SAAB 9-3 · model year

2010 SAAB 9-3

31 NHTSA complaints, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2010SAAB9-3 carries 31 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 2010 9-3 is air bags with 22 filings, followed by seat belts (2) and engine (2). 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 4 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 2010 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.

31
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

31 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS22
SEAT BELTS2
ENGINE2
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER1

Recalls (4)

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.

11V01500019/01/2011

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

SAAB IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 AND 2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2010 THROUGH DECEMBER 2010. CERTAIN FUEL PUMPS INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MAY HAVE INTERNAL COMPONENTS WITH INCORRECT SPECIFICATIONS.

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.

16V06300003/02/2016

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

Recent Complaints

20240117FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

The contact owns a 2010 Saab 9-3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V015000 (Fuel System, Other) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the fuel gauge failed to accurately provide fuel level in the vehicle. The contact stated that while the tank was a half tank full, the fuel gauge would drop to 0 gallons. The failure occurred intermittently. The check engine warning light was illuminated with a message indicating a fuel pump failure. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer confirmed that the remedy was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 104,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Mileage: 104,000

20190310FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL PUMP DEFICIENCY. WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING TO WARM UP BEFORE USING IT I NOTICE AND EAR THAT IT STALL. AFTER A SECOND IT ACCELERATE TO A NORMAL RPM. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME SINCE NEW (2010). I NEVER RECEIVED A FUEL PUMP RECALL NOTICE!

20180314ENGINE

HAD A COMPRESSION TEST AFTER WEAK STARTING. ALL 4 CYLINDERS READ 100.NEED VALVE REPLACEMENT AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN 2007-2011 SAAB 4 CYLINDER CARS. NO WARRANTY OR RECALL REGARDING THIS USE OF FLAWED VALVES

20171205SEAT BELTS

THE NHTSA ANNOUNCED A RECALL PERTAINING TO THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT NOT RETRACTING. RECALL #14V318000. AS OF 3/10/17, MY 2010 SAAB 9.3 SEDAN IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALL BUT, THE RECALL ONLY STIPULATES THE CONVERTIBLE MODEL. MY QUESTION RELATES TO HOW DID THE NHTSA DETERMINE IT WAS ONLY THAT MODEL AND NOT THE OTHERS? RIGHT NOW MY SEATBELT DOESN'T RETRACT WHEN EXTENDED IN THE NORMAL OPERATING EXTENDED POSITION. I FEEL THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY INVOLVE ALL OTHER 2010 MODELS. PLEASE CLARIFY.

20171028AIR BAGS

I HAVE CALLED VIKING SAAB AND REGISTERED ON THEIR WEB SITE MONTHS AGO TO HAVE MY AIRBAG REPLACED AS THEY ARE THE ONLY AUTHORIZED SAAB PLACE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, TO REPLACE IT. THEY HAVE NOT CONTACTED ME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. WHEN I CALLED THERE THEY TOLD ME TO REGISTER ON THEIR WEB SITE. I DID THAT AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.

Mileage: 52,000

20171003AIR BAGS

2010 SAAB 9-3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HAVING THE RECALL COMPLETED THE KEY WOULD NO LONGER TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE CIM WAS REPLACED AND TWO NEW KEYS WERE HAD TO BE PROGRAMMED. TWO BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE DISCOVERED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COSTS ACCUMULATED FROM HAVING TO PURCHASE A RENTAL VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/03/2017*JS

20171003ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

2010 SAAB 9-3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HAVING THE RECALL COMPLETED THE KEY WOULD NO LONGER TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE CIM WAS REPLACED AND TWO NEW KEYS WERE HAD TO BE PROGRAMMED. TWO BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE DISCOVERED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COSTS ACCUMULATED FROM HAVING TO PURCHASE A RENTAL VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/03/2017*JS

20170130AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL-I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH 2016. I HAVE CONTACTED THE SAAB SERVICE CENTER ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS TO TRY TO DETERMINE WHEN THE AIR BAG WILL BE REPLACED. I HAVE ALWAYS RECEIVED THE SAME RESPONSE: "WE HAVE NO IDEA WHEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO REPLACE YOUR AIR BAG". I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT THEY, THE MANUFACTURER, DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HURT AND KILLED. THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT OLDER VEHICLES LOCATED IN THE HIGHER HUMIDITY ZONES TAKE PRIORITY. I HAVE EXPLAINED THAT MY CAR IS A 2010 AND IS LOCATED IN ZONE B. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT THE HIGHEST HUMIDITY ZONE BUT IT IS THE SECOND MOST AND IT IS MUCH OLDER THAN MOST CARS THAT ARE RECEIVING REPLACEMENT AIR BAGS. I KNOW 4 PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD THE AIR BAGS IN THEIR VEHICLES REPLACED AND THEY ARE IN THE SAME ZONE AND ARE MUCH NEWER THAN MY VEHICLE. EVEN THOUGH THIS VEHICLE IS IN MY NAME, I PURCHASED IT FOR MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND EVERYDAY SHE I

20170120AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL - I RECEIVED A LETTER OVER A YEAR AGO THAT MY SAAB 93 WAS ON THE RECALL LIST FOR AIRBAGS. LOOKING FOR AN UPDATE AS TO WHEN THE REPLACEMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE.

20161214AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20161210AIR BAGS

TAKADA RECALL. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP IN NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW WHEN OR EVEN IF GM WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG. GM HAS NOT CONTACTED DELEARSHIP WITH ANY INFORMATION.

20161128AIR BAGS

I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE SUBJECT CAR BACK IN MARCH 2016. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO REPLACE THIS FAULTY AIR BAG. I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY STILL CANNOT GIVE ME A TIME FRAME. I REALIZE THAT THIS RECALL IS VERY LARGE HOWEVER MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR AND THIS MAKES ME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. I HAVE ASKED IF THEY WOULD SUPPLY A LOANER CAR AND THEY SAID NO BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE WHY IS THERE A RECALL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OTHER RECOURSE I HAVE UNTIL THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE.

20161123AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 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. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20161115AIR BAGS

I RECEIVED A NOTICE DATED MARCH 16 REGARDING THE AIRBAG AND THAT INFLATION MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH - THERE IS CURRENTLY NO RESOLUTION FOR THIS ISSUE. IN THE EVENT OF AN INFLATOR RUPTURE, METAL FRAGMENTS COULD PASS THROUGH THE AIR BAG CUSHION MATERIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, BUT IN THE MEAN TIME I COULD BE KILLED

20161114AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 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. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20161107AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 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. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20161002AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL NOTICE MARCH, 2016. TO DATE GENERAL MOTORS HAS MADE NO EFFORT TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE AIRBAG. I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED.

Mileage: 117,000

20160919AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR; 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. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20160911AIR BAGS

TAKAT RECALL. HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED AND GM AND DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO PROVIDE LOANER VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE REP TOLD ME IT WAS STILL SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS SPENT 6 YEARS IN A HOT, HUMID CLIMATE. GM'S HOTLINE REP PROMISED A RETURN CALL FROM SUPERVISOR BUT NO ONE EVER CALLED. I HAVE NO VEHICLE TO DRIVE AND CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE; AND I CAN'T SELL THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG. NHTSA WEBSITE SAYS THE RECALL WAS ISSUED IN MAY BUT I RECEIVED MY RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH 2016. IT HAS BEEN OVER SIX MONTHS.

20160902AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 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. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 10/18/16 *BF UPDATED 03/14/17*JB

Compare 2010SAAB9-3 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2010 SAAB 9-3 have?
The 2010 SAAB 9-3 has 31 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2010 SAAB 9-3?
Yes, the 2010 SAAB 9-3 has 4 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 2010 SAAB 9-3?
The most-complained component for the 2010 SAAB 9-3 is AIR BAGS with 22 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS and ENGINE.
Is the 2010 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.