Model year record

2004 SAAB 9-3 recalls & problems

The 2004 SAAB 9-3 has 6 safety recalls and 207 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (80 complaints).

Recalls6safety recalls

Complaints207filed by owners

Crashes · fires10 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths8 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Seat beltsJun 12, 2014

Front › Retractor

Recall 14V31800028,789 vehicles

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.

Fuel system, gasolineFeb 28, 2011

Delivery › Fuel pump

Recall 11E0090004,887 vehicles

Problem: TI AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN FUEL PUMPS, PART NUMBERS TU456 AND TU303, SOLD UNDER VARIOUS BRAND NAMES AS AFTERMARKET AND REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MAY SEIZE, STOPPING THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE CREATING A STALLING CONDITION.
Risk: A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE IN USE.
Fix: TI AUTOMOTIVE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND WILL REPLACE ANY DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP WITH A NEW OR REWORKED FUEL PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TI AUTOMOTIVE AT 1-866-867-3759 OR LOG ON TO WWW.RECALLRESPONSE.COM.

Seat beltsFeb 18, 2010

Front › Retractor

Recall 10V04300014,126 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 SAAB 9-3 SEDANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT, OVER TIME, COULD FAIL TO RETRACT.
Risk: USING A SEAT BELT THAT HAS NOT RETRACTED, AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE RETRACTOR FREE OF CHARGE. IF THE FRONT PASSENGER RETRACTOR WERE TO FAIL TO RETRACT, GM WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER RETRACTOR FREE OF CHARGE UNDER A SPECIAL COVERAGE THAT WILL BE RELEASED FOR THE SAME POPULATION FOR 10 YEARS FROM NEW VEHICLE DATE OF SALE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT SAABPARTS.COM/US. Note: In June 2014, GM expanded the special coverage from 10 years to be for the lifetime of the vehicle.

Service brakes, hydraulicMay 19, 2005

Power assist › Vacuum › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 05V23600068,654 vehicles

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.

Seat beltsMay 11, 2004

Front › Retractor

Recall 04V22600031,335 vehicles

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.

SeatsDec 10, 2003

Front assembly › Recliner

Recall 03V5140001,658 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." THE BACKREST LOCKING MECHANISM ON SOME FRONT SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO FOLD FORWARD IN A FRONTAL CRASH, RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND/OR FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SEATS TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED COMPONENT. IF EITHER OR BOTH OF THE SEATS HAVE THIS COMPONENT, THEY WILL BE REPLACED. THE DEALER MAY NEED TO ORDER A COMPLETE NEW SEAT OR SEATS (INCLUDING MATCHING UPHOLSTERY) AND THE PARTS MAY TAKE UP TO TWO TO FOUR WEEKS TO ARRIVE. SAAB WILL PROVIDE A RENTAL CAR FOR THE OWNER UNTIL THE NEW SEAT(S) IS (ARE) AVAILABLE AND INSTALLED BY THE DEALER. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.

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.

Crash test ratings

2004 Saab 9-3 Convertible w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2004 Saab 9-3 w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

9-3 Sport Sedan

24mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 30 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel

9-3 Convertible

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 27 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,750/year to fuel

9-3 Convertible

22mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,750/year to fuel

9-3 Sport Sedan

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,750/year to fuel

9-3 Sport Sedan

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 27 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S5) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

9-3 Sport Sedan

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel

9-3 Sport Sedan

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 27 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S5) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel

9-3 Convertible

20mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S5) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/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.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front	80	0	0	0	85,000 mi
SuspensionFront; Front › Springs › Coil springs	57	0	0	0	64,000 mi
Air bagsFrontal; Frontal › Sensor/control module	20	5	0	6	79,000 mi
Electrical systemIgnition › Module	13	1	0	0	53,500 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor	9	1	1	1	17,893 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicPower assist › Vacuum › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module	7	1	0	0	8,000 mi
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings; Delivery › Fuel pump	7	0	0	0	64,925 mi
Exterior lightingHeadlights	5	0	0	0	44,000 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)	5	1	0	0	89,887 mi
SteeringColumn locking › Anti-theft device	4	1	0	1	79,500 mi
Tires	4	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	4	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Seat belts
Retractor won't pull driver side seat belt back in
May 10, 2024
Electrical system
Constant random recurrence of error codes P2122 and P2138 (either together or on their own) which results in the car switching to low power mode, with very low acceleration which makes it very dangerous to merge into traffic, pull out of stops, red lights, etc. Technically supposed to require changing the throttle pedal sensor, but changing it does not solve the issue, which is electrical. This is a known issue for GM cars.
Jun 4, 2022
Seat belts
******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE THE CONSUMER PLACED THE REQUEST*DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******
Mar 29, 2021 · 119,000 miles
Seat belts
CALLED DEVOE AUTOMOTIVE IN NAPLES TO HAVE RECALLED SEATBELT FIXED, IT JUST FAILED TO RETRACT. I SENT A PICTURE OF THE VIN. AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND IT AND COULD NOT HELP US WITH OUT A LETTER WITH OUR VIN ON IT SAYING THE BROKEN SEATBELT WAS RECALLED, JUST BECAUSE IT WILL NOT RETRACT THAT DIDN'T MEAN IT WAS A RECALL ISSUE. I ASTKED HOW I WOULD GET A LETTER BUT RECEIVED NO GUIDANCE. I WAS ALSO TOLD SAAB IS OUT OF BUSINESS AND THEY WILL HELP KNOWN CUSTOMERS AND SINCE WE WERE IN TAMPA THEY COULDN'T HELP IT WAS SO FAR FOR US TO TRAVEL. I STATED THEY ARE ONE OF FIVE DEALERSHIP WHO WAS LISTED TO FIX THIS RECALL. ALSO TOLD THEM TAMPA REPAIR MAN WAS SICK WITH CARONA VIRUS AND THAT'S WHY I…
Apr 14, 2020 · 110,000 miles
Seat belts
I RECIEVED A LETTER RECALL 15027 DATED DECEMBER 2018. I HAD TO HAVE MY SEATBELT REPAIRED IN JUNE 2016. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $401 AND WAS REPAIRED BY BICKLERS REPAIR. I AM REQUESTING REEMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR IN 2016. IT IS STILL NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY SO I CURRENTLY HAVE IT IN FOR REPAIRS AT RIMROCK PONTIAC IN BILLINGS.
Jun 13, 2016
Seat belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION CHEVROLET WEST AMARILLO (7300 I-40 FRONTAGE RD, WEST AMARILLO, TX 79106, 806-553-5673) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIRS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.
Aug 1, 2018 · 164,000 miles
Air bags
TAKATA RECALL - GM DEALERS ADVISE MY CAR NOT AFFECTED BUT ON RECALL WEBSITES MY 2004 SAAB 9-3 AERO IS SHOWN TO HAVE A TAKATA AIR BAG.
Jul 15, 2017 · 95,000 miles
Air bags
AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT
Jan 12, 2018 · 180,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

SEAT BELT RETRACTORClosedLed to recall 10V043000
ODI HAS RECEIVED EIGHT COMPLAINTS OF FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS BREAKING ON MODEL YEAR 2004 SAAB 9-3 VEHICLES.A COMMON FAILURE SCENARIO INVOLVES THE DRIVER HEARING A NOISE AND THE BELT SUDDENLY LOSING TENSION.A NON-FUNCTIONING SEAT BELT INCREASES THE RISK AND SEVERITY OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. GENERAL MOTORS INITIATED A RECALL IN MAY 2004 (04V226) TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS BECAUSE OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN 25,355 MODEL YEAR 2003 AND 5,980 MODEL YEAR 2004 SAAB 9-3 SEDANS.THE RETRACTORS CONTAINED AN AUTOMATIC TENSIONING SYSTEM (ATS), A DESIGN FEATURE AND MECHANISM TO ENHANCE OCCUPANT COMFORT BY REDUCING SHOULDER BELT PRESSURE.INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE CABLE IN THE ATS MECHANISM WAS DAMAGED DURING THE SUPPLIER'S MANUFACTURING PROCESS.THE FAILURES OCCURRED WHEN THE CABLE BROKE. RECALL 04V226 DID NOT COVER MODEL YEAR 2004 9-3 SEDANS MANUFACTURED AFTER SEPTEMBER 30, 2004, AND…
PE09048 · opened Sep 30, 2009 · closed Feb 25, 2010
Front Suspension Coil Spring FractureClosed
To date, ODI is aware of 142 non-duplicative complaints related to the alleged defect.In addition, ODI is aware of 2,626 subject vehicles with one or more warranty claims related to the alleged defect.In total, ODI is aware of 2,714 unique subject vehicles that have experienced one or more front suspension coil spring fractures.ODI is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the alleged defect.The engineering design and testing data supplied by GM, along with the frequency of consumer complaints and warranty claims related to the alleged defect, tends to support the position that, in general, the coil springs that fractured on many subject vehicles did not achieve the expected service life.However, in regard to the subject vehicles, a front suspension coil spring fracture itself has little safety consequence, as evidenced by the minimal impact on vehicle ride and handling and by…
EA08026 · opened Dec 22, 2008 · closed Jun 4, 2010
FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTUREClosed
ON AUGUST 28, 2008, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE08-051) TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURES IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003-2004 SAAB 9-3 VEHICLES SOLD OR REGISTERED IN SALT BELT STATES.(NOTE: FOR PURPOSES OF THIS INVESTIGATION, THE SALT BELT INCLUDES CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN).SUBSEQUENT ANALYSIS OF DATA PROVIDED BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM) HAS LED THE AGENCY TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE ALL MY 2003-2006 SAAB 9-3 VEHICLES SOLD OR REGISTERED IN SALT BELT STATES. TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF 53 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS AND/OR FIELD REPORTS THAT ALLEGE COIL SPRING FRACTURE IN…
PE08051 · opened Aug 28, 2008 · closed Dec 23, 2008