2003 Saab 9-3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 9-3 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 212 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Saab 9-3. That is the most of any 9-3 model year in the database (13 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (46 complaints, 22%), typically at around 60,600 miles. Complaints mention 12 crashes, 6 fires, 17 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 4 defect investigations involving it.
- 212owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 4NHTSA investigations
- 12complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 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 | 46 | 22% | 60,600 | — | — |
| Suspension | 42 | 20% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 32 | 15% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 32 | 15% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 18 | 8% | 65,009 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 16 | 8% | 36,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 15 | 7% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 13 | 6% | 32,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 12 | 6% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 12 | 6% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 9 | 4% | 53,075 | — | — |
| Structure | 9 | 4% | 32,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 9 | 4% | 14,200 | — | — |
| Visibility | 8 | 4% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 7 | 3% | 106,145 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 7 | 3% | 12,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 3% | 44,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 4 | 2% | 101,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 1% | 51,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 1% | 100,780 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1% | 4,100 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1% | 32,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | 94,304 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 0% | 92,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Certain sport sedan and convertible passenger vehicles were produced with a vacuum pipe check valve for the brake booster that may fail from exposure to elevated temperatures. This could result in sudden loss of power brake assist, usually with little or no warning.
Risk: If this condition were to occur when minimum stopping distance is required, a crash could occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a new redesigned check valve. The recall began on march 17, 2006. Owners should contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Engine and engine cooling
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the engine management system software may cause engine hesitation or stalling.
Risk: If the vehicle stalls as a result of this condition, it can be restarted immediately.
Fix: Dealers will update the engine management system. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Seat belts:front:retractor
Problem: Some sport sedans were built with seat belt retractors that were damaged during the manufacturing process. If damaged, over time, the automatic tensioning system (ats) cable in the seat belt retractor could break causing the belt webbing to not retract.
Risk: In the event of a crash, a front seat occupant may receive more severe injuries.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat belt retractor assemblies. The recall began on january 24, 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
- Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture (EA08026) — opened Dec 22, 2008, closed Jun 4, 2010.
- Front suspension coil spring fracture (PE08051) — opened Aug 28, 2008, closed Dec 23, 2008.
- Engine stall (EA04008) — opened Mar 19, 2004, closed Oct 27, 2004.
- Engine stall (PE03059) — opened Dec 30, 2003, closed Mar 19, 2004.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I was driving my 2003 saab 9-3 se convertible to the nearby publix supermarket. The car has never been in an accident or hit. I parked it in the lot with the top down and went into the store for approximately 10 minutes. It was a warm dry day in florida about 85 degrees. I came out and put the key…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 saab 9-3. The contact stated that with the key fob in the ignition, the power steering wheel lock malfunction warning light illuminated. The contact manually turned the ignition key to the left to right in order to have the vehicle started. The vehicle was taken to…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 saab 9-3. When the vehicle decelerated, it shut off without warning at will. The contact also stated that the vehicle decelerated when driving up a hill. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was…
Ecu in car becomes completely fried because of the location it is mounted from the factory because of heat soak
I am receiving an onstar not available error - there was a recall 08089-b part # 10027804 - i want my onstar disabled. Who do i contact?
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 | 212 | 4 |
| 2002 9-3 | 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
Embed this 2003 Saab 9-3 badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Saab 9-3?
Owners most often report electrical system, suspension, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 46 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 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 2003 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 2003 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.