Saab 9-3 complaints by model year
1,407 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 2010 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2009 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2008 | 184 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| 2007 | 155 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| 2006 | 179 | 11 | 3 | 2 |
| 2005 | 95 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 2004 | 207 | 10 | 2 | 5 |
| 2003 | 212 | 12 | 6 | 4 |
| 2002 | 46 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| 2001 | 83 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 2000 | 62 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| 1999 | 80 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| 1994 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2002–2011. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 4 | 15 | 20 | 12 | 87 | 65 | 71 | 17 | 22 | 25 |
| Suspension | 1 | 42 | 52 | 29 | 7 | 24 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 12 | 79 | 22 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 16 | 46 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 18 | 66 | 12 | 2 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 31 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 32 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Power train | 6 | 32 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Saab 9-3 recalls (17)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one 9-3 model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16V063000 | Feb 3, 2016 | Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture | 2006–2011 | 84.8% |
| 14V318000 | Jun 12, 2014 | Front Driver's Side Seat Belt Retractor may Fail | 2004–2011 | 32.7% |
| 11V015000 | Jan 19, 2011 | DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS | 2010, 2011 | — |
| 10V043000 | Feb 18, 2010 | FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS | 2004 | — |
| 07V087000 | Mar 7, 2007 | FUEL PUMP | 2000, 2002, 2003 | — |
| 06V126000 | Apr 20, 2006 | FUEL PUMP | 2001 | — |
| 05V399000 | Sep 14, 2005 | BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR OVERHEATING/BURNOUT | 2000, 2001, 2002 | — |
| 05V236000 | May 19, 2005 | BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM PIPE CHECK VALVE | 2003, 2004, 2005 | — |
| 04V557000 | Nov 19, 2004 | GM/SAAB/FUEL PUMP | 2001, 2002 | — |
| 04V540000 | Oct 20, 2004 | SAAB/STALLING | 2003 | — |
| 04V226000 | May 11, 2004 | SAAB/SEAT BELT RETRACTORS | 2003, 2004 | — |
| 03V514000 | Dec 10, 2003 | SAAB/FMVSS 207/FRONT SEAT LOCKING MECHANISM | 2004 | — |
| 01V314000 | Oct 3, 2001 | SAAB/TIE ROD END RETAINING NUTS | 2002 | — |
| 01V168000 | May 18, 2001 | SAAB/FMVSS 208/AIR BAG LABEL | 2000, 2001 | — |
| 99V362000 | Dec 29, 1999 | SAAB/FMVSS 135/BRAKE RESERVOIR LABEL | 1999 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Saab 9-3 FAQ
How many recalls has the Saab 9-3 had?
NHTSA lists 17 recall campaigns that cover at least one Saab 9-3 model year from 1994 to 2011. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Saab 9-3 year has the most complaints?
Among the last 14 model years with settled counts, the 2003 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (212) and the 1994 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Saab 9-3 problems?
Across the 2002–2011 model years, owners most often name the air bags, suspension, seat belts in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Saab 9-3 get?
EPA rates the 2011 Saab 9-3 at 20 to 24 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.