2004 Saab 9-3 recalls and problems

The 2004 Saab 9-3 has 5 recalls and 207 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is seat belts.

How the 2004 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 12 9-3 model years — 2nd most.

5recalls

207complaints

10crashes

2fires

8injuries

72,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

5 recalls

Seat Belts

Jun 12, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V318000 · 28,789 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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 & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Seat Belts

Feb 18, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V043000 · 14,126 vehicles

Problem: General motors is recalling certain model year 2004 Saab 9-3 sedans. Some of these vehicles were produced with front seat belt retractors that, over time, could fail to retract.

Original NHTSA wording

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 SAAB 9-3 SEDANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT, OVER TIME, COULD FAIL TO RETRACT.

Risk: Using a seat belt that has not retracted, and in the event of a crash, a seat occupant May not be properly restrained increasing the risk of personal injury.

Original NHTSA wording

USING A SEAT BELT THAT HAS NOT RETRACTED, AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the driver side retractor free of charge. If the front passenger retractor were to fail to retract, gm will replace the front passenger retractor free of charge under a special coverage that will be released for the same population for 10 years from new vehicle date of sale. The safety recall is expected to begin during July 2010. Owners May contact Saab at 1-800-955-9007 or at the owner center at saabparts.com/us. Note: In June 2014, gm expanded the special coverage from 10 years to be for the lifetime of the vehicle.

Gm's recall no. E090273.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Service Brakes

May 19, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V236000 · 68,654 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: If this condition were to occur when minimum stopping distance is required, a crash could occur.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THIS CONDITION WERE TO OCCUR WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install a new redesigned check valve. The recall began on March 17, 2006. Owners should contact Saab at 1-800-955-9007.

Saab recall no. 15019 (gm recall no. 05057).customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

Seat Belts

May 11, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V226000 · 31,335 vehicles

Problem: Some sport sedans were built with seat belt retractors that were damaged during the manufacturing process. If damaged, over time, the automatic tensioning system (ats) cable in the seat belt retractor could break causing the belt webbing to not retract.

Original NHTSA wording

SOME SPORT SEDANS WERE BUILT WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT WERE DAMAGED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. IF DAMAGED, OVER TIME, THE AUTOMATIC TENSIONING SYSTEM (ATS) CABLE IN THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR COULD BREAK CAUSING THE BELT WEBBING TO NOT RETRACT.

Risk: In the event of a crash, a front seat occupant May receive more severe injuries.

Original NHTSA wording

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT MAY RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the seat belt retractor assemblies. The recall began on January 24, 2005. Owners should contact Saab at 1-800-955-9007.

Saab recall no. 15017. Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Seats

Dec 10, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V514000 · 1,658 vehicles

Problem: Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 207, "seating systems." the backrest locking mechanism on some front seats May have been installed incorrectly.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." THE BACKREST LOCKING MECHANISM ON SOME FRONT SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Risk: This could cause the seat back to fold forward in a frontal crash, resulting in injury to the driver and/or front seat passenger.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO FOLD FORWARD IN A FRONTAL CRASH, RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND/OR FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect the vehicle's front seats to determine if they are equipped with the improperly installed component. If either or both of the seats have this component, they will be replaced. The dealer May need to order a complete new seat or seats (including matching upholstery) and the parts May take up to two to four weeks to arrive. Saab will provide a rental car for the owner until the new seat(s) is (are) available and installed by the dealer. Owner notification is expected to begin during February 2004. Owners should contact Saab at 1-800-955-9007.

Saab recall no. 15014.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Engine12

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR

PE09048 · opened Sep 30, 2009 · closed Feb 25, 2010 · led to recall 10V043000

Summary

ODI HAS RECEIVED EIGHT COMPLAINTS OF FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS BREAKING ON MODEL YEAR 2004 SAAB 9-3 VEHICLES.A COMMON FAILURE SCENARIO INVOLVES THE DRIVER HEARING A NOISE AND THE BELT SUDDENLY LOSING TENSION.A NON-FUNCTIONING SEAT BELT INCREASES THE RISK AND SEVERITY OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. GENERAL MOTORS INITIATED A RECALL IN MAY 2004 (04V226) TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS BECAUSE OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN 25,355 MODEL YEAR 2003 AND 5,980 MODEL YEAR 2004 SAAB 9-3 SEDANS.THE RETRACTORS CONTAINED AN AUTOMATIC TENSIONING SYSTEM (ATS), A DESIGN FEATURE AND MECHANISM TO ENHANCE OCCUPANT COMFORT BY REDUCING SHOULDER BELT PRESSURE.INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE CABLE IN THE ATS MECHANISM WAS DAMAGED DURING THE SUPPLIER'S MANUFACTURING PROCESS.THE FAILURES OCCURRED WHEN THE CABLE BROKE. RECALL 04V226 DID NOT COVER MODEL YEAR 2004 9-3 SEDANS MANUFACTURED AFTER SEPTEMBER 30, 2004, AND BEFORE MAY 10, 2004, WHICH INCORPORATED MODIFIED ATS MANUFACTURING PROCESSES.THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION FINDS THAT THE ATS ON THE DRIVERS' SEATS ON THE POST-RECALL POPULATION IS FAILING PREMATURELY.THIS IS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM THAN THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT LED TO THE ORIGINAL RECALL.GENERAL MOTORS NOW WILL RECALL THE BALANCE OF 2004 SAAB 9-3 SEDAN DRIVER SEATS WITH THE ATS FEATURE.NOT ALL 2004 9-3 SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ARE SUBJECT TO RECALL.THE RETRACTORS ON 9-3 SEDAN PASSENGER SEATS, DUE TO THEIR LESS FREQUENT USE THAN DRIVERS' SEATS, DO NOT HAVE THE SAME RISK OF PREMATURE FAILURE AS THOSE …

Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture

EA08026 · opened Dec 22, 2008 · closed Jun 4, 2010

Summary

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 a…

FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE

PE08051 · opened Aug 28, 2008 · closed Dec 23, 2008

Summary

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 …

2004 vs. other Saab 9-3 years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2004. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2004 Saab 9-3 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns covering the 2004 Saab 9-3, the latest from Jun 12, 2014 (seat belts). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Saab 9-3?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention seat belts (79), suspension (52), air bags (20). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.