THE 2003 AND 2004 SAABS. I'M LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T END UP SHREDDING MY TIRE AND LOSING CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AS I AS ABOUT TO EMBARK ON AN HOUR DRIVE, USING HIGHWAYS, TO MEET A FRIEND. HOWEVER, NOW I COME TO FIND OUT THAT SAAB, SINCE GOING BANKRUPT IN MID-DECEMBER OF 2011 NO LONGER IS MANUFACTURING OR RELEASING ANY PARTS - SO I AM LEFT WITH A CAR THAT IS NOT DRIVE-ABLE UNTIL I CAN FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS VERY FRUSTRATING PROBLEM. *TR

LOUD CRACKING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER A SMALL BUMP IN ROAD. INSPECTION SHOWED BROKEN RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING. COULD HAVE PUNCTURED TIRE AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JS UPDATED 08-03-12 *BF

FRONT RIGHT TIRE STARTED SMOKING, FOLLOWED QUICKLY BY BLOWOUT. AFTER REMOVING TIRE, DISCOVERED THE SPRING PART OF THE SUSPENSION HAD FRACTURED INTO 2 PIECES, ONE PIECE LOOSE AND UNATTACHED, THE OTHER STILL INTACT WITH THE CAR. THE PIECE STILL ATTACHED TO THE CAR WAS OUT OF PLACE AND IN THE WAY OF THE TIRE WHICH CAUSED IT TO RUB UP AGAINST THE TIRE AND CAUSED IT TO BLOW OUT AFTER CUTTING THROUGH THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE. *TR

COIL SPRINGS BROKEN, CAMPAIGN 15917, INSPECT AND REPLACE BROKEN COIL SPRINGS. *TR

BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRINGS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE TO OPERATE. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SPRINGS ARE BROKEN WITH SPRING MATERIAL EXTENDING TOWARDS THE TIRE. WILL REQUIRE TOW FOR SERVICE. TIRE FAILURE IS LIKELY IF DRIVEN. *TR

WAS DRIVING 2004 SAAB 9-3 VEHICLE WHEN THE STRUT SPRING BROKE, AND STARTED DIGGING INTO THE TIRE CREATING A LOT OF SMOKE FROM BURNT RUBBER. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION IT APPEARS THAT THE STRUT STRINGS HAD BROKE ON BOTH SIDES, ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE SPRING CAME OFF OF ITS 'MOUNT' AND DUG ITS WAY INTO THE TIRE. NOTHING WAS HIT TO CAUSE THIS REACTION. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET, THIS SEEMS TO BE A MORE COMMON, THAN NOT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF 9-3. SAAB HAS AGREED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND THESE SPRINGS SHOULD BE RECALLED. A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE TIRE BEFORE I STOPPED. IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TRAVELING ANY FASTER, I BELIEVE THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DECIDED TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY DUE TO THE MILEAGE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 05/18/11 *BF UPDATED 2/9/12 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OVER TURBULENT ROAD CONDITIONS OR WHEN MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A CREAKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

LEFT WORK PARKING LOT AND FELT SOMETHING RUBBING ON DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND SMELLED A TIRE SMELL AND NOTICED BLUE SMOKE FROM MY REARVIEW MIRROR. STARTED TO PULL OVER AND THE TIRE BLEW. THOUGHT I BLEW A TIRE. GO TO PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON AND SEE THE SPRING FROM THE STRUT HAD ALMOST CUT MY TIRE OFF THE INSIDE OF THE RIM. CALLED MY LOCAL SAAB DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ONE SPRING. AS I WAS LOOKING UP HOW MUCH THIS WAS GOING TO COST ME(BEFORE I FOUND OUT I WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY) EVERY SITE I VISITED SAID THE SAME THING SAAB RECOMMENDS REPLACING BOTH SPRINGS YET THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE THE ONE THAT BROKE AND SHREDDED MY TIRE. LOOKING ON THE INTERNET I SEE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT TURNED INTO A RECALL. IF I HAD MADE IT TO THE FIRST ROUND ABOUT THE SPEED LIMIT GOES TO 55MPH THE AMOUNT OF FORCE THAT PULLED MY CAR TO THE RIGHT AT 15MPH WAS ALMOST ENOUGH TO HIT AN ON COMING CAR. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD HAVE DONE AT 55MPH ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY. *TR

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SAAB DATED FEB 2010 TO OWNERS OF 2003 - 2006 SAAB 9-3S THERE WAS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM OF THE SUSPENSION SPRING CORROSION MAY WEAKEN AND/OR BREAK. 3RD PARAGRAPH BOLD UNDERLINED: DO NOT TAKE YOUR CAR TO THE DEALER AS A RESULT OF THE LETTER UNLESS YOU BELIEVE YOUR CAR HAS THE CONDITION. I DID NOT TAKE IT IN. ON MAY 18, 2010 THE SPRING ON THE LEFT FRONT BROKE RESULTING IN THE FRONT END DROPPING. DURING THE LOADING ON FLAT BED TOW TRUCK THE OIL PAN WAS DAMAGED WITH A $1055 REPAIR AT MY EXPENSE. NO OIL LEAK PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING HALF A MILE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, HE HEARD ANOTHER LOUD POP AND THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE AND CONTACT DROVE TO A REPAIR CENTER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE AND PIERCED THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT WAS BEING SERVICED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 72,000.

IN FEB 2010 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SAAB SAYING THAT THE FRONT SPRINGS OF MY CAR COULD FAIL DUE TO CORROSION. THEY SAID COULD CAUSE THE HEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE TO DECREASE BY AN INCH OR TWO. WHAT THEY NEGLECTED TO SAY WAS THAT THE BROKEN SPRING CAN HIT THE TIRE AND CAUSE THE TIRE TO FAIL, WHICH IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME AND MAY OTHER SAAB OWNERS. THEIR LETTER SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THIS SINCE TIRE FAILURE CAUSED MY CAR TO BREAK DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD WHICH HAD NO SHOULDER AND I HAD NO WARNING THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN. *TR