2005 Saab 9-3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 9-3 years
- More complaints than other years 6th of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 95 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Saab 9-3. That ranks 6th out of 13 9-3 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is suspension (29 complaints, 31%), typically at around 65,245 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 2 fires, 9 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 95owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 29 | 31% | 65,245 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 22 | 23% | 94,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 12 | 13% | 23,391 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 9 | 9% | 24,720 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 5% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 4% | 32,100 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 4% | 57,321 | — | — |
| Seats | 4 | 4% | 11,800 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 3% | 37,428 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 3% | 54,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 3% | 47,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 3% | 125,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 2% | 95,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 2% | 28,000 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1% | 30,781 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 1% | 12,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 1% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | 40,500 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 Saab 9-3 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seat belts:front:retractor
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2011 Saab 9-3 Convertible vehicles manufactured July 30, 2003, to February 15, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the driver's side front seat belt retractor may break, causing the seat belt webbing not to retract.
Risk: In the event of a crash, a seat belt that has not retracted may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt retractor, free of charge. The recall began on October 6, 2015. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007. GM's number for this recall is 14222. Note: Special Coverage 10086 will replace the passenger side seat belt retractor if it fails, free of charge, for the life of the vehicle.
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.
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.
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 contact owns a 2005 Saab 9-3. The contact stated that the front passenger's side seat belt failed to latch. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V318000 (Seat Belts). The vehicle was not repaired. There was no…
It happened to me twice.. While driving the gas gauge will drop to empty and when pressing on the gas il just rev there be a cut off due to the fuel level sensor in which it's a common in all saabs i don't know why this issue hasn't become a recall. It's dangerous the cut off is around 2-3 seconds…
Altornator keep malfunctioning happend multiple time
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED HE SAW SMOKE COMING THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WAS INFORMED FIRE WAS COMING FROM A…
Nhtsa 14v318000 was a recall for seat belts that fails to retract. When i get into my car and pull it out to fasten it often remains slack. That event caused me to do research and find the recall. But it did not extend to my car which has the exact same problem. It appears to me that the recall was…
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 | 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 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 2005 Saab 9-3?
Owners most often report suspension, seat belts, air bags problems. The top one, suspension, accounts for 29 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Saab 9-3?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 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 2005 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.