2001 Saab 9-3 Convertible Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 9-3 Convertible years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 4 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Saab 9-3 Convertible. That is the most of any 9-3 Convertible model year in the database (4 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (8 complaints, 33%), typically at around 76,039 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 injury. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 24owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 Saab 9-3 Convertible problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 8 | 33% | 76,039 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 25% | 37,350 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 13% | 91,526 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 8% | 33,250 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 4% | 108,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 Saab 9-3 Convertible recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump retaining tabs holding the fuel lines were damaged during production.
Risk: Over time, this could cause the fuel lines to loosen from the pump resulting in fuel leakage. If an ignition source were present, the fuel may ignite resulting in a vehicle fire.
Fix: Dealers will develop a securing bracket that will secure the fuel lines to the fuel pump even if the plastic retaining tabs should break. The recall began on march 14, 2005. Owners should contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Fuel line leakage (RQ05003) — opened Dec 20, 2005, closed Apr 28, 2006, led to recall 06V126000.
- Engine stall/ engine compartment fires (PE05017) — opened Apr 7, 2005, closed Sep 23, 2005, led to recall 05V399000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Had the engine light on for three months then i was driving on the highway yesterday and suddenly the engine wouldn't take gas. I was able to pull over off the highway slowly and it stopped completely after i made the exit. The mechanic told me that i need a new ignition cassette! So dangerous! *tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 saab 9-3 convertible. The contact was traveling 65 mph when the transmission failed; the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle lost power. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced…
While driving on expressway, motor failed due to lack of oil circulation brought on by plugging of oil pump intake screen from degradation of oil, due to design of saab 9/3 that cooks oil in turbocharger and catalytic converter directly beneath oil pan. Contributing factors long oil change…
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 saab 9-3 convertible. The engine light has been illuminated for 3 weeks. A mechanic stated that there was a problem with the direct ignition cassette failure and needed to be replaced. The mechanic also confirmed that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. Nhtsa campaign…
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 saab 9-3 convertible. In 2006, the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 103-7-22538. There were no failures at the time; however, the contact took the vehicle in for service to prevent the recall consequence. In 2007, the vehicle failed to start…
Other Saab 9-3 Convertible years
← 2000 9-3 Convertible · 2002 9-3 Convertible →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 9-3 Convertible | 9 | 1 |
| 2001 | 24 | 1 |
| 2000 9-3 Convertible | 12 | 1 |
| 1999 9-3 Convertible | 16 | 0 |
See all Saab 9-3 Convertible problems by year, every Saab model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Saab models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Saab 9-3 Convertible?
Owners most often report electrical system, fuel system, gasoline, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 8 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Saab 9-3 Convertible?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2001 Saab 9-3 Convertible a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 9-3 Convertible model years, the 2001 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.