Total Complaints
182 filings
SAAB 9-3 · model year
182 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2007SAAB9-3 carries 182 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 8 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 2007 9-3 is air bags with 64 filings, followed by suspension (19) and engine (18). 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 2007 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
182 filings
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 64 |
| SUSPENSION | 19 |
| ENGINE | 18 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 12 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 7 |
| SEAT BELTS | 6 |
| SEATS | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 4 |
| STEERING | 4 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 4 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN | 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
I CALLED ELKINS CHEVROLET IN MARLTON NJ AS LISTED ON MY RECALL FORM. I CALLED THEM TWO TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY TOLD ME THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. I THEN RECEIVED A FEW MORE RECALL NOTICES STILL LISTING THEM AS THE SERVICE CENTER. I CALLED AGAIN AN WAS THEN TOLD THE ONLY WORK OF CHEVROLETS. BOTH TURNED OUT TO BE BOLD FACED LIES!
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS). AFTER CONTACTING MALCOLM CUNNINGHAM CHEVROLET (2031 GORDON HWY, AUGUSTA, GA), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY DID NOT SERVICE SAAB VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
I WAS HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY ENGINE IDLING ROUGH WHEN STARTING UP AND WHILE DRIVING COLD. AFTER THE CAR WARMS, THE ISSUE GET A BIT BETTER. BUT WHILE COLD, THE CAR RUNS TERRIBLY ROUGH. AFTER SPENDING OVER $3000 TRYING TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE ISSUE, INCLUDING REPLACING THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM, SEVERAL ENGINE PARTS, AND HOURS OF LABOR AND WASTED TIME, THE SAAB DEALER NARROWS IT DOWN TO A COMPRESSION ISSUE INVOLVING ONE OF THE INTAKE VALVES, WHICH IT SEEMS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 2007 MODEL 9-3S. THEY ESTIMATE AN ADDITIONAL $2,500 OF WORK TO FIX IT! I'VE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINS ON THIS ISSUE. IF THIS IS SUCH A COMMON ISSUE, GM SHOULD RECALL THESE FAULTY PARTS AND REPLACE THEM.
Mileage: 90,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION OR NOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, 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 DEALER (JUST SAAB, 5591 WOOSTER PIKE, CINCINNATI, OH 45227, (513)-527-4300) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Mileage: 106,000
FIRST ISSUE WAS FRONT SUSPENSION COILS. REPLACED BOTH. BIGGEST ISSUE WAS ONCE THE WEATHER BECAME VERY COLD, CAR WOULD NOT START. ENDED UP BEING A VICTIM OF THE BAD INTAKE VALVES PROVIDED BY GM. NOW, AFTER A COMPLETE VALVE JOB AND HAVING THE CAR RUN GREAT FROM MARCH 2017 TO DEC 2017..IT APPEARS IT MAY HAVE A CRACKED BLOCK. CAR NEVER OVERHEATED. FLUIDS WERE ALWAYS MAINTAINED. LOOKED INTO THAT AND APPARENTLY THERE WERE SOME CASTING ISSUES AS WELL. THANKS GM.
Mileage: 134,000
FIRST ISSUE WAS FRONT SUSPENSION COILS. REPLACED BOTH. BIGGEST ISSUE WAS ONCE THE WEATHER BECAME VERY COLD, CAR WOULD NOT START. ENDED UP BEING A VICTIM OF THE BAD INTAKE VALVES PROVIDED BY GM. NOW, AFTER A COMPLETE VALVE JOB AND HAVING THE CAR RUN GREAT FROM MARCH 2017 TO DEC 2017..IT APPEARS IT MAY HAVE A CRACKED BLOCK. CAR NEVER OVERHEATED. FLUIDS WERE ALWAYS MAINTAINED. LOOKED INTO THAT AND APPARENTLY THERE WERE SOME CASTING ISSUES AS WELL. THANKS GM.
Mileage: 134,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FAILED TO RETRACT THE SEAT BELT AFTER COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. DELAWARE CADILLAC (1606 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, WILMINGTON, DE 19806, (302) 656-3100) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.
Mileage: 161,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE VALVES FAILED PREMATURELY. THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE PERFORMED ROUGHLY EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. IN ADDITION, THE SPRINGS THAT CONNECTED TO THE FRONT STRUTS HAD PREMATURE RUST AND CORROSION, WHICH CAUSED IT TO FRACTURE WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT COILS SPRINGS AND EIGHT VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INSPECTED BY A DEALER (CONNTECH SAAB SPECIALISTS, 180 JEFFERSON BLVD, WARWICK, RI 02888, (401) 738-3665). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE VALVES FAILED PREMATURELY. THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE PERFORMED ROUGHLY EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. IN ADDITION, THE SPRINGS THAT CONNECTED TO THE FRONT STRUTS HAD PREMATURE RUST AND CORROSION, WHICH CAUSED IT TO FRACTURE WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT COILS SPRINGS AND EIGHT VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INSPECTED BY A DEALER (CONNTECH SAAB SPECIALISTS, 180 JEFFERSON BLVD, WARWICK, RI 02888, (401) 738-3665). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. TWO DEALERS WERE CONTACTED (SEWELL CADILLAC OF DALLAS, DALLAS, TX, 214-350-2000) AND (RAMEY CHEVROLET IN SHERMAN, TX, 903-893-4341) 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. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TAKATA RECALL - RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT I COULD GO ONLINE FOR A $25 MASTERCARD REWARD CARD AFTER I COMPLETED REPAIRS ON THE SAAB. I COMPLETED THE REPAIRS. TRIED TO ACCESS THE WEBSITE BUT IT WAS NOT A WORKING WEBSITE. UNABLE TO APPLY FOR THE REWARD CARD.
AIRBAG RECALL THERE WAS ONLY ONE STORE LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE FOR THE RECALL, I CALLED THEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DO NOT DO SAAB CARS
DRIVERS SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING RUSTED AND BROKEN CAUSING LOUD CLUNKING WHEN DRIVING. I AM LOOKING FOR AN EXPLANATION ON WHY SAFETY RECALL 15917 ONLY INCLUDES THE YEARS 2003-2006 WHEN CLEARLY THE ISSUE FROM READING ONLINE SURPASSES THOSE YEARS BY FAR.
Mileage: 100,400
AT START UP, THE CAR LOSES BRAKING POWER. TO STOP THE CAR YOU HAVE TO PUSH EXTREMELY HARD ON THE BRAKES. AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN 20 TO 30 FEET THE BRAKE POWER COMES BACK TO NORMAL.
UNABLE TO HAVE MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER15027 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER14V318 COMPLETED. THIS RECALL IS OVER 2 YEARS OLD. SERVICE CENTER CONTINUES TO TELL BE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE ISSUES, AS FOLLOWS, BUT OUR CONCERN IS THAT OUR SON HAS TRIED REPEATEDLY TO GET SUPPORT BY CALLING THE NUMBERS ON THE POST CARDS. WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET ANY SERVICE AS A RESULT OF THE CALLS AND CONVERSATIONS. HE LIVES ON THE ISLAND OF KAUAI, WEST OF OAHU. #1: WE MUST SHIP THE CAR AT OUR EXPENSE IF WE EXPECT IT TO GET SERVICED. GM AND SAAB WILL NOT PAY FOR THAT SHIPPING OVER OR BACK. THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR, AND REGARDLESS OF THE RECALL MANDATE, THEY STILL SEND OUT BOGUS INFORMATION.(EXAMPLE: BAY AREA SAAB IS NO LONGER A SAAB DEALER IN SAN FRANCISCO ' BUT IF THEY WERE OUR SON WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE TRANSPORTATION OVER AND BACK TO THE MAINLAND.) #2: I HAVE ALSO CALLED, AND FINALLY GOT GOOD ADVICE FROM THE GM 800 NUMBER REPRESENTATIVE ON THE PHONE WHO REFERRED ME TO A POINT OF CONTACT ON OAHU. THERE CURRENTLY IS NO SAAB DEALERSHIP IN HAWAII, BUT WE HAVE USED THE FORMER SAAB DEALERSHIP (A FORMER OWNER, HAS MAINTAINED THE PHONE NUMBER: 808-735-2488) F
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. ROMEO CHEVROLET WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY COULD NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE RECALL BEING A PRECAUTION. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
PURCHASED SAAB 9-3 2007 BRAND NEW. NEARLY IMMEDIATELY THE HEADLIGHTS KEPT GOING OUT. I FOUND MYSELF REPLACING THEM OFTEN AND TWICE WAS PULLED OVER BY POLICE WHEN I HADN'T REALIZED AND HAD JUST REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT. ALSO GOT ONE KEY AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE A/C WASN'T WORKING WELL SO FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE SAAB DEALER IN SANTA FE, NM IN 2008 WITH COMPLAINTS. THEY WERE TO GET ME A SECOND KEY, FIX THE A/C, CHECK THE LEATHER ON FRONT SEAT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ELECTRICAL AND HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT. THE ELECTRIC PANEL, INDICATING PROBLEMS, WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEY TOOK MY ONE KEY AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD BE IN TOUCH AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF A RENTAL, I CONTACTED AND NO ONE ANSWERED. I DROVE OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NO CARS. A WOMAN SITTING INSIDE AT A SIMPLE DESK IN EMPTY GM/SAAB SHOWROOM. SHE SAID THEY WERE ALL SHOCKED, HAD NO WARNING AS EMPLOYEES AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS GONE NO RECORDS ON MY CAR. NO OTHER DEALER PICKING IT UP
PURCHASED SAAB 9-3 2007 BRAND NEW. NEARLY IMMEDIATELY THE HEADLIGHTS KEPT GOING OUT. I FOUND MYSELF REPLACING THEM OFTEN AND TWICE WAS PULLED OVER BY POLICE WHEN I HADN'T REALIZED AND HAD JUST REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT. ALSO GOT ONE KEY AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE A/C WASN'T WORKING WELL SO FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE SAAB DEALER IN SANTA FE, NM IN 2008 WITH COMPLAINTS. THEY WERE TO GET ME A SECOND KEY, FIX THE A/C, CHECK THE LEATHER ON FRONT SEAT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ELECTRICAL AND HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT. THE ELECTRIC PANEL, INDICATING PROBLEMS, WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEY TOOK MY ONE KEY AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD BE IN TOUCH AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF A RENTAL, I CONTACTED AND NO ONE ANSWERED. I DROVE OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NO CARS. A WOMAN SITTING INSIDE AT A SIMPLE DESK IN EMPTY GM/SAAB SHOWROOM. SHE SAID THEY WERE ALL SHOCKED, HAD NO WARNING AS EMPLOYEES AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS GONE NO RECORDS ON MY CAR. NO OTHER DEALER PICKING IT UP
PURCHASED SAAB 9-3 2007 BRAND NEW. NEARLY IMMEDIATELY THE HEADLIGHTS KEPT GOING OUT. I FOUND MYSELF REPLACING THEM OFTEN AND TWICE WAS PULLED OVER BY POLICE WHEN I HADN'T REALIZED AND HAD JUST REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT. ALSO GOT ONE KEY AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE A/C WASN'T WORKING WELL SO FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE SAAB DEALER IN SANTA FE, NM IN 2008 WITH COMPLAINTS. THEY WERE TO GET ME A SECOND KEY, FIX THE A/C, CHECK THE LEATHER ON FRONT SEAT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ELECTRICAL AND HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT. THE ELECTRIC PANEL, INDICATING PROBLEMS, WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEY TOOK MY ONE KEY AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD BE IN TOUCH AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF A RENTAL, I CONTACTED AND NO ONE ANSWERED. I DROVE OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NO CARS. A WOMAN SITTING INSIDE AT A SIMPLE DESK IN EMPTY GM/SAAB SHOWROOM. SHE SAID THEY WERE ALL SHOCKED, HAD NO WARNING AS EMPLOYEES AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS GONE NO RECORDS ON MY CAR. NO OTHER DEALER PICKING IT UP
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.