2002 Saab 9-3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 9-3 years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 11th of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Saab 9-3. That ranks 11th out of 13 9-3 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (14 complaints, 38%), typically at around 74,100 miles. Complaints mention 1 fire, 1 injury. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 37owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 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 | 14 | 38% | 74,100 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 16% | 45,905 | — | — |
| Power Train | 5 | 14% | 55,305 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 11% | 56,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 8% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 8% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 5% | 6,720 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 5% | 78,582 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 5% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 5% | 6,720 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 3% | 123,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 3% | 117,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 3% | 8,700 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 3% | 71,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% | 59,163 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 Saab 9-3 recalls (4)
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 june 13, 2007. This is an expansion of previous recall campaigns - see 04v557 and 06v126. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Electrical system:ignition:module
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles equipped with b205/b235 4-cylinder gasoline engines and b308 6-cylinder gasoline engines may experience overheating and burnout of the isolated gated bipolar transistor (igbt) within the ignition discharge module (idm) due to increased susceptibility to electrical loads.
Risk: Overheating of the igbt occurs most often at engine start-up, but it may also occur while the engine is running. Engine stalling may occur, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect to see what version idm is in the vehicle and replace the idm if it is a version built prior to the introduction of qp3. An interim letter will be mailed to owners in october 2005, informing them of the condition. Parts are now available and owners will be notified to bring their vehicles in to the dealers to have the idm replaced by letter dated march 13, 2006. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
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.
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The tie rod end retaining nuts may not have been properly tightened at the factory.
Risk: The nut could loosen and fall off resulting in a sudden reduction or loss of steering control.
Fix: All vehicles will be inspected and corrected prior to customer delivery. No owner notification will be required.
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.
The radiator exploded, spewing fluids everywhere, overheating my vehicle without warning when I was driving 45 mph, almost causing a multi-car crash.
The soft top is faulty and the rear lights are as well.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SAAB 9-3. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO UTILIZE THE SEAT BELT, THE RETRACTOR FAILED AND WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL PLACED ON CERTAIN TYPES OF SAAB VEHICLES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE…
Saab 9-3 2002 frequently will not start even though it has new battery and newer alternator- may be ignition discharge module.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 saab 9-3. While in park, there were strong fuel fumes emitting from the exterior of the vehicle. The contact noticed that there was fuel leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the tab attached to the fuel pump…
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 | 37 | 4 |
| 2001 9-3 | 59 | 4 |
| 2000 9-3 | 50 | 2 |
| 1999 9-3 | 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 2002 Saab 9-3?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling, power train problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 14 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Saab 9-3?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2002 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 2002 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.