2004 SAAB 9-3 Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE AT 3 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING RUBBER ODOR AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,000. UPDATED 03/27/09 *BF UPDATED 04/01/09.*JB

AFTER NOTICING AN INCREASINGLY LOUD SUSPENSION CLUNK COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE SAAB DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT SPRING WAS SNAPPED AND BOTH FRONT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS THE CAR WAS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THE WEB I HAVE FOUND THERE ARE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SPRINGS FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL, I WAS LUCKY THAT I DID NOT EXPERIENCE AND FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED AS SOME OTHERS HAVE. I FIND THIS TO BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THAT THE SPRINGS ARE ROTTING AND SNAPPING AFTER ONLY A FEW YEARS. I LIVE IN THE SNOW BELT THAT IS NOTED IN THE ALREADY OPEN INVESTIGATION. ACTION# PE08052 AND EA08026. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY WIFE EXPERIENCES A SCRAPING SOUND. THEN HER RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND WAS SHREDDED. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS TRAVELING VERY SLOWLY ON A LOCAL STREET, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER; OTHERWISE THE TIRE BLOWOUT COULD HAVE CAUSED HER SERIOUS HARM. TURNS OUT IT WAS THE SPRING (OR COIL) THAT HAD BROKEN. COST US $650.00 TO REPAIR AND REPLACE BOTH SPRINGS (SAAB SAID YOU HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH SPRINGS AT SAME TIME, EVEN THOUGH ONLY ONE BROKE) AND FOR A NEW TIRE. SAAB DEALER SAID BROKEN SPRINGS/COILS NOT COVERED. I KEPT THE BROKEN SPRING. WE HAD THE LOCAL CAR REPAIR SHOP DISCARD THE SHREDDED TIRE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE TED WILLIAMS TUNNEL AND THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. I DID NOT HIT A BUMP. THE SPRING CAUSED A CATASTROPIC FAILURE OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. I HAD TO BE TOWED OUT OF THE TUNNEL AND HAVE NEW COIL SPRINGS INSTALLED. *TR

MY 2004 SAAB 93 ARC HAD 2 BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRINGS. TOLD CORROSION CAUSED BREAKAGE. RIGHT FRONT BROKE WHILE DRIVING WITH MY 8 YEAR OLD SON IN THE CAR. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP. REPAIRS OVER 400$ FOR JUST COIL SPRINGS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

ABOUT 5 INCHES OF THE LOWER PART OF THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING HAD SNAPPED OFF AND REMAINED IN THE WHEEL WELL. WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT IN TO GET IT REPAIRED, JUST NOTICED IT, TIME OF INCIDENT UNKNOWN IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 06. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR AND WAS DRIVING NEAR MY HOUSE AND HEARD A LOUD CRACK FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. I DROVE THE CAR HOME A BLOCK AND TOOK THE WHEEL OFF TO FIND A PIECE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING SNAPPED OFF AND THE REMAINDER WAS RUBBING AGAINST MY TIRE. LUCKILY NO HARM WAS DONE TO MYSELF OR TIRE BUT IT COULD HAVE OCCURRED ON THE INTERSTATE WITH NOT AS GOOD RESULTS. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR NOT ONLY IN THE US BUT SAME THING IN EUROPE. I WILL HAVE TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND GET THE COIL REPLACED. *TR

1. STANDARD DRIVING CONDITIONS IN MINNESOTA. 2. FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BREAKAGE. NEAR THE TOP OF SPRING. 3. REPLACED BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AT DEALERSHIP. *TR

ON 2004 SAAB 9-3, RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, SLASHED WALL OF TIRE RESULTING IN IMMEDIATE DEFLATION. VEHICLE TAKEN TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, REPAIRED SAME DAY, REQUESTED OLD PART TO BE HELD. *TR

2004 9-3 CONVERTIBLE, AERO. HAD DEVELOPED A SOUND FROM THE FAN BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX. USUALLY BEGINS TO GET LOUDER WHEN A/C IS ON. TAKEN TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I INFORMED IT WAS NORMAL "WEAR & TEAR." COST TO FIX WAS ESTIMATED AT 500.00. THIS IS MY THIRD SAAB CONVERTIBLE AND IT'S ONLY PROBLEM AFTER 100, 000 MILES. *TR