SAAB 9-3 · model year

2005 SAAB 9-3

114 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005SAAB9-3 carries 114 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 2 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 9-3 is seat belts with 20 filings, followed by suspension:front (15) and suspension (14). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2005 9-3. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

114
Complaints
5
Crashes
2
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

114 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEAT BELTS20
SUSPENSION:FRONT15
SUSPENSION14
AIR BAGS10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)3
SEATS2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:PADS2
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2

Recalls (3)

11E00900028/02/2011

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

TI AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN FUEL PUMPS, PART NUMBERS TU456 AND TU303, SOLD UNDER VARIOUS BRAND NAMES AS AFTERMARKET AND REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MAY SEIZE, STOPPING THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE CREATING A STALLING CONDITION.

05V23600019/05/2005

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

CERTAIN SPORT SEDAN AND CONVERTIBLE PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH A VACUUM PIPE CHECK VALVE FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER THAT MAY FAIL FROM EXPOSURE TO ELEVATED TEMPERATURES. THIS COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST, USUALLY WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING.

14V31800012/06/2014

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2011 Saab 9-3 Convertible vehicles manufactured July 30, 2003, to February 15, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the driver's side front seat belt retractor may break, causing the seat belt webbing not to retract.

Recent Complaints

20230803SEAT BELTS

 The contact owns a 2005 Saab 9-3. The contact stated that the front passenger's side seat belt failed to latch. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V318000 (Seat Belts). The vehicle was not repaired. There was no further information provided. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

20201211FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

IT HAPPENED TO ME TWICE.. WHILE DRIVING THE GAS GAUGE WILL DROP TO EMPTY AND WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS IL JUST REV THERE BE A CUT OFF DUE TO THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR IN WHICH IT'S A COMMON IN ALL SAABS I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS ISSUE HASN'T BECOME A RECALL. IT'S DANGEROUS THE CUT OFF IS AROUND 2-3 SECONDS. I ALMOST CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE LOST OF POWER. I WAS ENTERING THE FREE WAY AND AN 18 WHEELER HAD TO SWITCH LANES AND PASSED I WAS GOING AROUND 45 MPH MERGING . THE SECOND TIME I WAS GOING 25 MPH AND IT FELT LIKE THE ENGINE SHUT OF AND GATHER SPEED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP AND MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME SYMPTOMS OTHERS HAVE DESCRIBE. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR HAS ISSUES BUT THEIR NOT PARTS TO DIFFICULT TO CHANGE BUT IF YOU TAKE THE CAR TO A MECHANIC THEYL CHARGE YOU RIDICULOUS FOR LABOR ALMOST $1200 JUST IN CHANGING THE DRIVE BELT?

Mileage: 86,000

20191106ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ALTORNATOR KEEP MALFUNCTIONING HAPPEND MULTIPLE TIME

Mileage: 190,015

20190806FireFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED HE SAW SMOKE COMING THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WAS INFORMED FIRE WAS COMING FROM A FUEL LEAK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED A BYSTANDER CAME WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR MEDICAL ATTENTION NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER FLIKKEMA SAAB LOCATED AT 2424 176TH ST, LANSING, IL 60438, (708) 474-1933, AND WERE MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. *DT *JB

Mileage: 74,000

20190422SEAT BELTS

NHTSA 14V318000 WAS A RECALL FOR SEAT BELTS THAT FAILS TO RETRACT. WHEN I GET INTO MY CAR AND PULL IT OUT TO FASTEN IT OFTEN REMAINS SLACK. THAT EVENT CAUSED ME TO DO RESEARCH AND FIND THE RECALL. BUT IT DID NOT EXTEND TO MY CAR WHICH HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE RECALL WAS TOO NARROW.

Mileage: 130,000

20180829ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MY CAR WON'T START AND NO MECHANIC CAN FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHY DUE TO THERE NOT BEING ANY SAAB DEALERS NEAR THE AREA I'M STUCK IN... I HAVE BEEN LIVING OUT OF MY CAR FOR 3 MONTHS CUZ I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO STEAL MY CAR

Mileage: 12,000

20180829ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY CAR WON'T START AND NO MECHANIC CAN FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHY DUE TO THERE NOT BEING ANY SAAB DEALERS NEAR THE AREA I'M STUCK IN... I HAVE BEEN LIVING OUT OF MY CAR FOR 3 MONTHS CUZ I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO STEAL MY CAR

Mileage: 12,000

20180829STEERING

MY CAR WON'T START AND NO MECHANIC CAN FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHY DUE TO THERE NOT BEING ANY SAAB DEALERS NEAR THE AREA I'M STUCK IN... I HAVE BEEN LIVING OUT OF MY CAR FOR 3 MONTHS CUZ I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO STEAL MY CAR

Mileage: 12,000

20180215AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS) AND 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. WEST COUNTY VOLVO (14410 MANCHESTER RD, MANCHESTER, MO) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

20180215SEAT BELTS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS) AND 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. WEST COUNTY VOLVO (14410 MANCHESTER RD, MANCHESTER, MO) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

20180103SEAT BELTS

THE DRIVER'S SEAT-BELT HAS STOPPED RETRACTING. THE ITEM HAS A RECALL BUT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE

Mileage: 119,000

20180102SEATS

POWER SEAT TRACKS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SLIDE BACK AND FORTH SUCH THAT WHEN STOPPING QUICKLY THE SEAT SLIDES FORWARD ABOUT AN INCH. IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM ON SAABS.

Mileage: 110,000

20171227ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HORN DOES NOT BLOW, PLEASE WAIT LIGHT STAYS ON. AND BURNS THE BATTERY OUT OVER A DAY OR SO WHILE CAR IS STATIONARY HAVE TO RECHARGE.

20171227UNKNOWN OR OTHER

HORN DOES NOT BLOW, PLEASE WAIT LIGHT STAYS ON. AND BURNS THE BATTERY OUT OVER A DAY OR SO WHILE CAR IS STATIONARY HAVE TO RECHARGE.

20170614AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS) FOR THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG INFLATOR. THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD AN APPOINTMENT AFTER RECEIVING THE LETTER SIX WEEKS LATER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (SCHUMACHER BUICK GMC OF WEST PALM BEACH LOCATED ON 3031 OKEEBHOBEE BLVD WEST PALM BEACH, FL, 33409). ONCE THE CONTACT ARRIVED FOR THE APPOINTMENT, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SERVICED BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE SAAB MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 1-800-955-9007, BUT THE PHONE DISCONNECTED. THE CONTACT ALSO INFORMED GENERAL MOTORS AT 1-800-462-8782 WHO STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THEY WERE NO LONGER AFFILIATED WITH SAAB AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION

20170218FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FREQUENTLY THE CAR STALLS SUDDENLY IN TRAFFIC, LOOSES POWER I CAN'T ACCELERATE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS POTENTIAL TO GET HIT. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE CAR VIBRATES AND ALL OF SUDDEN A LOT OF SMOKE COMES OUT FROM BACK AND RICH GASOLINE SMELL COMES AND THE SPEED TURNS TO 0. I TURN IT OFF FOR FIVE MINUTES AND RESTART SOMETIMES IT STARTS OK SOMETIMES IT VIBRATES AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY

Mileage: 190,000

20170218VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

FREQUENTLY THE CAR STALLS SUDDENLY IN TRAFFIC, LOOSES POWER I CAN'T ACCELERATE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS POTENTIAL TO GET HIT. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE CAR VIBRATES AND ALL OF SUDDEN A LOT OF SMOKE COMES OUT FROM BACK AND RICH GASOLINE SMELL COMES AND THE SPEED TURNS TO 0. I TURN IT OFF FOR FIVE MINUTES AND RESTART SOMETIMES IT STARTS OK SOMETIMES IT VIBRATES AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY

Mileage: 190,000

20170218EXTERIOR LIGHTING

FREQUENTLY THE CAR STALLS SUDDENLY IN TRAFFIC, LOOSES POWER I CAN'T ACCELERATE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS POTENTIAL TO GET HIT. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE CAR VIBRATES AND ALL OF SUDDEN A LOT OF SMOKE COMES OUT FROM BACK AND RICH GASOLINE SMELL COMES AND THE SPEED TURNS TO 0. I TURN IT OFF FOR FIVE MINUTES AND RESTART SOMETIMES IT STARTS OK SOMETIMES IT VIBRATES AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY

Mileage: 190,000

20160908SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

Mileage: 128,000

20160808AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL WHY AREN'T PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. HOW LONG CAN I EXPECT TO WAIT FOR A SOLUTION TO THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE IF SOMEONE IS INJURED AS A RESULT OF THIS RECALL. WHY ISN'T MORE BEING DONE ABOUT IT. WHY IS THIS COMPANY STILL ALLOWED TO BE IN BUSINESS?

Mileage: 8,500

Compare 2005SAAB9-3 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 SAAB 9-3 have?
The 2005 SAAB 9-3 has 114 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 2 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 SAAB 9-3?
Yes, the 2005 SAAB 9-3 has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 SAAB 9-3?
The most-complained component for the 2005 SAAB 9-3 is SEAT BELTS with 20 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT and SUSPENSION.
Is the 2005 SAAB 9-3 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.