2004 Saab 9-3 Owner Complaints

Retractor won't pull driver side seat belt back in

NHTSA ID

11602156

Incident

May 10, 2024

Constant random recurrence of error codes P2122 and P2138 (either together or on their own) which results in the car switching to low power mode, with very low acceleration which makes it very dangerous to merge into traffic, pull out of stops, red lights, etc. Technically supposed to require changing the throttle pedal sensor, but changing it does not solve the issue, which is electrical. This is a known issue for GM cars.

NHTSA ID

11467557

Incident

Jun 4, 2022

******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE THE CONSUMER PLACED THE REQUEST*DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******

NHTSA ID

11458819

Incident

Mar 29, 2021

Mileage

119,000 mi

CALLED DEVOE AUTOMOTIVE IN NAPLES TO HAVE RECALLED SEATBELT FIXED, IT JUST FAILED TO RETRACT. I SENT A PICTURE OF THE VIN. AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND IT AND COULD NOT HELP US WITH OUT A LETTER WITH OUR VIN ON IT SAYING THE BROKEN SEATBELT WAS RECALLED, JUST BECAUSE IT WILL NOT RETRACT THAT DIDN'T MEAN IT WAS A RECALL ISSUE. I ASTKED HOW I WOULD GET A LETTER BUT RECEIVED NO GUIDANCE. I WAS ALSO TOLD SAAB IS OUT OF BUSINESS AND THEY WILL HELP KNOWN CUSTOMERS AND SINCE WE WERE IN TAMPA THEY COULDN'T HELP IT WAS SO FAR FOR US TO TRAVEL. I STATED THEY ARE ONE OF FIVE DEALERSHIP WHO WAS LISTED TO FIX THIS RECALL. ALSO TOLD THEM TAMPA REPAIR MAN WAS SICK WITH CARONA VIRUS AND THAT'S WHY I CALLED THEM. SHE TOLD ME ANYONE CAN FIX A BROKEN SEATBELT, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE AND WE CAN'T FIND ANYONE TO HELP US. BASICALLY BECAUSE WE WERE NOT A LOCAL KNOWN CUSTOMER THIS DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT SUPPORT US UNLESS I PROVED THEY HAD TOO.

NHTSA ID

11321112

Incident

Apr 14, 2020

Mileage

110,000 mi

I RECIEVED A LETTER RECALL 15027 DATED DECEMBER 2018. I HAD TO HAVE MY SEATBELT REPAIRED IN JUNE 2016. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $401 AND WAS REPAIRED BY BICKLERS REPAIR. I AM REQUESTING REEMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR IN 2016. IT IS STILL NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY SO I CURRENTLY HAVE IT IN FOR REPAIRS AT RIMROCK PONTIAC IN BILLINGS.

NHTSA ID

11165716

Incident

Jun 13, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION CHEVROLET WEST AMARILLO (7300 I-40 FRONTAGE RD, WEST AMARILLO, TX 79106, 806-553-5673) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIRS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.

NHTSA ID

11121019

Incident

Aug 1, 2018

Mileage

164,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL - GM DEALERS ADVISE MY CAR NOT AFFECTED BUT ON RECALL WEBSITES MY 2004 SAAB 9-3 AERO IS SHOWN TO HAVE A TAKATA AIR BAG.

NHTSA ID

11081728

Incident

Jul 15, 2017

Mileage

95,000 mi

AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT

NHTSA ID

11079992

Incident

Jan 12, 2018

Mileage

180,000 mi

I HAVE A RECALL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT. IT WAS BROKEN AND IS UNSPOOLED.

NHTSA ID

11042242

Incident

Oct 27, 2017

Mileage

95,411 mi

FRONT DRIVER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS FAILED WHEN I WENT TO FASTEN MY SEAT BELT.

NHTSA ID

10918609

Incident

Oct 24, 2016

Mileage

106,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE CAR ENGINE STALLS. NO WARNING AT ALL!! ONCE IT STOPS, IGNITION KEY WON'T WORK. THE ONLY WAY TO RESTART THE CAR IS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THIS IS ALL DONE IN THE EMERGENCY SHOULDERS, BREAKDOWN LANES, ITS ALSO HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY EXIT RAMPS. LUCKILY EACH TIME THERE WAS A PLACE TO PULL OVER. WE COULD GET KILLED. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES . SOMETIMES IT STALLS 2-3 TIMES A DAY. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN THIS CAR. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, AND HOW CAN I SELL IT KNOWING THAT SOMETHING BAD COULD HAPPEN TO THE NEW OWNER.

NHTSA ID

10894074

Incident

Aug 7, 2016

Mileage

1,855 mi

TAKATA RECALL? MY CAR KEEPS GIVING ME THE FOLLOWING ALERT: AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. HOW CAN I VERIFY IT IS PART OF THE RECALL?

NHTSA ID

10893219

Incident

Jul 13, 2016

Mileage

79,000 mi

SAAB RECALL. I RECEIVED BOTH SEAT BELT RETRACTOR AND AIRBAG INFLATE DEFECT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. HOWEVER, IN MY CAR THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MALFUNCTION IS IN THE DRIVER SIDE. I HAVE CALLED THE SAAB OFFICIAL SERVICE CENTER AND THE DEALER FOR BOTH PROBLEMS SEVERAL DAYS UP TODAY AND I HAVE NOT HAD AN ANSWER OR SOLUTION TO THOSE PROBLEMS. BESIDES, I HAVE TRIED TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT, BUT I CAN'T FIND THE PART. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE ATTACHED PHOTOS TO DRIVE WITH A SEAT BELT IN THAT CONDITIONS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT I AM NOT SAFE DRIVING MY CAR, AND THAT THE HAZARD HAS INCREASED WITH THIS CAR'S AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. I AM A 79 YEARS OLD MAN WHO HAS THIS CAR AS THE ONLY MEAN OF TRANSPORTATION THAT I HAVE.

NHTSA ID

10882779

Incident

Feb 13, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10876736

Incident

Mar 23, 2016

2004 SAAB 9-3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DRIVER AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL NOTICE. *SMD

NHTSA ID

10875104

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10865396

Incident

Mar 31, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10864436

Incident

Mar 4, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS) IN MARCH OF 2016. THE CONTACT CALLED SAAB TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE NOTIFICATION WAS SENT BY MISTAKE AND THE VIN WAS NO LONGER INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD RECEIVE A SECOND NOTICE. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS COULD POTENTIALLY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10863998

Incident

Mar 11, 2016

TAKATA RECALL: I CONTACTED MY DEALER AS INSTRUCTED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE ARE NO PARTS AND NO INFORMATION AS TO WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. I ASKED THEM TO DISCONNECT MY SEEMINGLY MURDEROUS AIRBAG AND THEY SAID IT WAS ILLEGAL. WHY IS IT NOT ILLEGAL TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS OR EVEN FATAL? I BELIEVE TAKATA SHOULD OFFER RENTAL CARS TO THOSE WAITING AND IF THEY HAD TO ASSUME THAT FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THEY MAY COME UP WITH THE REPAIR PARTS FASTER. IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO ADDRESS THIS SITUATION? IS ANY ACTION BEING TAKEN TO MOTIVATE TAKATA TO DEAL WITH THIS IN A MORE EFFICIENT MANNER? EVEN IF I WERE TO SELL THE CAR, THE RECALL WOULD MAKE IT UNWANTED BY ANY CUSTOMER. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW TO RESOLVE THIS.

NHTSA ID

10855050

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/26/16*LJ UPDATED 06/14/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10854013

Incident

Feb 3, 2016

TAKATA INFLATORS: I RECENTLY RECEIVED MY SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE DRIVER AIRBAG DEFECT IN MY 2004 SAAB 9-3. I UNDERSTAND THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND THAT THE REPAIR PARTS FOR THIS DEFECT ARE CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE SEVERE IMPLICATIONS TO THIS DEFECT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TALKED TO MY CERTIFIED SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SUGGESTED I REACH OUT TO YOU BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE YOU TO ISSUE ME A WRITTEN APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE THEM TO DISCONNECT THE AIR BAG TO REMOVE THE RISKS. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IN THE PAST THEY HAVE RECEIVED REQUESTS TO DISCONNECT PASSENGER AIRBAGS WHEN SOMEONE NEEDED TO USE A CAR SEAT AND THEY DID NOT WANT THE AIRBAG TO EXPLODE ON IMPACT. THIS IS A SIMILAR SITUATION, WHERE I DO NOT WANT THE AIRBAG TO EXPLODE ON IMPACT DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART. SINCE YOU ARE UNABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY, AND I NEED TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR, I CANNOT BE DRIVING A CAR THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH IF I WERE TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT. THEREFORE, THE ONLY OPTION IS TO DISCONNECT THE HAZARD SO THE CAR CAN STILL BE SAFELY DRIVEN. THE SEATBELT IS IN PLACE, ALONG WITH SIDE AIRBAGS FOR SAFETY. ONCE YOU HAVE SUPPLIED THE PARTS TO FIX THE AIRBAG, THEN IT CAN BE INSTALLED AND RECONNECTED. THANK YOU, *TR

NHTSA ID

10853718

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SPRINGS AND FRONT STRUTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRACTURE HAPPENED TWICE, ONCE ON EACH SIDE. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPRINGS PREMATURELY FRACTURED AND THE FRONT STRUTS AND SPRINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10845837

Incident

Feb 15, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

I HAVE A 9-3 SAAB EVERYTIME I STOP AND TURN CAR OFF WHEN I GET BACK IN A PUT KEY IN I GET A STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTACT SAAB DEALER IT WON'T EVEN LET ME TURN THE KEY I HAVE THE CAR FOR ABOUT YEARS AND NOW IT'S DOING THIS I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND RECONNECT FOR THE COMPUTER RESET AND RESTART ME CAR CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS THANK YOU ..... *TR

NHTSA ID

10809960

Incident

Dec 11, 2015

Mileage

146,000 mi

SEATBELT RETRACTOR ON DRIVER'S SIDE COMPLETELY UNSPOOLED AND WILL NOT RETRACT UNDER NORMAL USE EFFECTING DRIVER'S SAFETY IN EVENT OF A CRASH. WHILE CONVERTIBLE AND PASSEGER SIDE RETRACTORS SEEM TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY WE ARE TOLD OUR CAR IS NOT COVERED AND IT IS $550 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE WHEN SO MANY SAABS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS PARKED WHEN IT UNSPOOLED AND WOULDN'T RETRACT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN OPERATING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10809091

Incident

Dec 4, 2015

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THERE WAS A ODOR OF BURNING OIL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ID

10786664

Incident

Oct 7, 2014

Mileage

117,000 mi