RoadVitals

2006 Saab 9-3 Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Nov 9, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 179 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Saab 9-3 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceFuel systemSteering
Filed Nov 9, 2019

WHEN I USED MY CRUISE CONTROL SOMETIMES IT ENGAGES AND DOES NOT ENGAGE. IT DID THIS FOR OVER A MONTH. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR, I DID MY RESEARCH ON IT AND IT SAID THAT IT HAS A STEERING FLUID LOSS PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE QUALITY IS POOR. I AM CURIOUS TO WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON IT YET.

NHTSA ID
11279200
Incident
Jun 6, 2019
Mileage
3 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 22, 2019

TAKATA RECALL. THE STEERING PUMP IS LEAKING AND I TOOK MY CAR TO GM AND THEY REFUSED TO WORK ON MY 2006 SAAB 9-3. THE STEERING LEAKING IS SAFETY ISSUE, AND IF I LOSE CONTROL OF MY STEERING..I CAN END UP HURTING MYSELF. PLEASE TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION AND MAKE GM FIX MY STEERING PUMP!

NHTSA ID
11202788
Incident
Mar 28, 2019
Mileage
109,000 mi
AirbagsOther / unspecifiedSteering+1 more
Filed Oct 17, 2013
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE LEFT ROADWAY AT 35MPH AND STRUCK A TREE. AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, DRIVER SUFFERED FACIAL AND TEETH DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10548321
Incident
Oct 12, 2013
Mileage
110,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jul 30, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IMMEDIATELY, THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE IDLING WITHIN THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR, WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,550.

NHTSA ID
10278816
Incident
Jul 11, 2009
Mileage
40,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 9, 2009

I HAVE A 2006 SAAB 9-3 AERO, MANUAL TRANSMISSION, APPROXIMATELY 26,500 MILES. SINCE AS EARLY AS OCTOBER, 2007 THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OCCASIONALLY GOES BLANK WHILE THE CAR IS OPERATING. THIS OCCURS IN ALL MANNER OF DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT IS AS IF THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. HOWEVER, THE CAR CONTINUES TO RUN. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, RADIO, WINDOWS AND AIR CONDITIONING SHUT OFF OR DO NOT OPERATE. ON OCCASION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN LEFT IN THE SUN, IT WILL NOT START AND THE KEY FOB WILL NOT OPERATE THE DOORS. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY HAVE REPLACED A STEERING CIM (?) AND, AFTER THE LATEST INCIDENT, ON JUNE 2, 2009, THE IGNITION SWITCH. NONETHELESS, ON JUNE 7, 2009, THE CONDITION OCCURRED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10273236
Incident
Oct 4, 2007
Mileage
20,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed May 21, 2008
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TEN FOOT BARRIER. GM SENT AN ENGINEER TO GATHER EVIDENCE AND SURVEY THE DAMAGE. ONE OCCUPANT WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. GM STATED THAT THEY WILL TAKE APART THE VEHICLE TO FIND OUT WHY IT STALLED AND CRASHED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ID
10228601
Incident
Mar 16, 2008
Mileage
36,000 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed Apr 29, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY A SAAB DEALER. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA ID
10226026
Incident
Jun 19, 2007
Mileage
32,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 21, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. WHILE THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE LEVER THAT HOLDS THE STEERING WHEEL IN PLACE FELL OFF. AS A RESULT THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED IN A BACK AND FORTH MOTION. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO UP AND DOWN IN DIRECTION. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE SERVICE DEALER BEING REPAIRED. THE DEALER REINSTALLED THE LEVER, AND STATED THAT THE FACTORY MAY HAVE INSTALLED THE LEVER INCORRECTLY. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK (11/17/05) *SC

NHTSA ID
10140409
Incident
Oct 20, 2005
Mileage
313 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .