Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 64 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Saab 9-3. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 64 · page 1 of 3
TODAY, SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR, AN AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT IN MOTION, AND THERE WAS NO IMPACT. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FROM THE OUTBOARD SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. I WAS SEATED IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED AND ITS SEAT BELT WAS UNFASTENED, HOWEVER A LAPTOP AND SOME OTHER LIGHTWEIGHT OBJECTS WERE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT CRASHED OR DRIVEN OVER A ROAD BUMP WHEN THE DEPLOYMENT OCCURRED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AN INJURED RIGHT ARM, SHOULDER, AND TORSO, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000. *TT
JUST AS I PARKED MY CAR, MY SIDE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY CAR DEPLOYED/EXPLODED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE/LEFT EAR AND NECK WERE INJURED.
WHILE PARKED, I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND STARTED THE CAR. MY PASSENGER SIDE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG DEPLOYED/EXPLODED UPON ENGINE STARTING. I SUFFERED A CONCUSSION, TINNITUS, AND INNER EAR DAMAGE FROM THE AIRBAG EXPLODING. TOOK CAR TO A GM DEALERSHIP WITH A SAAB TECHNICIAN TO HAVE CAR DIAGNOSED TO EXPLAIN WHY THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED/EXPLODED. NO DIAGNOSIS MADE. BUT THEY DID READ ERROR CODE SAYING AIRBAG SENSOR COMMUNICATION FAILURE AFTER AIRBAG DEPLOYED/EXPLODED. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE LIT PRIOR TO INCIDENT. THERE WERE NO SERVICE CODES PRIOR TO INCIDENT EITHER. (I HAD CAR CHECKED 1 WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT)
CAR WAS SITTING IDLING AT KERBSIDE WHILE DROPPING MY KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN. I WAS TALKING TO MY CHILD WHO WAS JUST OUTSIDE THE DOOR. PASSENGER SEAT SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BY ITSELF WITH NO IMPACTS PREVIOUS IMPACTS OR ANY MOVEMENT OTHER THAN ONE MINUTE PREVIOUS THE SEAT WAS TILTED FORWARD AND THEN BACK TO LET KIDS OUT OF BACKSEAT. THIS WAS SECONDS AND INCHES AWAY FROM RESULTING IN A DEATH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SAAB 9-3. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS ON THE LEFT ARM, BUT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
DRIVERS SEAT BELT STUCK IN RETRACTED POSITION. UNABLE TO USE STUCK BELT. AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AS A RESULT OF THIS. NO SEATBELT OR AIRBAG. THIS IS A CONVERTIBLE NOT COVERED IN THE CURRENT RECALL BUT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR LOCKED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. SINCE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT SEAT BELTS IS DANGEROUS, THE VEHICLE IS UNUSABLE. *TR
GOT INTO MY CAR, TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND THEN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR WAS PARKED, THE AIRBAG JUST WENT OFF FOR NO REASON. *TR
PREMATURE DIC FAILURE. CONSISTANTLY BURNS OUT SPARK PLUGS. *TR
FOR MY 1999 SAAB 9-3, BASE ENGINE, I REPLACED THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE, AT 128,800 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE PART ALONE WAS $488 AND THE TOTAL INSTALLATION COST AND PARTS (INCLUDING A HOSE AND FOUR SPARK PLUGS) WAS $760. MODEL YEARS 2000 THROUGH 2002 WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PART. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH IN THE SNOW, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN IMPACT OR CRASH OCCURRING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. LATER THAT DAY, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. HER MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND ENSURE MAXIMUM PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE WIRING WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 141,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START HIS VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE CRANKED, BUT HE RECEIVED NO SPARK. HE ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH DID NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. HE ALSO REMOVED THE SPARK PLUG WIRES AND NOTICED THAT VARIOUS PARTS WERE CRACKED UNDERNEATH THE IGNITION. A JUNKYARD MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V399000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE), WHICH PERTAINED TO THE 2000-2002 SAAB 9-3'S. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $464. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,356.
ENABLED DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER FOR FIRST TIME SINCE LAST WINTER/SPRING. WHILE DRIVING, LEFT SIDE OF MY LOWER BODY STARTED BURNING, AND I SMELLED SMOKE. PARKED CAR. DIME SIZED HOLE WITH SMOLDERING EDGES WAS PRESENT ON MY DRIVERS SEAT. UPON TOUCHING IT, MY FINGER TIP WAS BURNED. IMMEDIATELY DISABLED SEAT HEATER AND STOPPED CAR. CONTACTED SAAB USA. REFERRED ME TO DEALER WHERE I AM TAKING CAR TOMORROW. THEY WILL DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, AND DECIDE IF THIS IS A PRODUCT DEFECT. IN MY OPINION, AND BASED ON COMPLAINTS I'VE READ FROM OTHERS, IT IS. VERY SCARY SITUATION. *JB
I HAVE A 1999 SAAB 9-3 WITH MANUAL CLIMATE CONTROL. THE BLOWER SWITCH WAS ERRATIC FOR A FEW WEEKS (ON/OFF POSITION SHIFTED) BUT LAST NIGHT DURING A SHORT JOURNEY THE BLOWER WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND A BAD ODOR BECAME PRESENT IN THE CABIN. THIS MORNING I INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THAT THE BLOWER SWITCH AND WIRING CONNECTOR AND WIRES HAVE MELTED. IT IS LIKELY THAT IF THE JOURNEY HAD BEEN LONGER A FIRE WOULD HAVE RESULTED. THE SWITCH AND CONNECTOR AND WIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE REASON FOR THE BLOWER SWITCH ERRATIC BEHAVIOR NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *JB
THE DRIVER OF THE 1999 SAAB 9-3 WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE ON MA RTE. 128 SOUTH. HER SON WAS IN A CHILD CARSEAT TIGHTLY BELTED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER SEAT, THE SEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER. THE SWITCH ON THE BELT BUCKLE WAS SET TO THE "CHILD SEAT" SETTING. THE DRIVER SIGNALED AND BEGAN TO CHANGE LANES TO THE MIDDLE LANE WHICH WAS CLEAR OF TRAFFIC. AS SHE WAS SHIFTING LANES, ANOTHER VEHICLE, A LIGHT-COLORED SEDAN, BEGAN TO MOVE SHARPLY INTO THE MIDDLE LANE FROM THE RIGHT. THE DRIVER WAS FORCED TO SWERVE TO THE LEFT TO AVOID COLLISION WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE, AND HER CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD TO THE LEFT AND HIT THE GUARDRAIL IN A FRONT-END COLLISION. THE DRIVER WAS THROWN FORWARD BUT WAS WEARING HER SEATBELT, WHICH HELD HER. HER AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE. HER SON'S CAR SEAT DID NOT REMAIN IN PLACE, BUT WENT FORWARD AND TIPPED OVER ON ITS SIDE, FACING THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR, SO THAT WHEN THE DRIVER OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR TO CHECK ON HER SON, AT FIRST SHE COULDN'T SEE HIM, AND SHE HAD TROUBLE EXTRACTING THE CAR SEAT. AN OFF-DUTY FIREMAN STOPPED TO HELP, CUT THE SEAT BELT AND EXTRACTED THE SEAT. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND TREATED FOR WHIPLASH; HER SON DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE SUSTAINED INJURY. THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURER, AND THE INSURER TOWED THE CAR AND WANTS TO DISPOSE OF IT. WE (THE DRIVER AND HER HUSBAND) CONTACTED SAAB SEVERAL TIMES TO ASK THAT THE VEHICLE BE EXAMINED PRIOR TO DISPOSAL TO ADDRESS CONCERNS ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE REAR SEAT BELT AND THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG; SAAB WAS UNHELPFUL. *JB
ON THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 6, 2006, MY 1999 SAAB 9-3 WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOUSE WHEN I STARTED THE CAR TO WARM IT UP TO TAKE MY FIVE YEAR OLD TO SCHOOL. MY 5 YEAR OLD SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AS THE CAR WAS WARMING UP. WITHOUT NOTICE OR PROVOCATION THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN MY 5 YEAR OLDS FACE. THIS VIOLENT EXPLOSION CAUSED A SCRATCH AND REDNESS ON MY DAUGHTERS FACE. UPON SPEAKING WITH SAAB I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING, AND UPON THEIR INSTRUCTION - I TOOK THE CAR THE LOCAL SAAB DEALER, WHO UPON EXAMINING THE CAR SAID THAT THE REASON FOR THIS HAPPENING IS INCONCLUSIVE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. SAAB IS GIVING US THE RUNAROUND, AND WE NEED SOMEONE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS INCIDENT. I AM HOPING THAT FILING THIS COMPLAINT WILL HELP. *JB
THE KNOBS FOR THE HEAT, AIR, AND WHERE THE HEAT AND AIR GOES BREAKS OFF! I HAVE REPLACED EACH ONE ONCE, AND THE COST WAS 135.00. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, MY 1999 SAAB 9-3 EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF A PROBEM UNTIL A SINGLE "CLUNKING NOISE" WAS DETECTED AND THEN THERE WAS NO POWER IN 5TH OR 4TH GEAR. BY THE TIME I DOWNSHIFTED TO 3RD GEAR, THE ENGINE HAD STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY/ALTERNATOR, AND OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS LIT. THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESARTED. I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO THE DISTRESS LANE AND SUMMON HELP (911). THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED FOR REPAIRS. THE LOCAL SAAB DEALER DETERMINED THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE (IDM) HAD FAILED (BURNED UP). THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED ME OF A RECENT RECALL (I BELIEVE IT'S 05V-399) FOR THE 2000 - 2002 MODEL YEARS AND THAT PERHAPS THE IDM ON MY CAR HAD A SIMILAR DEFECT. THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW IDM (REPLACEMENT PART 55-561-132) AND 4 NEW SPARK PLUGS WHICH HAD BEEN FOULED FROM MY REPEATED EFFORTS TO RESTART THE CAR. I DID NOT RECEIVE OLD PARTS BACK.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH ON A SNOW COVERED HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE RECOGNITION CASSETTE MODULE FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. UPDATED 11/3/2006 - ON 11/24/05 THE VEHICLE'S DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE BEING DRIVEN IN THE SNOW. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE THE REPAIR FACILITY ALSO HAD TO REPLACE TWO OXYGEN SENSORS AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT RAW FUEL DAMAGED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DURING THE INITIAL FAILURE OF THE DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE. *NM
DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED ON MY 1999 SAAB 9-3. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 2000-2002 SAAB 9-3 AND I FEEL THIS RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE THE '99 MODEL AS WELL BECAUSE THIS PART HAS A LESS THAN REASONABLE LIFE. *JB
THE DIRECT IGNITION FAILED ON MY 1999 SAAB 93. IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON WHICH ALERTED US TO THE PROBLEM. MY AUTHORIZED SAAB MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS THE WISEST COURSE TO REPLACE THIS FAULTY PART BEFORE IT FAILED COMPLETELY. THE COST TO DO SO $500 OUT OF MY OWN POCKET TO REPLACE THIS INHERENTLY FAULTY PART. *JB
1999 SAAB 9-3 IGNITION CASSETTE FAILURE. *JB
I BELIEVE MY 1999 SAAB 9-3 SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECENT SAAB IGNITION MODULE RECALLS, MY IGNITION MODULE IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE 2000 MODELS, THE RECENT FAILURE OF THIS PART INVOLVES SAFETY FACTORS SAME AS THE 2000 MODELS, REPLACEMENT COST IS OVER 400.00 AND SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. *JB
DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE (IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE) FAILED. ENGINE WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. CAR WAS TOWED, EVALUATED, AND THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE THAT FAILED WAS IDENTICAL TO THE IDM THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL FOR 2000-2002 MODEL YEARS. I AM REQUESTING THAT THE RECALL BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE 1999 MODEL YEAR. I HAVE RETAINED THE FAILED PART. *NM
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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