2003 SAAB 9-3 Complaints

View complaints related to 2003 SAAB 9-3. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 210 complaints submitted for the 2003 SAAB 9-3. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2003 SAAB 9-3
    - WHITESBURG, KY

    AIR BAG DEFECT(S). EIGHT SAAB CERTIFIED SERVICE TECHNICIAN ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT FAULTY SAFETY SYSTEM, WITHOUT SUCCESS. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE FOR ON-ROAD AND/OR HIGHWAY TRAVEL. I HAVE ALREADY NOTIFIED SAAB (MANUFACTURER) MANY TIMES VIA EMAIL AND TELEPHONE, AGAIN WITHOUT FOLLOW UP FROM MANUFACTURER.*AK

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 SAAB 9-3
    - LA VERNE, CA

    I PURCHASED MY SAAB 9-3 LINEAR ON 1/16/03, AND WITHIN 2 MONTHS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TURNING ON, AND STALLED OUT 3 TIMES. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 11 TIMES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND EVERY TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS MY GAS CAP, GAS EVAP LEAK, OR SOFTWARE UPDATES. MIND YOU I AM 6 MONTHS PREGNANT AND THE LAST STALL OUT I WAS ON A VERY BUSY STREET GOING 40MPH (LAST MONTH). THEY HAVE REPLACED MY GAS CAP TOO - SAYING THIS WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I CAN NEVER GET A HOLD OF ANY ONE AT SAAB TO DISCUSS - SO I HAVE RESULTED TO THE LEMON LAW. BUT IN REALITY THIS IS A CRITICAL PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS MANY PEOPLE ON THIS SIGHT HAVE ESCAPED INJURY. *AK

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 SAAB 9-3
    - WOBURN, MA

    SHORT IN FUSE BOX IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED AND ELECTRICAL FIRE WITH SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE BAY, ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING/ CAR WAS ABLE TO RESTART WITH THE LOST OF THE LIGHT, TURN SIGNALS, HORN AND WINDSCREEN WIPERS. *JB

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 SAAB 9-3
    - LUTZ, FL

    WHILE DRIVING THRU A S CURVE, MY CAR STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER. THE SPLIT SECOND LOSS OF POWER ON A TURN CAUSED ME TO CROSS INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC BEFORE I REACTED TO BRING MY CAR BACK INTO MY OWN LANE. I WAS LUCKILY THAT NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OR I WOULD HIT THEM HEAD ON. MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 COASTED TO AN AREA OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. AGAIN LUCKILY THAT THERE WAS A ROAD SHOULDER TO PULL OVER ON. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE DEALER RESPONSE AT THE FIRST TIME WAS "THAT'S OK IF IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE"...BUT GUESS WHAT IT IS STILL HAPPENING AND SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM.. HOPEFULLY WE DONT HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO BE KILLED BEFORE SAAB FIXES IT.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 SAAB 9-3
    - LOS ANGELES, CA

    2003 SAFE 9-3 2.0T LINEAR, PURCH NEW 2/21/03 DIES' UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN BEING DRIVEN. FIRST INCIDENT: CAR 'DIED' RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD COMPLETELY UNEXPECTEDLY. ASSUMED IT WAS A 'FLUKE' AND TOOK NO ACTION. AFTER SECOND INCIDENT: DEALER "RESET FUEL ADAPTATION VALVE". AFTER THIRD INCIDENT (DANGEROUS - MERGING INTO FREEWAY) DEALER "REPROGRAMMED T8 AND RESET FUEL ADAPTATION PER SAFE TECHNICAL HOT LINE" ALL INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITHIN LAST TWO WEEKS. CAR RESTARTS WITH NO WARNING LIGHT OR "SIDE" INDICATION OF PROBLEM UPON IGNITION. *CB

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 SAAB 9-3
    - BROOKLYN, NY

    I HAVE HAS 2 SAABS IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILING CONSTANTLY AND THE ENGINE STALLING. AFTER 3 MONTHS OF INCONVENIENCE AND ARGUMENTS SAAB GAVE ME ANOTHER CAR. NOW WITH 3800 MILES THE CAR COMPLETELY DROPPED DEAD ON ME AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 55 MPH. IT WAS -40 DEGREES AND IT TOOK ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 2.5 HOURS TO GET ME. SAAB HEADQUARTERS WAS NOTHING BUT USELESS AFTER DRIVING AROUND IN A TWO TRUCK FOR 8 HOURS SINCE SAAB ROADSIDE AND SAAB HEADQUARTERS COULD NOT TELL ME WHERE TO TAKE MY CAR. I WAS TOWED FROM QUEENS, TO BROOKLYN, TO MANHATTAN AND TREATED WITH NO RESPECT. I ENDED UP GETTING EXTREMELY SICK FROM SITTING IN THE CAR WAITING FOR ROADSIDE FOR 2.5 HOURS. WHEN I CALLED SAAB THEY TOLD ME ITS THE WEATHER THAT CAUSED MY CAR TO DROP DEAD. I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT MY CAR WOULD BE TEMP. TEMPERAMENTAL AND I HAD TO GO TO FLORIDA FOR THE WINTER. THIS IS WHY AMERICAN CAR COMPANIES SUCK. *CB

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 SAAB 9-3
    - SANTA MONICA, CA

    WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION, AND GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC UPGRADED THE SOFTWARE FOR THE ENGINE. *AK

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 SAAB 9-3
    - DES PERES, MO

    I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STALLING WITH MY 2003 SAAB 9-3. AFTER GIVING THE DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 5 CHANCES TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY WERE UNABLE TO. I THEN CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DENIED THAT THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND TRIED TO SAY THIS WAS THE NORMAL FUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE. THEY HAVE MADE ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO FIX THE CAR. I THEN LEARNED ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT OTHERS HAD EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE IT IS RESOLVED. *LA

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 SAAB 9-3
    - PAMPLIN, VA

    CONSUMER STATED WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE IT FELT AS THOUGH TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER PERFORMED AN ADAPTATION ADJUSTMENT. *AK

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 SAAB 9-3
    - EAST WEYMOUTH, MA

    LEASED 2003 SAAB 9-3 ARC ON 9/26 AND THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT (10051379) AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM SAAB CUSTOMER CARE REGARDING THEIR FIXING THE LOUD RIGHT REAR RATTLING/KNOCKING NOISE. I HAVE CALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO CALL BACK. I NOW HAVE TWO MORE PROBLEMS... THE CAR HESITATES, SPUTTERS AND ALMOST STALLS... THE DEALER INCREASED THE IDLE AND THAT WAS THE FIX... I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WHEN STARTING OFF FROM A STOP OR DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN GEARS BETWEEN 10 AND 30 MPHS... IT STARTED A FEW DAYS AGO AND IS BECOMING MORE PREVALENT AS EACH DAY PASSES..BOTH THESE PROBLEMS ALONG WITH THE LOUD RATTLING/KNOCKING NOISE FROM RIGHT REAR THAT DEALER SAYS IS NORMAL TELL ME THAT THIS CAR HAS PROBLEMS THAT SAAB DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH AND THAT IS NOT RIGHT. *LA

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE