RoadVitals

2010 Saab 9-3 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
30
Latest Jan 17, 2024
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
6
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2010 Saab 9-3, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags2271.0%
  • Fuel system39.7%
  • Engine26.5%
  • Seat belts26.5%
  • Driver assistance13.2%
  • Electrical13.2%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

22
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I HAVE CALLED VIKING SAAB AND REGISTERED ON THEIR WEB SITE MONTHS AGO TO HAVE MY AIRBAG REPLACED AS THEY ARE THE ONLY AUTHORIZED SAAB PLACE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, TO REPLACE IT. THEY HAVE NOT CONTACTED ME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. WHEN I CALLED THERE THEY TOLD ME TO REGISTER ON THEIR WEB SITE. I DID THAT AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID 11040772 · filed Oct 28, 2017

2010 SAAB 9-3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HAVING THE RECALL COMPLETED THE KEY WOULD NO LONGER TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE CIM WAS REPLACED AND TWO NEW KEYS WERE HAD TO BE PROGRAMMED. TWO BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE DISCOVERED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COSTS ACCUMULATED FROM HAVING TO PURCHASE A RENTAL VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/03/2017*JS

NHTSA ID 11029632 · filed Oct 3, 2017
All 22 reports naming airbags

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2010 Saab 9-3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V015000 (Fuel System, Other) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the fuel gauge failed to accurately provide fuel level in the vehicle. The contact stated that while the tank was a half tank full, the fuel gauge would drop to 0 gallons. The failure occurred intermittently. The check engine warning light was illuminated with a message indicating a fuel pump failure. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer confirmed that the remedy was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 104,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID 11566115 · filed Jan 17, 2024

FUEL PUMP DEFICIENCY. WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING TO WARM UP BEFORE USING IT I NOTICE AND EAR THAT IT STALL. AFTER A SECOND IT ACCELERATE TO A NORMAL RPM. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME SINCE NEW (2010). I NEVER RECEIVED A FUEL PUMP RECALL NOTICE!

NHTSA ID 11185692 · filed Mar 10, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

HAD A COMPRESSION TEST AFTER WEAK STARTING. ALL 4 CYLINDERS READ 100.NEED VALVE REPLACEMENT AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN 2007-2011 SAAB 4 CYLINDER CARS. NO WARRANTY OR RECALL REGARDING THIS USE OF FLAWED VALVES

NHTSA ID 11079175 · filed Mar 14, 2018

THERE HAVE BEEN TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE ALSO SUDDENLY RAN OUT OF GAS TWICE IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS I OWNED IT. AFTER THE FIRST SERVICE AT THE DEALER, THE FUEL GAUGE HAS BEEN WORKING CORRECTLY, ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM OR A REPAIR MADE. THE SECOND INCIDENT OF STALLING OCCURRED TODAY ON THE ON-RAMP OF A BRIDGE WITH NO SHOULDER, ON A CURVE GOING UPHILL, AND NO EXIT FOR TWO MILES OF BRIDGE. THE VEHICLE SIMPLY SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, WITH NO NOISE OR WARNING. THERE WAS HALF A TANK OF GAS. I COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION OR RESTART THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. I CALLED 911 AND WAITED IN A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION ON THE RAMP, WITH CARS SPEEDING AROUND THE CURVE, AND MY VEHICLE HALF IN THE LANE. WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO START UP THE CAR AND IT DROVE SEEMINGLY NORMALLY. I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM MYSELF ONLINE, AND IT BECAME IMMEDIATELY APPARENT THAT THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP, AND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL AND NUMEROUS BULLETINS REGARDING THE NECESSITY OF REPLACING THE FAULTY PARTS TO ENSURE SAFETY. I WAS NEVER CONTACTED BY SAAB OR THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR. ALL OF MY CONTACT INFORMATION WAS AND IS CORRECT. I WAS NEARLY KILLED TODAY AS A RESULT. I WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS IS TO BE HANDLED. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID 10495004 · filed Jan 28, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE NHTSA ANNOUNCED A RECALL PERTAINING TO THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT NOT RETRACTING. RECALL #14V318000. AS OF 3/10/17, MY 2010 SAAB 9.3 SEDAN IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALL BUT, THE RECALL ONLY STIPULATES THE CONVERTIBLE MODEL. MY QUESTION RELATES TO HOW DID THE NHTSA DETERMINE IT WAS ONLY THAT MODEL AND NOT THE OTHERS? RIGHT NOW MY SEATBELT DOESN'T RETRACT WHEN EXTENDED IN THE NORMAL OPERATING EXTENDED POSITION. I FEEL THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY INVOLVE ALL OTHER 2010 MODELS. PLEASE CLARIFY.

NHTSA ID 11052487 · filed Dec 5, 2017

MONTHS AGO, DRIVER'S SEATBELT LIGHT WOULD COME ON, DRIVER WOULD THEN PUSH HARDER ON SEATBELT BUCKLE WHICH WOULD 'CLICK' AGAIN (SECOND TIME) AND SECURE. RECENTLY, DRIVER WOULD CONSCIENTIOUSLY AND PURPOSELY NOTE 'CLICK' IN BUCKLE MECHANISM YET LIGHT WOULD COME ON ANYWAY. DRIVER HAD TO DISENGAGE AND RE CLICK SEATBELT 2-3 TRIES. THIS MORNING, THE METAL COMPONENT WOULD NOT LOCK INTO THE DRIVER'S BUCKLE. DRIVER HAD TO ATTACH SEATBELT RESTRAINT INTO PASSENGER'S BUCKLE. THE ALARM SOUNDED, LIGHT IN DASH INDICATING NO SEATBELT USAGE. DRIVER FEARS SAFETY, AND WHETHER OR NOT THIS WOULD IMPEDE AIR BAG DEPLOY IN CASE OF ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID 10492375 · filed Jan 13, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID 10449255 · filed Feb 24, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

2010 SAAB 9-3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HAVING THE RECALL COMPLETED THE KEY WOULD NO LONGER TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE CIM WAS REPLACED AND TWO NEW KEYS WERE HAD TO BE PROGRAMMED. TWO BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE DISCOVERED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COSTS ACCUMULATED FROM HAVING TO PURCHASE A RENTAL VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/03/2017*JS

NHTSA ID 11029632 · filed Oct 3, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .