2000 Saab 9-3 Airbags Problems

The driver's side, side air bag deployed spontaneously. There was no apparent reason or cause, ie no side impact of any kind, no door slamming or other provocation. The car was parked in a garage for six hours before I sat in the car, closed the door, then BLAM! Temperature was moderate, where as the car is often parked on a city street in direct sun. Air bag deployment was a loud bang followed by smoke from an explosive, and a sting on my neck and shoulder where the bag hit me. Bits of foam from the seat interior, where the air bag was located, blew around the car interior. I suffered temporary hearing loss in my left ear due to the loud bang. I was also quite startled. No other people were at risk. No other air bags have deployed since I've owned the car, approx. 20 yrs., purchased used. I will consult an authorized repair shop, insurance agent, and a dealer service center for more info. A Saab dealer service center told me a new replacement air bag would be available from Sweden at a cost of $700. That would be in addition to the cost of repairing the seat, door frame panel, and other items. There were no prior dash board or related fault code messages. The car has never been in an accident or impacted in any way to the best of my knowledge (I saw a Carfax report at purchase).

NHTSA ID

11605808

Incident

Jul 22, 2024

IN NEUTRAL PARKED IN TRAFFIC AT A RED LIGHT / INTERSECTION WAITING FOR GREEN, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG IN MY SEAT DEPLOYED/ EXPLODED CAUSING INJURY AND BRUISING TO LEFT ARM.

NHTSA ID

11338755

Incident

Jul 11, 2020

Mileage

123,000 mi

I GOT INTO MY PARKED VEHICLE AS NORMAL, CLOSED THE DOOR AND FASTENED MY SEATBELT. I THEN DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. AS I TURNED THE KEY TO START THE CAR, THE DRIVERS SEAT SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF HEARING, A RINGING SOUND IN THE EARS, AND INJURY TO MY LEFT ARM. I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND OFF/NOT RUNNING, IN A PARKING LOT AT A LOCAL SHOPPING MALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT, DAMAGED, OR USED IN ANY OTHER WAY OUT OF ORDINARY OPERATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, SOUNDS, OR SIGNS OF DISTURBANCE IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL SHORTER AFTER TO BE TREATED FOR MY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO ITS PRIMARY PLACE OF REST, MY HOME.

NHTSA ID

11131905

Incident

Sep 26, 2018

Mileage

222,620 mi

WHILE PARKED AND WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING THE DRIVER'S SEAT AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ID

11019173

Incident

Aug 23, 2017

Mileage

162,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY REAR IMPACT OR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID

10916660

Incident

Sep 19, 2016

Mileage

92,000 mi

I WAS RETURNING FROM THREE DAYS OF AIR TRAVEL AND REACHED MY CAR WHICH WAS PARKED IN A SECURE CORPORATE AIRPORT PARKING LOT WITH NO OTHER CARS AROUND IT. I PLACED MY LUGGAGE IN THE TRUNK, ENTERED THE CAR AND PUT ON MY SEAT BELT. I STARTED THE CAR; IT STARTED NORMALLY WITH NO WARNINGS OR ANYTHING ABNORMAL. I PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE, ROLLED APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET, AND THE SEAT-BACK SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED EXPLOSIVELY. IT SHATTERED THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, STRUCK ME VERY HARD ON THE LEFT SHOULDER AND UPPER ARM, AND SHOVED ME VIOLENTLY TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR AND TRIED TO RECOVER MY SENSES. I THOUGHT INITIALLY THAT I HAD BEEN SHOT OR SHOT AT WITH A GUN. THE EXPLOSION WAS VERY LOUD, AND LEFT RINGING IN MY LEFT EAR. I SHUT THE CAR OFF, GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE DAMAGE BOTH TO MY CAR AND MYSELF. MY UPPER ARM WAS SEVERELY BRUISED; INITIALLY THAT WAS THE ONLY PAIN THAT I FELT. THERE WAS GLASS EVERYWHERE, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I NOTIFIED THE LOCAL SECURITY BOTH TO RECORD THE EVENT AND HOPEFULLY CLEAN UP THE GLASS. I TOOK SEVERAL PICTURES WITH MY PHONE, THEN DROVE HOME AFTERWARD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE NEXT MORNING I HAD NECK, BACK, AND SHOULDER PAIN. I NOTIFIED AND FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE AGENCY, CALLED MY DEALERSHIP, AS WELL AS UPDATING MY FAMILY OF THE OCCURRENCE AND WENT TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE FOR CHECK-OUT. HAD THIS EVENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, AND ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I AM CONFIDENT THIS EVENT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE GIVEN THE VIOLENCE OF THE DEPLOYMENT. I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT THIS EVENT OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT IN TRAFFIC, AND THAT I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS WAS A COMPLETELY UNCOMMANDED AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO PREVENT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT FROM OCCURRING IF THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ELSE.

NHTSA ID

10781171

Incident

Oct 2, 2015

Mileage

154,000 mi

SIDE AIRBAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE (LOCATED IN OUTSIDE EDGE OF DRIVER'S SEAT) DEPLOYED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED AND RUNNING. THIS WAS CLEARLY A MALFUNCTION -- THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL EVENT OR DAMAGE THAT WOULD CAUSE AN AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. SIGNIFICANT BRUISING TO DRIVER'S LEFT ARM, TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS; DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648817

Incident

Oct 15, 2014

Mileage

139,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY NEIGHBORHOOD STREET GOING APPROXIMATELY 15MPH WHEN MY PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED CAUSING A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND AND MY PASSENGERS SIDE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS EJECTED FROM THE DOOR. I HAD NOT HIT ANYONE OR ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10535087

Incident

Aug 8, 2013

Mileage

131,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING TO THE STORE WHEN I HEARD BOOM AND SEEN SMOKE AND I REALISE THE SIDE AIRBAG OPEN. I DID NOT COME IN CONTACT WITH ANYTHING . THE DRIVER SEATBELT WENT ABOUT A YEAR AGO, IT BEGAN JAM MEACHICAN SAIDED THAT PULLEY JAM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10470315

Incident

Aug 5, 2012

Mileage

99,999 mi

MY SON AND HIS GIRLFRIEND WERE IN A SERIOUS ROLL OVER CAR ACCIDENT IN HER 2000 SAAB HATCHBACK. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, NEITHER FRONT NOR SIDE, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT AND DAMAGE ON FRONT AND SIDES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10091066

Incident

Jun 20, 2004