Model year record
The 1999 SAAB 9-3 has 3 safety recalls and 64 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (22 complaints).
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
| City / highway | 18 / 25 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
| City / highway | 17 / 25 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel
| City / highway | 17 / 23 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
| City / highway | 17 / 24 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.3 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemIgnition › Module; Ignition | 22 | 76,105 mi |
| Air bagsFrontal; Side/window | 18 | 130,200 mi |
| SuspensionFront › Shock absorber; Front | 6 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine | 5 | 60,000 mi |
| VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system › Windshield › Electrical heating element; Defroster/defogger/hvac system | 4 | 35,000 mi |
| Seat beltsRear/other › Buckle assembly | 4 | 121,500 mi |
| Tires | 3 | — |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Torque converter | 3 | — |
| WheelsRim | 3 | — |
| SeatsFront assembly › Seat heater/cooler | 3 | — |
| SteeringHydraulic power assist system | 2 | — |
| EquipmentOther › Owners/service/other manual; Appliance › Air conditioner | 2 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
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 UNFASTENED, HOWEVER A LAPTOP AND SOME OTHER LIGHTWEIGHT OBJECTS WERE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.
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 ARM, SHOULDER, AND TORSO, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000. *TT
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 EXPLAIN WHY THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED/EXPLODED. NO DIAGNOSIS MADE. BUT THEY DID READ ERROR CODE SAYING AIRBAG SENSOR COMMUNICATION FAILURE AFTER AIRBAG DEPLOYED/EXPLODED. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE LIT PRIOR TO INCIDENT. THERE WERE NO SERVICE CODES PRIOR TO INCIDENT EITHER. (I HAD CAR CHECKED 1 WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT)
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 WAS TILTED FORWARD AND THEN BACK TO LET KIDS OUT OF BACKSEAT. THIS WAS SECONDS AND INCHES AWAY FROM RESULTING IN A DEATH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SAAB 9-3. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS ON THE LEFT ARM, BUT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
DRIVERS SEAT BELT STUCK IN RETRACTED POSITION. UNABLE TO USE STUCK BELT. AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AS A RESULT OF THIS. NO SEATBELT OR AIRBAG. THIS IS A CONVERTIBLE NOT COVERED IN THE CURRENT RECALL BUT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR LOCKED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. SINCE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT SEAT BELTS IS DANGEROUS, THE VEHICLE IS UNUSABLE. *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
ODI OPENED PE05-017 BASED ON 35 REPORTS OF ALLEGED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IDM CASSETTE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MOST REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.IN 3 INCIDENTS, THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED SMOKE AND/OR FIRE RESULTED FROM THE IDM FAILURE.DURING PE05-017, ADDITIONAL FAILURE DATA WAS IDENTIFIED AS NOTED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY ABOVE.THE COMPLAINT DATA REPRESENTS INCIDENTS WHERE THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED A STALL OR FIRE.ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2005, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT ON 95,081 MY 2000-2002 SAAB 9-3 AND 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND 8,117 MY 2001 9-5 VEHICLES WITH 6- CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES (RECALL 05V-399).THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES WITHIN THESE POPULATIONS MAY EXPERIENCE OVERHEATING AND BURNOUT OF THE…