1999 Saab 9-3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 9-3 years
- About as many complaints as other years 7th of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 64 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Saab 9-3. That ranks 7th out of 13 9-3 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (22 complaints, 34%), typically at around 76,105 miles. Complaints mention 5 crashes, 10 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 64owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 5complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1999 Saab 9-3 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 | 22 | 34% | 76,105 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 17 | 27% | 130,200 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 8% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 5 | 8% | 48,143 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 6% | 121,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 6% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 5% | 81,394 | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 5% | 79,480 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 3% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 2% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 2% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1999 Saab 9-3 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The brake reservoir label was omitted. This does not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 135, "passenger car brake systems."
Risk: Without this label, someone may use the incorrect specification brake fluid, get dirt into the reservoir, or allow moisture into the brake fluid, resulting in less effective braking and possibly a crash.
Fix: Owners will be mailed labels and installation instructions.
Seats
Problem: Vehicle description: passsenger vehicles. Failures of the "easy entry" cable in the front driver or passenger manual seats can cause the seat fore/aft adjustable mechanism to be unlocked.
Risk: Since the anchor points for the lap portion of the front safety belts are attached to the seat assembly, release of the fore/aft locking mechanism reduces the restraint capability of the safety belts in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a new cable and spring assembly.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The air bag alert label on the driver side visor was omitted. This does not conform to the requirements of fmvss no. 208, "occupant crash protection."
Risk: The vehicle occupant may not properly understand the operation of the air bag system and the need to use seat belts.
Fix: Owners will be provided with an alert label to be installed on the visible side of the driver's sun visor. If an owner so desires, their dealer can install the label for them.
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.
Today, shortly after starting the car, an airbag deployed. The car was parked in my driveway and not in motion, and there was no impact. The airbag deployed from the outboard side of the passenger seat. I was seated in the driver's seat. The passenger seat was unoccupied and its seat belt was…
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 saab 9-3. While driving approximately 25 mph, the driver side air bag erroneously deployed without warning or impact. The contact indicated that the vehicle had not crashed or driven over a road bump when the deployment occurred. The driver sustained an injured right…
Just as i parked my car, my side air bag on the driver's side of my car deployed/exploded without any warning. The left side of my face/left ear and neck were injured.
While parked, i put my key in the ignition and started the car. My passenger side side impact airbag deployed/exploded upon engine starting. I suffered a concussion, tinnitus, and inner ear damage from the airbag exploding. Took car to a gm dealership with a saab technician to have car diagnosed to…
Car was sitting idling at kerbside while dropping my kids off at school. The passenger side door was open. I was talking to my child who was just outside the door. Passenger seat side airbag deployed by itself with no impacts previous impacts or any movement other than one minute previous the seat…
Other Saab 9-3 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 9-3 | 30 | 3 |
| 2010 9-3 | 30 | 3 |
| 2009 9-3 | 43 | 2 |
| 2008 9-3 | 184 | 2 |
| 2007 9-3 | 155 | 2 |
| 2006 9-3 | 179 | 2 |
| 2005 9-3 | 95 | 2 |
| 2004 9-3 | 207 | 5 |
| 2003 9-3 | 212 | 4 |
| 2002 9-3 | 37 | 4 |
| 2001 9-3 | 59 | 4 |
| 2000 9-3 | 50 | 2 |
| 1999 | 64 | 3 |
See all Saab 9-3 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 1999 Saab 9-3?
Owners most often report electrical system, air bags, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 22 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Saab 9-3?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1999 Saab 9-3 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 9-3 model years, the 1999 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.