Saab 9-3 Problems by Year
Saab 9-3 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 9-3 year: 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2003 9-3: 212 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2004 9-3: 207 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2008 9-3: 184 complaints, 2 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2010 9-3: 30 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2011 9-3: 30 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2002 9-3: 37 complaints, 4 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Saab 9-3 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 367 | 13 | 24 |
| Electrical System problems | 188 | 12 | 4 |
| Suspension problems | 173 | 11 | 4 |
| Seat Belts problems | 163 | 13 | 5 |
| Engine problems | 116 | 10 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 103 | 11 | 4 |
| Power Train | 71 | 11 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 58 | 10 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 54 | 10 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 46 | 10 | 1 |
| Steering | 39 | 8 | 9 |
| Exterior Lighting | 30 | 9 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 29 | 10 | 6 |
| Seats | 25 | 9 | 1 |
| Tires | 23 | 9 | 0 |
| Equipment | 21 | 7 | 1 |
| Structure | 21 | 8 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 17 | 7 | 1 |
| Visibility | 17 | 7 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 11 | 5 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 9 | 7 | 0 |
| Wheels | 9 | 6 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 8 | 2 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Other | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Saab 9-3 problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2008: air bags (71) · engine (66)
- 2007: air bags (65)
- 2006: air bags (87)
- 2004: seat belts (79) · suspension (52)
All Saab 9-3 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 9-3 | 30 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2010 9-3 | 30 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 9-3 | 43 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 9-3 | 184 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 9-3 | 155 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 9-3 | 179 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 9-3 | 95 | 2 | — | Suspension | More complaints than other years |
| 2004 9-3 | 207 | 5 | — | Seat Belts | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 9-3 | 212 | 4 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 9-3 | 37 | 4 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 9-3 | 59 | 4 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2000 9-3 | 50 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1999 9-3 | 64 | 3 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
More from Saab: all Saab models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Saab 9-3 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2003 (212), 2004 (207), 2006 (179), 2007 (155), 2008 (184) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 9-3 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Saab 9-3?
Air Bags, with 367 complaints across 13 model years.
How many recalls does the Saab 9-3 have?
17 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.