2003 Saab 9-3 Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT WAS HAVING AN UNRELATED REPAIR PERFORMED AT THE DEALER WHEN HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED HAVING REPAIRS TO THE ENGINE AND SERVICE BRAKES. THE REPAIRS WERE NOT PERFORMED. THE CONTACT LOCATED TWO RECALLS FOR THE REPAIRS RECOMMENDED BY THE DEALER (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 04V540000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 05V236000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: POWER ASSIST: VACUUM: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THAT CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH EITHER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THEY WOULD SPEAK WITH THE DEALER TO DETERMINE IF THE REPAIR NEEDED WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPAIR LISTED IN THE RECALLS. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL OR NOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,180.

NHTSA ID

10347355

Incident

Jul 25, 2010

Mileage

90,108 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, IT REMAINED STUCK IN POSITION. IT TOOK THE CONTACT APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES TO RETURN THE PARKING BRAKE TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AAA AND THEY TOO WERE UNABLE TO MOVE THE BRAKE OUT OF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER SERVICE STATION TO SEE IF THE PARKING BRAKE COULD BE MOVED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT MUST APPLY MASKING TAPE OVER THE PARKING BRAKE SO IT CAN BE USED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 12,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000. UPDATED 12/11/08 *BF UPDATED 12/11/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10249420

Incident

Aug 10, 2005

Mileage

12,000 mi

2003 SAAB 9-3 CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE FRONT END OF THE CAR JUST DROPPED OFF AFTER HAVING THE CAR INSPECTED THE FRONT COIL SPRING WAS FOUND TO BE BROKEN**CC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING WAS ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY RUST THAT HAD FORMED INSIDE A RUBBER BOOT THAT WAS USED AT THE BASE OF THE SPRING TO DAMPEN NOISE. WATER WAS ABLE TO GET INSIDE THE BOOTS AND REMAIN, WHICH CAUSED RUST TO FORM AND EVENTUALLY COMPROMISED THE INTEGRITY OF THE SPRING. THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE NEW SPRINGS DID HAVE THE RUBBER BOOTS THAT THE ORIGINAL SPRINGS HAD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10191110

Incident

Mar 12, 2007

DT*: THE CALLER STATED, THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT START THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT THE RUSTED WIRING TO THE IGNITION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY A LETTER. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE, THE HORN DID NOT WORK, THE LOW HEAD BEAM FAILED. THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE, THE ALARM WOULD SOUND WITHOUT WARNING. UPDATED 07/25/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10161643

Incident

Jun 1, 2006

Mileage

33,000 mi

2003 9-3 LINEAR. REQUESTING FOLLOW UP STATUS ON MEMO, DATED 3-26-06. *TS THE VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF ALTHOUGH THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HESITATED SLIGHTLY WHEN MOVING. WHEN BRAKING THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND SKID. THE BRAKES GRABBED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP QUICKLY. THE ALARM WAS VERY SENSITIVE. EVERYTIME A BUS OR TRUCK PASSED THE VEHICLE WITH THE ALARM ENGAGED IT WOULD SOUND. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOT WAY TO ADJUST THE SENSITIVITY OF THE ALARM. THE WINDOWS WERE OFF TRACK. THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *NM ***NAR***

NHTSA ID

10158414

Incident

May 1, 2006

THE BRAKE PEDAL ON MY '03 SAAB 9-3 SPORTS SEDAN SINKS TO THE FLOOR WHEN CONSTANT MODERATE PRESSURE IS APPLIED. THE SAAB DEALER ASSURES ME THAT ALL CARS OF THIS TYPE DO THIS. I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10157871

Incident

May 1, 2006

Mileage

35,000 mi

2003 SAAB 9-3 BRAKES DOES NOT STOP VEHICLE WHEN DEPRESSED. *TS THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHILE BRAKING. THE BRAKES WERE TESTED BUT THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE. THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD WHILE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *NM

NHTSA ID

10155178

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 93 LINEAR. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AGO THERE WAS COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE TRYING TO STOP AT A STOP LIGHT ON DRY PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THIS WAS THE FIRST TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. BUT SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL WHILE IN REVERSE AND WHILE TRYING TO STOP. THIS HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE THE DAY OF PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR EVERY TIME THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM . THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE SERVICE DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10138975

Incident

Sep 26, 2005

Mileage

28,000 mi

BRAKE PADS & ROTORS, SEAT BELT, BATTERY REPLACEMENT, TIRE, TRANSMISSION, SUNROOF MALFUNCTION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10136875

Incident

Sep 15, 2005

THE LEASE ON THIS VEHICLE BEGAN ON OCTOBER 6, 2003. IT HAS HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES STARTING LESS THAN 30 DAYS AFTER DELIVERY. MOST RECENTLY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2005. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED THREE TIMES AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TWICE. EACH TIME THE ONSTAR DID NOT WORK BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. WE NO LONGER HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN THIS VEHICLE AND IF WE OWNED IT WE WOULD SELL IT. PROBLEMS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: * CD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING AND WAS REPLACED WITHIN FIRST 30 DAYS OF LEASE. * BRAKES REPLACED WITHIN FIRST 60 DAYS OF LEASE. * ONSTAR COMPUTER REPLACED WITHIN FIRST 60 DAYS OF LEASE. * VEHICLE COMPUTER UPDATED WITHIN FIRST YEAR OF LEASE. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED AND ALMOST REQUIRED A TOW DUE TO INOPERATIVE TRANSMISSION BUT, THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY SHIFTED INTO LIMP MODE BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED ALLOWING US TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. * VEHICLE COMPUTER UPDATED AGAIN WITHIN FIRST YEAR OF LEASE. * ONSTAR COMPUTER REPAIRED AGAIN WITHIN FIRST YEAR OF LEASE. * DOOR HANDLES FADED AND REPLACED WITHIN SECOND YEAR * PARKING BREAK STUCK AND VEHICLE REQUIRED A TOW WITHIN SECOND YEAR OF LEASE. * ENGINE IMMOBILIZER MALFUNCTION REQUIRING ANOTHER TOW OF THE VEHICLE WITHIN SECOND YEAR OF LEASE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE BATTERY ABRUPTLY DIED. * TRIP COMPUTER MUST BE RESET AFTER GAS IS ADDED IN ORDER TO SHOW CORRECT DISTANCE TO EMPTY. * MILES BETWEEN OIL CHANGES SEEM INCORRECT. WE ARE AT 27000 MILES AND HAVE ONLY HAD ONE OIL CHANGE. THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO TELL US TO WAIT UNTIL THE COMPUTER REQUESTS THE SERVICE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10136293

Incident

Nov 6, 2003

DT: FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WORE OUT COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF BRAKE DUST THE LAST 10,000 MILES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL AND THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CALLED THREE TIMES AND THEY SAID THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR. THE CALLER ONLY HAS 26,000 MILES ON VEHICLE AND HE BELIEVES THIS IS NOT NORMAL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10131383

Incident

Aug 3, 2004

Mileage

16,000 mi

MY SAAB HAS HAD A LITANY OF PROBLEMS SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. IT ALL STARTED WITH LITTLE ITEMS. IGNITION WOULDN'T START THE CAR. HEAD LIGHTS BURNT OUT. DASH PEELING, DOOR HANDLES DISCOLORING, EMERGENCY BRAKE GETTING STUCK AND BEING ABLE TO OPERATE MY CAR. ENGINE WARNING LIGHT BECAUSE MY GAS CAP WASN'T ON CORRECT. STEERING WHEEL LOCKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. WHEEL LOCK LIGHT REMAINING ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING. BRAKES REPLACED DUE TO FACTORY RETRO FIT. SEAT BELTS BEING RECALLED. COMPUTER CONSTANTLY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED SO THE CAR WOULD FUNCTION. ELECTRONIC KEY FAILING SO I COULDN'T START MY CAR. MY CAR IS A 5 SPEED AND THE SHIFTER HANDLE HAS AN CONTINUES TO COME OFF IN MY HAND. A MINIMUM OF 3 FUSES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE DASH BOARD GOES BLANK AT TIMES SHOWING NO FUNCTIONS OF THE CAR. WINDOW WOULDN'T GO UP OR DOWN AND REQUIRED THE REGULATOR TO BE REPLACED. ERRACTIC IDLE. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON BUT, DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHY. BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 30,000 MILES AND ROTORS TOO.

NHTSA ID

10125939

Incident

Jun 17, 2005

Mileage

32,000 mi

BRAKE PADS WORE THROUGH AND ROTORS WERE DAMAGED ON THE FRONT END. NO INDICATION OF BRAKE WEAR FROM DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT REGULAR SERVICE INTERVALS. SAAB HAS A LONG APPROXIMATELY 15,000 ENGINE SERVICE INTERVAL. CONSEQUENTLY BRAKES MAY ONLY BE INSPECTED EVERY 15,000 MILES. NEITHER DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER CAN ADVISE CUSTOMER OF WHEN BRAKE PADS SHOULD BE REPLACED. CUSTOMER HAS NO AVENUE TO RECEIVE ADVICE REGARDING BRAKE WEAR AND REPLACEMENT. ULITMATELY PADS ARE WORN OUT COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING, AND ROTORS ARE DAMAGED, CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE. ALL PARTS ARE REPLACED AT A COST TO THE CONSUMER OF $800.*AK

NHTSA ID

10118515

Incident

Apr 24, 2005

Mileage

39,000 mi

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 55 TO 65 MPH IN THE PASSING LANE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP TO 90 MPH. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD TO REDUCE THE SPEED DOWN TO 70 MPH, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATES UP TO 95 MPH. CONSUMER REAPPLIED THE BRAKES AND GOT THE VEHICLE DOWN TO 10 MPH WHEN HE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. A FIRE HAS TEMPORARY DEVELOP IN BOTH FRONT WHEELS AND EXTINGUISH ITSELF WITHIN 5 MINUTES. CONSUMER GOT BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. DEALER IS REPLACED THE COMPLETE BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *AK

NHTSA ID

10117374

Incident

Mar 29, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

SINCE OWNING MY 2003 9-3, THE PARKING BRAKE STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE ULTIMATELY HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR BUSHINGS ON THE SWAY BAR HAD TO BE REPLACED, MULTIPLE LIGHT BULBS. AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, MOST RECENTLY THE POWER STERRING PUMP NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE SEAT BELT ALSO LET GO AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I THOUGHT THAT ALL THAT COULD GO WRONG, HAD GONE WRONG UNTIL THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT. NOW READING OTHER OWNER COMMENTS I HAVE NO FAITH IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS MY FOURTH SAAB, MY LAST I TRADED AT OVER 180,000 MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10082994

Incident

Jul 28, 2003

HEADLIGHTS WAS TOO LOW WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *LA THERE WAS NOISE IN THE REAR WHILE BACKING AND TURNING (THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM), THE ONSTAR FEATURE WOULD NOT WORK AND WAS INTERMITTENT, THE SEAT BELT LIGHT HAD COME ON AND WOULD GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY (UNABLE TO DUPLICATE), NEED SERVICE SOON LIGHT WOULD COME ON (UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED), THE SQUEAL IN THE REAR, COULD HAVE ALSO BEEN LINKED TO SALT AND SAND IN THE ROTORS, THE TRUNK WOULD NOT STAY OPEN, THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE FOUND TO BE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, AND THE PADS HAD RUST ON THEM. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10081869

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

SINCE PURCHASING SAAB 9-3 ARC IN AUGUST 2003, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE 7 TIMES. PROBLEMS INCLUDE: KEY INOPERABLE, BACK BRAKES LOUD SOUND, FRONT BRAKES SQUEALING, WINDOW PROBLEMS, SUNROOF PROBLEMS, LOOSE HEAT CONSOLE, ONSTAR MALFUNCTION. SAAB HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND CAN NOT FIX THE BRAKE ISSUE. THEY STATE THAT THE LOUD FOGHORN LIKE SOUND IS NORMAL. I HAVE CONTACTED A LAWYER AND AM PURSUING THE ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10066443

Incident

Mar 23, 2003

DEALER - SAAB EXCHANGE WON'T/CAN'T FIX VEHICLE. STEERING PROBLEM, RATTLE PROBLEM, FAN BLOWER PROBLEM, SEAT PROBLEM, BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM, ETC... *LA

NHTSA ID

10047502

Incident

Oct 1, 2003

PARKING BRAKE FAILED -- CAR ROLLED WHILE UNOCCUPIED -- ROLLED DOWN SLIGHT HILL AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10019216

Incident

Apr 19, 2003

Mileage

3,500 mi

FAILURE OF EMERGENCY BRAKE CAUSING CAR TO ROLL WHILE UNOCCUPIED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10017127

Incident

May 3, 2003

Mileage

4,090 mi