2002 Saab 9-3 Convertible Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 9-3 Convertible years
- Not enough data 4th of 4 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Saab 9-3 Convertible. That ranks 4th out of 4 9-3 Convertible model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (2 complaints, 22%), typically at around 8,800 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 3 fires, 1 injury. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 9owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 2 | 22% | 8,800 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 22% | 13,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 22% | 13,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 11% | 13,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 11% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 11% | 13,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 11% | 54,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 11% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 11% | 19,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 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
- 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.
Slowly approaching stoplight, and drivers side, side airbag goes off for no apparent reason. Driver was struck in side of head, and upper body, some hearing loss suffered also.
Use of high beams causes quick failure of headlamps. *tr
On august 13, 2006, my wife was driving our 2002 saab 9-3 convertible when the engine caught fire. She was able to get out of the car safely, but the car was destroyed. Investigations by international motors (falls church, va) after the event showed that the transmission had disintegrated and…
2002 saab 9-3 with 54k miles caught fire while my wife was driving it on sunday, august 13, 2006. *jb
Dt: 5/4/05, car was at dealer5 for regularly maintenance. Dealer reported rear brakes were rusted to the point of not being able to operate. Service manager said that saab had a history of brakes deteriorating at low miles. Caller complained about saab, dealer could not offer any help. No previous…
Other Saab 9-3 Convertible years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 9 | 1 |
| 2001 9-3 Convertible | 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 2002 Saab 9-3 Convertible?
Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, structure problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 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 2002 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 2002 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.