Total Complaints
227 filings
SAAB 9-3 · model year
227 NHTSA complaints, 21 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2006SAAB9-3 carries 227 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 21 crashes, 5 fires, 10 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 2006 9-3 is air bags with 86 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic (16) and seat belts (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 2006 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.
Total Complaints
227 filings
Crashes Reported
21 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 86 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 16 |
| SEAT BELTS | 14 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 10 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 10 |
| STEERING | 7 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 6 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 5 |
| ENGINE | 5 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 4 |
| SUSPENSION | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 3 |
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.
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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deploy
The contact owns a 2006 SAAB 9-3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and shut off, the contact attempted to start the vehicle, and the vehicle failed to start. The contact also noticed a fuel odor coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Mileage: 160,000
Warning message that airbag is not working. Loud hissing sound immediately in front of dashboard, as if air is escaping. We cannot drive the car for fear of the airbag inflating. We are going to have to towed to a repair shop to be fixed and will keep all paperwork.
ECU ISSUES, LOSS POWER WHEN DRIVING.
ECU ISSUES, LOSS POWER WHEN DRIVING.
ECU ISSUES, LOSS POWER WHEN DRIVING.
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND A DEALERSHIP TO FIX MY RECALL BUT GENERAL MOTORS STATED THEY DO NOT FIX IT. I AM RECEIVING CALLS AND LETTERS EVERY OTHER WEEK. WHO WILL FIX THIS ISSUE ??? I AM LOCATED IN THE WILKES BARRE PA 18705 AREA. PLEASE ADVISE THANK YOU
WHEN I USED MY CRUISE CONTROL SOMETIMES IT ENGAGES AND DOES NOT ENGAGE. IT DID THIS FOR OVER A MONTH. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR, I DID MY RESEARCH ON IT AND IT SAID THAT IT HAS A STEERING FLUID LOSS PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE QUALITY IS POOR. I AM CURIOUS TO WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON IT YET.
Mileage: 3
WHEN I USED MY CRUISE CONTROL SOMETIMES IT ENGAGES AND DOES NOT ENGAGE. IT DID THIS FOR OVER A MONTH. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR, I DID MY RESEARCH ON IT AND IT SAID THAT IT HAS A STEERING FLUID LOSS PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE QUALITY IS POOR. I AM CURIOUS TO WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON IT YET.
Mileage: 3
WHEN I USED MY CRUISE CONTROL SOMETIMES IT ENGAGES AND DOES NOT ENGAGE. IT DID THIS FOR OVER A MONTH. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR, I DID MY RESEARCH ON IT AND IT SAID THAT IT HAS A STEERING FLUID LOSS PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE QUALITY IS POOR. I AM CURIOUS TO WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON IT YET.
Mileage: 3
TAKATA RECALL. THE STEERING PUMP IS LEAKING AND I TOOK MY CAR TO GM AND THEY REFUSED TO WORK ON MY 2006 SAAB 9-3. THE STEERING LEAKING IS SAFETY ISSUE, AND IF I LOSE CONTROL OF MY STEERING..I CAN END UP HURTING MYSELF. PLEASE TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION AND MAKE GM FIX MY STEERING PUMP!
Mileage: 109,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FUEL CAP, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
Mileage: 120,000
TAKATA RECALL, I TOOK MY 06 SAAB 93 AERO INTO BELLEVUE WASHINGTON CADILLAC DEALERSHIP TO GET MY AIR BAG RECALL FIXED, AFTER I HOT THE RECALLED AIRBAG REPLACED THEY RESET MY ECM AND NOW MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON INTERMITTENTLY AND DRAINS MY BATTERY DEAD OVER NIGHT! I HAVE CALLED BELLEVUE CADILLAC AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE DAMAGE THEY DID TO MY CAR BY REPLACING THE RECALLED AIRBAG WITH ANOTHER BAD AIRBAG! THEY LISTED IN THEIR COMPUTERS THAT THEY FIXED MY CAR AND NEVER DID SO NOW I AM STUCK WITH ANOTHER BAD FAULTY AIRBAG AND NOW A BATTERY DRAIN ISSUE FROM IT. MY CAR HAS BEEN LITERALLY UNDRIVEABLE SINCE THE DAY THEY REPLACED THE RECALLED AIRBAG. THE CAR ALSO HAS A FAILED GAS GAUGE DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES FROM THE FACTORY WHICH WAS NEVER RECALLED, THE FUEL SENDING UNITS ARE BAD AND NEVER WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED WHICH ALOT IF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME SAABS HAVE EXPERIENCED ALL OVER THE WORLD!
Mileage: 130,000
TAKATA RECALL, I TOOK MY 06 SAAB 93 AERO INTO BELLEVUE WASHINGTON CADILLAC DEALERSHIP TO GET MY AIR BAG RECALL FIXED, AFTER I HOT THE RECALLED AIRBAG REPLACED THEY RESET MY ECM AND NOW MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON INTERMITTENTLY AND DRAINS MY BATTERY DEAD OVER NIGHT! I HAVE CALLED BELLEVUE CADILLAC AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE DAMAGE THEY DID TO MY CAR BY REPLACING THE RECALLED AIRBAG WITH ANOTHER BAD AIRBAG! THEY LISTED IN THEIR COMPUTERS THAT THEY FIXED MY CAR AND NEVER DID SO NOW I AM STUCK WITH ANOTHER BAD FAULTY AIRBAG AND NOW A BATTERY DRAIN ISSUE FROM IT. MY CAR HAS BEEN LITERALLY UNDRIVEABLE SINCE THE DAY THEY REPLACED THE RECALLED AIRBAG. THE CAR ALSO HAS A FAILED GAS GAUGE DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES FROM THE FACTORY WHICH WAS NEVER RECALLED, THE FUEL SENDING UNITS ARE BAD AND NEVER WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED WHICH ALOT IF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME SAABS HAVE EXPERIENCED ALL OVER THE WORLD!
Mileage: 130,000
TAKATA RECALL, I TOOK MY 06 SAAB 93 AERO INTO BELLEVUE WASHINGTON CADILLAC DEALERSHIP TO GET MY AIR BAG RECALL FIXED, AFTER I HOT THE RECALLED AIRBAG REPLACED THEY RESET MY ECM AND NOW MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON INTERMITTENTLY AND DRAINS MY BATTERY DEAD OVER NIGHT! I HAVE CALLED BELLEVUE CADILLAC AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE DAMAGE THEY DID TO MY CAR BY REPLACING THE RECALLED AIRBAG WITH ANOTHER BAD AIRBAG! THEY LISTED IN THEIR COMPUTERS THAT THEY FIXED MY CAR AND NEVER DID SO NOW I AM STUCK WITH ANOTHER BAD FAULTY AIRBAG AND NOW A BATTERY DRAIN ISSUE FROM IT. MY CAR HAS BEEN LITERALLY UNDRIVEABLE SINCE THE DAY THEY REPLACED THE RECALLED AIRBAG. THE CAR ALSO HAS A FAILED GAS GAUGE DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES FROM THE FACTORY WHICH WAS NEVER RECALLED, THE FUEL SENDING UNITS ARE BAD AND NEVER WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED WHICH ALOT IF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME SAABS HAVE EXPERIENCED ALL OVER THE WORLD!
Mileage: 130,000
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE IN DRIVE THERE IS INTERNAL FUEL ISSUE CAUSING ENGINE TO MISFIRE AND POTENTIAL DAMAGE
Mileage: 160,000
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE IN DRIVE THERE IS INTERNAL FUEL ISSUE CAUSING ENGINE TO MISFIRE AND POTENTIAL DAMAGE
Mileage: 160,000
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE IN DRIVE THERE IS INTERNAL FUEL ISSUE CAUSING ENGINE TO MISFIRE AND POTENTIAL DAMAGE
Mileage: 160,000
HELLO, I HAVE BEEN RENTING THIS CAR OUT FOR AWHILE....I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RENT IT OUT BECAUSE OF THE RECALL, HOWEVER, I REPAIRED THIS ISSUE MONTHS AGO AND THE DEALER THAT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM HAS SUBMITTED PROOF TO YOU TWICE BUT STILL NO ONE HAS UPDATED THIS TO YOUR WEBSITE AND THIS IS SEVERELY EFFECTING MY CAR RENTAL BUSINESS. PLEASE ADVISE?
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATIONS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS) AND 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER (ROYAL CADILLAC OF TUCSON, 520-777-1708) WAS CALLED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT SEIZING WHEN BEING APPLIED. SHE STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT HAD TO BE MANEUVERED BACK AND FORTH TO GET IT SECURED COMFORTABLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATIONS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS) AND 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER (ROYAL CADILLAC OF TUCSON, 520-777-1708) WAS CALLED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT SEIZING WHEN BEING APPLIED. SHE STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT HAD TO BE MANEUVERED BACK AND FORTH TO GET IT SECURED COMFORTABLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.