RoadVitals

2007 Saab 9-3 Suspension Problems

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

Data refreshed

Suspension 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.
24
Latest Mar 20, 2018
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.
15%
of 155 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 Saab 9-3 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 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 suspension

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

EngineSuspension
Filed Mar 20, 2018

FIRST ISSUE WAS FRONT SUSPENSION COILS. REPLACED BOTH. BIGGEST ISSUE WAS ONCE THE WEATHER BECAME VERY COLD, CAR WOULD NOT START. ENDED UP BEING A VICTIM OF THE BAD INTAKE VALVES PROVIDED BY GM. NOW, AFTER A COMPLETE VALVE JOB AND HAVING THE CAR RUN GREAT FROM MARCH 2017 TO DEC 2017..IT APPEARS IT MAY HAVE A CRACKED BLOCK. CAR NEVER OVERHEATED. FLUIDS WERE ALWAYS MAINTAINED. LOOKED INTO THAT AND APPARENTLY THERE WERE SOME CASTING ISSUES AS WELL. THANKS GM.

NHTSA ID
11080319
Incident
Dec 7, 2017
Mileage
134,000 mi
EngineSuspension
Filed Dec 29, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE VALVES FAILED PREMATURELY. THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE PERFORMED ROUGHLY EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. IN ADDITION, THE SPRINGS THAT CONNECTED TO THE FRONT STRUTS HAD PREMATURE RUST AND CORROSION, WHICH CAUSED IT TO FRACTURE WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT COILS SPRINGS AND EIGHT VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INSPECTED BY A DEALER (CONNTECH SAAB SPECIALISTS, 180 JEFFERSON BLVD, WARWICK, RI 02888, (401) 738-3665). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID
11057318
Incident
Feb 2, 2015
Suspension
Filed Sep 5, 2017

DRIVERS SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING RUSTED AND BROKEN CAUSING LOUD CLUNKING WHEN DRIVING. I AM LOOKING FOR AN EXPLANATION ON WHY SAFETY RECALL 15917 ONLY INCLUDES THE YEARS 2003-2006 WHEN CLEARLY THE ISSUE FROM READING ONLINE SURPASSES THOSE YEARS BY FAR.

NHTSA ID
11021655
Incident
Aug 25, 2017
Mileage
100,400 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 13, 2015

NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING WAS CORRODED AND BROKEN. THE CORROSION OCCURRED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SPRING AND THE BROKEN PIECE WAS STICKING OUT OF THE STRUT ASSRMBLY AND WAS POSSIBLY A TIRE PUNCTURE HAZZARD. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THIS MODEL SAAB BUT IS NOT COVERED BY GM SPECIAL COVERAGE #15917 BECAUSE THAT EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY APPLIES TO 2003-2006 MODELS. WHY NOT GM??

NHTSA ID
10748514
Incident
Aug 12, 2015
Mileage
75,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 1, 2015

THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND STRUT BEARINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE BOTH COIL SPRINGS CRACKED/BROKE. THERE IS A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH OTHER SAAB MODEL YEARS RECALL 15917 AND THIS SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER MODEL YEAR 2007 AS WELL SINCE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING.

NHTSA ID
10745499
Incident
Jul 30, 2015
Mileage
119,852 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 26, 2015

WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SAAB - SUSPENSION SPRINGS BREAKING. THEY WARRANTY IT FOR '03 TO '06 CARS ONLY. MINE IS AN '07. MY FRONT RIGHT SPRING BROKE. DEALERS SAY THEY SEE A TON OF THEM IN '07'S AND SEE THE POSTS ONLINE FROM '07 OWNERS WITH BROKEN SPRINGS. SAAB/GM NEEDS TO GET BEHIND THIS AND DO THE RIGHT THING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10701927
Incident
Mar 19, 2015
Mileage
67,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 4, 2015

PLEASE REFER TO COMPLAINT NUMBER 10691989 WHICH PERTAINS TO DRIVER SIDE BROKEN SUSPENSION COIL SPRING. THIS COMPLAINT (WHICH I'M SUBMITTING NOW) PERTAINS TO PASSENGER SIDE (RIGHT) SUSPENSION COIL SPRING. THE TOP OF THE COIL SPRING WAS HEAVILY RUSTED APPROX. 1-2 INCHES FROM THE TOP OF THE SPRING AND WAS AT RISK OF BREAKING/SNAPPING. BROKEN SPRING COULD HAVE SLICED THE FRONT TIRE OPEN AND CAUSED A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10691990
Incident
Jan 31, 2015
Mileage
55,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 4, 2015

DRIVER SIDE (LEFT) SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BROKE. IT HAS RUSTED THROUGH APPROX. 2 INCHES FROM THE TOP. IT BROKE GOING THROUGH MODERATELY UNEVEN ROADS, WITHOUT HITTING ANY MAJOR POTHOLES. BROKEN SPRING COULD HAVE SLICED THE FRONT TIRE OPEN AND CAUSED A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT. WAS BARELY HOLDING TOGETHER AT THE TIME OF REPLACEMENT. FOUND OUT WHEN STARTED TO HEAR CLUNKING SOUNDS, BUT COULD HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEED WITH WORSE CONSEQUENCES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10691989
Incident
Jan 31, 2015
Mileage
55,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Feb 20, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING AND METAL GRINDING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ID
10689639
Incident
Feb 14, 2015
Mileage
106,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 3, 2015

AFTER EXPERIENCING RATTLES IN THE FRONT OF MY CAR, I BROUGHT MY 2007 SAAB 9-3 IN TO A MECHANIC TO FIND BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS CORRODED AND CRACKED. HAD I NOT HAD THIS REPAIR DONE THE BROKEN COIL SPRINGS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS WAS A $900 REPAIR. ANOTHER FRIEND WITH A 2007 SAAB 9-3 ALSO HAD THIS REPAIR DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10669859
Incident
Jun 13, 2014
Suspension
Filed Aug 24, 2014

A NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH PORTION OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR CENTER AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING HAD CORRODED AND SPLIT. CURRENTLY WORKING WITH DEALER TO VERIFY IF REPAIR COSTS CAN BE COVERED UNDER ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10627920
Incident
Aug 20, 2014
Mileage
91,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 28, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. THE SPRINGS, BEARINGS AND FRONT END SUSPENSION WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,804.

NHTSA ID
10585342
Incident
Mar 30, 2014
Mileage
53,804 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 27, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD BANGING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN ON TOP OF THE STRUT ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103000.

NHTSA ID
10575088
Incident
Mar 10, 2014
Mileage
103,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Nov 5, 2013

DRIVER STARTED HEARING A CLUNKING SOUND ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE. UPON GETTING BRAKE WORK DONE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN. DRIVER CONTACTED THE MAZDA/SAAB DEALERSHIP OF BEDFORD, OHIO AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED IN A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE COIL SPRINGS AND SCHEDULED THE REPAIR WORK. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE THE DEALERSHIP RECOGNIZED THAT THEY HAD MADE A MISTAKE AND THE WARRANTY EXTENSION WAS ONLY FOR 2003-2006, AND WOULD NOT HONOR THE REPAIR. IF THE SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING IN THE 2007 MODELS, THE WARRANTY EXTENSION SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO THOSE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10550947
Incident
Aug 10, 2013
Mileage
58,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jun 19, 2013

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING FAILURE. CORRESPONDS WITH EXISTING SAAB TSB FOR 9-3'S THROUGH 2006. MY 2007 IS IDENTICAL VEHICLE AND EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME PART AS EARLIER VEHICLES, BUT CURRENT CAMPAIGN DOES NOT COVER THIS YEAR. IT CAUSED A DRIVABILITY ISSUE. PLEASE REVIEW FOR ACTION, THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10520621
Incident
Jun 11, 2013
Mileage
69,500 mi
Suspension
Filed Dec 6, 2012

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING FAILURE. CORRESPONDS WITH EXISTING SAAB TSB FOR 9-3'S THROUGH 2006. MY 2007 IS IDENTICAL VEHICLE AND EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME PART AS EARLIER VEHICLES, BUT CURRENT CAMPAIGN DOES NOT COVER THIS YEAR? THIS MAKES NO SENSE. PLEASE EXPAND TO INCLUDE ALL MODEL YEARS ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH THE FAULTY COIL SPRINGS. I WAS LUCKY IN THAT THE FAILURE ON MY VEHICLE DID NOT TEAR THE TIRE AND I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10487591
Incident
Dec 6, 2012
Mileage
89,393 mi
Suspension
Filed Jun 11, 2012

FRONT COIL SPRING ON CAR HAS RUSTED THROUGH WHICH IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR 2003-2006 SAABS, AND GM HAS PROVIDED A EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, FOR 2007 THEY HAVE NOT. (I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WHERE THE SPRINGS HAVE BROKEN.) WHILE I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT, WHEN THE SPRING BROKE, IT CAUSED A DRIVABILITY ISSUE. AFTER SEARCHING SAAB FORUMS FOR ANSWERS, IT IS APPARENT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE. PLEASE REVIEW FOR POSSIBLE ACTION. THIS SEEMS TO ME A JUST A ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. AS THE SUSPENSION LOSES 1-2" IN HEIGHT EFFECTING BRAKING DISTANCE, AND IF ON A ROUGH ROAD WHEN THIS COULD HAPPEN DAMAGE TO CAR AND THE PEOPLE INSIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10461198
Incident
Jun 9, 2012
Mileage
98,100 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 25, 2012

THE SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10452896
Incident
Feb 3, 2012
Mileage
69,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 20, 2012

WHILE DRIVING MY SAAB 9-3 2007 I STARTED HEARING SOME RATTLING NOISE FROM THE FRONT LEFT SUSPENSION. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING UNUSUAL. WHEN I REACHED MY GARAGE I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE FRONT WHEEL AND NOTICED ABOUT 6 INCHES OF THE BOTTOM SPRING COIL WAS BROKEN OFF FROM THE REST OF THE SPRING. I CONTACTED SAAB EXCHANGE DEALER IN LAKE BLUFF, ILLINOIS AND WAS TOLD THE 2007 SAAB DOES NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS RELATED TO THE SPRINGS AND THE REPLACEMENT COST WOULD BE ABOUT $1250. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY SAAB (GM IN THIS CASE). *KB

NHTSA ID
10452398
Incident
Mar 19, 2012
Mileage
49,408 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 31, 2011

FRONT SUSPENSION SPRINGS BROKE (METAL FATIGUE). *TR

NHTSA ID
10416384
Incident
Feb 5, 2011
Mileage
65,000 mi
Suspension
Filed May 4, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THE LEFT DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A LITTLE RATTLING AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO GAVE HIM AN ESTIMATE OF $697 TO REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR COIL SPRINGS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS AWAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WANTED TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR $95 TO INFORM HIM OF WHAT THE FAILURE WAS. A CLAIM#71-944081240 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,700. UPDATED 05/25/11 *BF THE DEALER COVERED THE COST OF THE REPAIR. UPDATED 06/06/11. *JB

NHTSA ID
10398914
Incident
Apr 7, 2011
Mileage
51,700 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 4, 2011

2007 SAAB 9-3 FRONT SPRING BROKE AND WAS STICKING OUT NEAR THE TIRE. COULD HAVE PUNCTURED THE TIRE AND CAUSED SEVERE ACCIDENT. I REMOVED THE PIECE OF 7" SPRING STEEL AND AM DEALING WITH SAAB/GM. THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH PREVIOUS MODELS, HOWEVER HASN'T BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED AT THIS POINT FOR THE LATTER YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10394185
Incident
Apr 4, 2011
Mileage
100,680 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 23, 2010

MY 2007 SAAB 9-3 AERO SEDAN HAD A BROKEN FRONT SPRING. THE VEHICLE HAS 28,00 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10327116
Incident
Mar 17, 2010
Mileage
28,000 mi
Suspension
Filed May 3, 2009

MANY 2003-2005 SAAB 9-3'S ARE UNEXPECTEDLY FACING THEIR FACTORY SPRINGS BREAKING WHILE DRIVING. THIS FORUM THREAD SPECIFICALLY SHOWS ABOUT 10-15 PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY ENCOUNTERED THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM HTTP://SAABCENTRAL.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=155844 . IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT STOCK FACTORY SPRINGS ARE BREAKING ON THESE VEHICLES. I SUGGEST THAT YOU PRESSURE SAAB INTO PUTTING OUT A RECALL, AS EVERYONE BROKE THEIR SPRINGS WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10267592
Incident
May 3, 2009

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

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .