SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE · model year

2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE

16 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2000SAAB9-3 CONVERTIBLE carries 16 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 2 fires, 2 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 2000 9-3 CONVERTIBLE is electrical system:ignition with 2 filings, followed by seat belts (2) and air bags (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 1 active recall campaign, 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 2000 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. 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.

16
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

16 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION2
SEAT BELTS2
AIR BAGS2
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
TIRES1
STRUCTURE1
INTERIOR LIGHTING1

Recalls (1)

07V08700007/03/2007

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINES WERE DAMAGED DURING PRODUCTION.

Recent Complaints

20200508AIR BAGS

DRIVING ALONG, MAYBE 20-30 MPH AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYS FOR NO REASON (SIDE, NOT STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG). . NO CRASH, NO IMPACT, JUST DRIVING STRAIGHT AND, BOOM! MY LEFT EAR IS RINGING AND MY LEFT ARM IS PROBABLY BRUISED. *TR

Mileage: 174,183

20161213AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH 2016. THE SAAB CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER CONTINUES TO TELL ME THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE AND "I SHOULD NOT WORRY BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS WITH SAAB VEHICLES." HOWEVER, I OWN OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME RECALL, AND THOSE MANUFACTURERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN THE REPLACEMENT.

20140708SEAT BELTS

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR I HAD TO PUSH ON THE BRAKES FAIRLY HARD. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTED AND THEN STAYED RETRACTED. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A PROPER REPLACEMENT FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT AND HAVE YET TO FIND ONE FOR LESS THAN $200.00 FOR A USED ONE AND OVER $300.00 FOR A REFURBISHED ONE. GM JUST HAPPENS TO HAVE NEW ONES BUT THEY ARE ALMOST $500.00 ACCORDING TO THE REP FROM GM.THESE SEAT BELTS HAVE A CHARGING CYLINDER ON THEM THAT SETS OFF THE AIR BAG. THAT ALONE CAUSES YOU TO HAVE TO SHIP IT AS A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL.IF YOU CAN FIND SOMEONE TO SHIP IT AT A REASONABLE COST. (NOT HAPPENING)IF YOU GO WITH THE "UNIVERSAL" SEAT BELT SOLD BY SOME COMPANIES THEY DON'T EVEN WORK AND YOU ARE TOLD TO JUST CUT THE SEAT BELT TO MAKE IT FIT. KIND OF DESTROYS THE INTEGRITY OF THE SEAT BELT BY DOING THAT I WOULD THINK. I HAVE MADE TWO COMPLAINTS WITH GM ABOUT THIS AND CONSIDERING THEY HAD JUST RECALLED THE 2004-2009 SAAB'S FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE I THOUGHT THEY MIGHT WORK WITH ME TO SOME EXTENT. I

Mileage: 145,011

20130129SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT AND BECAME TIGHT AROUND THE CONTACT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT BEGAN CHOKING FROM THE PRESSURE OF THE SEAT BELT BECOMING TIGHTER. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 112,334.

Mileage: 112,334

20101112FireSTRUCTURE

I HAVE A 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. I WAS CLEANING THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE DRIVER DOOR OPEN. I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE AREA BETWEEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE RIGHT DOOR. I OPENED THE RIGHT DOOR TO FIND THE LIGHT FIXTURE IN THE RIGHT QUARTER PANEL HAD FALLEN OUT AND WAS BURNING THE SEAT COVER BY THE AIR BAG. THE LAMP REFLECTOR IS METAL AND BURNED THE SEAT COVER. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

20101112FireINTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE A 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. I WAS CLEANING THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE DRIVER DOOR OPEN. I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE AREA BETWEEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE RIGHT DOOR. I OPENED THE RIGHT DOOR TO FIND THE LIGHT FIXTURE IN THE RIGHT QUARTER PANEL HAD FALLEN OUT AND WAS BURNING THE SEAT COVER BY THE AIR BAG. THE LAMP REFLECTOR IS METAL AND BURNED THE SEAT COVER. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

20090317TIRES

MY CAR WAS DAMAGED ON THE WAY TO WK BECAUSE I HIT A POT HOLE ON NEW CONSTRUCTION. WHO WOULD I TALK TO ABOUT THIS. I ALMOST HAD A BLOW OUT & IT WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE NEW TARRED ROAD HAS A DEEP HOLE & IT'S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

20090216ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE BLEW DO TO EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILD UP, SAAB HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE 1999 AND OFFERED A EXTENDED WARRANTY TO ORIGINAL BUYERS TILL 8 YEARS AND UNLIMITED MILEAGE. TO FIX, ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. CAR ONLY HAS 100,000 MILES. THE OIL PORTHOLES THAT SQUIRT INTO THE PISTONS ARE CLOGGED BURNING OUT THE CYLINDERS. TO FIX THE CONCERN $4-5,000, IF WE CAN USE THE ENGINE THAT CAME WITH THE CAR, USED ENGINES ARE GOING FOR $2-3000 AND YOU CANNOT BUY A NEW OR REBUILT ONE. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

20060808FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

2000 SAAB 9-3 SE CONVERTIBLE. ON COMMUTE HOME, WAS PULLED OVER BECAUSE OF A DETECTED GASOLINE LEAK. GASOLINE WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE AUTO BY THE GAS TANK. POLICE HAD CAR FLAT BEDDED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE CAUSE WAS FROM A "BROKEN CLIP THAT ATTACHED THE FUEL LINE TO THE FUEL PUMP". COSTS FOR REPAIR AND TO REFILL TANK TOTALED $1057.58. 2001 VEHICLES OF THIS SAME MODEL WERE ALREADY RECALLED FOR THIS SAME REASON (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V557000). *NM

Mileage: 79,950

20041004POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE BEGAN SHIFTING POORLY AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE UNLESS TURNED OFF (5 SPEED MANUAL TRANS). SAAB DEALERSHIP OPENED TARNSMISSION AND FOUND IT NEEDED FULL REPLACEMENT (60,000 MILES) AND ALSO NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH. SINCE THAT TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AND GO OFF ERRATICLY. SAAB CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENTS AND DIAGNOSTICS!*AK

Mileage: 65,401

20041004POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

VEHICLE BEGAN SHIFTING POORLY AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE UNLESS TURNED OFF (5 SPEED MANUAL TRANS). SAAB DEALERSHIP OPENED TARNSMISSION AND FOUND IT NEEDED FULL REPLACEMENT (60,000 MILES) AND ALSO NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH. SINCE THAT TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AND GO OFF ERRATICLY. SAAB CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENTS AND DIAGNOSTICS!*AK

Mileage: 65,401

20040908ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, AUTO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY, NO POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. BURNT ELECTRICAL SMELL FROM ENGINE. CAR WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, WHERE A FAILED IGNITION CASSETTE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY SINCE DAY ONE, IN SOME CASES FOR DAYS AT A TIME. I HAVE ASKED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT SEVERAL DEALERS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT COULD BE BECAUSE OF A LOOSE GAS CAP AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT (SAAB USA CLAIMS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM). THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT, BUT BECAUSE IT COMES ON SO OFTEN, I IGNORED IT. $900 REPAIR BILL!*AK

Mileage: 38,000

20030819ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

MY 2000 SAAB 9-3 STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY...THE DEALER REPACED THE DIRECT IGNITION MODULE AND CAR WAS OKAY. *AK

Mileage: 26,400

20030819ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 2000 SAAB 9-3 STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY...THE DEALER REPACED THE DIRECT IGNITION MODULE AND CAR WAS OKAY. *AK

Mileage: 26,400

20030819ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

MY 2000 SAAB 9-3 STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY...THE DEALER REPACED THE DIRECT IGNITION MODULE AND CAR WAS OKAY. *AK

Mileage: 26,400

20010914CrashAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

I'VE GOT A 2000 SAAB 9-3 AND I WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. INSTEAD MY HEAD GOT KNOCKED AGAINST THE SIDE WINDOW, DRIVING MY GLASSES INTO MY FOREHEAD. NOW I'VE GOT A SCAR ACROSS MY FOREHEAD THAT WILL REQUIRE PLASTIC SURGERY. DAMAGE TO THE DOOR WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO WARRANT REPLACEMENT--YET THE AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF. I BELIEVE EITHER THE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE OR THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW.*AK

Compare 2000SAAB9-3 CONVERTIBLE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE have?
The 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE has 16 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE?
Yes, the 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE?
The most-complained component for the 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE 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.