2005 SAAB 9-3 Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, SHE HEARD A NOISE AS HER FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT CALLED HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON PASSENGER SIDE (NO PASSENGER PRESENT) AND DID NOT DEPLOY ON DRIVERS SIDE IN LESS THAN 15 MILE PER HOUR ACCIDENT. APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT OR MALFUNCTION OF THE SYSTEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND CHANGING GEARS, THE PLASTIC SHIFT KNOB FELL OFF INTO THE CONTACT'S HAND. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 09/17/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/25/08. *JB

THIS IS THE SIXTH FAILURE ON THE ENGINE. MY WIFE WAS IN MARYLAND WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (THIS IS NOT THE 1ST TIME). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AN HOUR AWAY IN BALTIMORE. THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED, IT WAS REPAIRED AND THEN SHE HAD TO GET HER OWN RIDE TO THE DEALER (WE ARE FROM OHIO). THIS STARTED HAPPENING AFTER THE ENGINE WAS USING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF OIL. THERE WAS A RECALL BECAUSE THE FACTORY ALIGNED ALL THE RING GAPS IN THE SAME DIRECTION. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TORN DOWN AND REPAIRED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KICKS ON EVERY 400 TO 1000 MILES. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE RINGS, COMPUTER, THROTTLE BODY TWICE, AIR BOX AND OTHER SMALLER ITEMS. BY THE WAY EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS THE ENGINE GOES INTO LIMP MODE AND DOESN'T GO ABOVE THIRTY MILES AN HOUR. THIS IS REAL SAFE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 SAAB 9-3 WITH 56,000 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY I EXPERIENCED A BROKEN RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING WHICH POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE NOT LIMITED TO THE POTENTIAL FOR A SHREDDED TIRE. LUCKILY THIS ISSUE WAS CAUGHT QUICKLY AND BEFORE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE LAPSED AT 50,000 MILES AND SAAB IS UNWILLING TO REPLACE THE PART. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SIMILAR CASES - SOME BREAKAGES HAPPENING AT SPEED AND SHREDDING TIRES. SIMILAR ISSUES CAN BE FOUND AT: HTTP://WWW.SAABSCENE.COM/FORUM/INDEX.PHP?SHOWTOPIC=31635698. *TR

THE REAR BRAKE PADS ON THE SAAB 9-3 SEDANS WEAR PREMATURELY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN REAR BREAK FAILURES WITH AS FEW AS 20-28K MILES ON THE CAR, WHILE THE FRONT BRAKES ARE COMPLETELY NORMAL.*CN

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF 2005 SAAB 9-3 WITH 23,000 MILES REVEALED "FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WORN BELOW LIMITS." *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE IMPACTED A SEMI TRUCK AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT HOWEVER, AFTER THE CRASH, A WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED INDICATING AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS AT SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE POLICE WAS ALSO PRESENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE REMAINED INOPERABLE AND NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK

LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEED 4 TIMES ON 5/17/2006, 4/17/2006. 04/7/2006/AND 4/03/2006. SERVICED EACH TIME BY SAAB DEALER WITH ASSISTANCE FROM NATIONAL TECHNICAL. PROBLEMS CONTINUED. MADE REQUEST FOR RE-PURCHASE UNDER LEMON LAWS OF ST OF WA. CAR RE-PURCHASED BY SAAB USA. *JB

THE PLASTIC AROUND THE TONGUE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT HAS A VERTICAL CRACK PRESENTING A POTENTIAL POINT OF FAILURE IN AN ACCIDENT WHEREBY THE WEBBING WOULD BE PUSHED THROUGH THE PLASTIC SURROUNDING THE TONGUE AND CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO BE UNRESTRAINED. *JB