Model year record

2008 SAAB 9-3 recalls & problems

The 2008 SAAB 9-3 has 3 safety recalls and 184 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (71 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints184filed by owners

Crashes · fires5 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths6 · 1reported in complaints

2008 SAAB 9-3 in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Air bagsFeb 3, 2016

Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

Recall 16V063000113,716 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2017. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 28810.

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.

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

2008 Saab 9-3 Convertible w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2008 Saab 9-3 4-DR w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	12.1%

2008 Saab 9-3 Wagon w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	12.7%

2008 SAAB 9-3 NHTSA side crash test — NHTSA side barrier crash test

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

23mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

9-3 SportCombi

23mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

9-3 Convertible

22mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 27 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

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

9-3 Sport Sedan

21mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 26 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	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

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

9-3 SportCombi

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

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

9-3 Convertible

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

9-3 Sport Sedan

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

9-3 SportCombi

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

9-3 Aero Sedan AWD

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Manual 6-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Manual 6-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

9-3 Convertible

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/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.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Air bags	71	0	0	0	52,000 mi
Engine	66	1	0	0	89,500 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	13	0	0	0	97,000 mi
Electrical system	11	1	0	1	90,000 mi
SuspensionFront › Springs › Coil springs	11	2	0	0	58,000 mi
Power trainManual transmission	10	1	1	4	71,900 mi
Seat belts	10	1	0	1	57,500 mi
Unknown or other	4	0	0	0	100,025 mi
Vehicle speed control	4	1	1	4	80,000 mi
StructureBody	3	0	0	0	33,000 mi
Exterior lighting	3	0	0	0	—
Latches/locks/linkagesHood › Latch	2	0	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Air bags
I have been trying to get this recall done for many years and with no luck. Most recently June 26th 2026 I was informed my recall was not fixable again and I hope for the last time. Enough is enough! Van Bortel Chevrolet in Macedon Ny tried again today which is there 2nd attempt. I had to buy a software card to give them the tool they didnât have to fit in there tech 2 scanner and even with the card they were unable to fix. Itâs a major safety issue I have been more than patient with and canât even begin to tell you over the years how much time and money spent trying to fix. I think at this point they need to replace car with similar or purchase from me.
Jun 26, 2026
Air bags
Hello, I know the Takata airbag has to be replaced on my car. However now I do live abroad, in Gothenburg Sweden in Europe. How do I get the replacement done? Should I go to GM here in Europe? Thanks
Dec 6, 2025
Air bags
The contact owns a 2008 Saab 9-3. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 14V318000 (Seat Belts) and 16V063000 (Air Bags); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted; however, the dealer declined to service the vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Aug 30, 2024
Power train
at about 98,000 miles the starts to fail transmission fails Also when the car gets too cold in the winter it refuses to start and it is not a battery issue. the cylinders get to cold to start. When the warm weather comes back around it starts again.
Feb 18, 2023
Seat belts
Driver seat belt fails to retract. When retraction failure occurs, it is obvious to the seat occupant immediately. If a crash were to occur with a seat belt in this condition, the result could increase the risk of injury to the driver. The seat belt retraction failure has been reproduced and confirmed. No warning lamps but, the seat belt showed earlier symptoms of not working properly, by not engaging when hard braking occurred. I will have the tensioner replaced.
Dec 31, 2015
Air bags
AIRBAG MALFUNCTION CONTACT SERVICE
Aug 2, 2020
Engine
HAD TO HAVE VALVE JOB DONE DUE TO BAD /DEFECTIVE/INFERIOR INTAKE VALVES, FROM MANUFACTURER. HAD TO HAVE ALL INTAKE VALVES REPLACED, WITH MODIFIED/UPGRADED INTAKE VALVES. OBTAINED PO300 - RANDOM MISFIRE CODES, HAD ROUGH IDLE, CHECKED ENGINE COMPRESSION, HAD 45PSIG IN CYLINDER NUMBER 4. ENGINE HAD 72862MILES, ON IT, THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BY SAAB/GM.
Dec 29, 2020
Engine
MY VEHICLE DOESN'T START/IDLE WELL IN THE COLD DUE TO THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD BOLTS SLOWLY BECOMING LOOSE. **WHEN DRIVING AND SHIFTING** THE VEHICLE CANNOT HANDLE THE EXTRA UNCLEAN AIR ENTERING THE SYSTEM AND WILL STALL OUT WHILE GOING ANYWHERES FROM 0-60+ MPH, ONCE THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF ALL POWER STEERING ALSO SHUTS DOWN. THE SECONDARY ISSUE IS AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM BECAUSE THE SEALS ON THE AIR INTAKE VALVES INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER HAVE BECOME FAULTY RESULTING IN CYLINDER MISFIRES AND A HIGH AMOUNT OF VIBRATION INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, THE SYMPTOMS COME AND GO WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY AS TIME GOES ON. THIS SECONDARY ISSUE TIES INTO THE FIRST ISSUE BECAUSE OF SHIFTING WITH A…
Nov 11, 2020 · 160,000 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

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled…
EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021
REDUCED BRAKE POWER-ASSISTClosed
SAAB AUTOMOBILE AB, A SUBSIDIARY OF GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM), MANUFACTURED 12,317 SUBJECT VEHICLES THROUGH FEBRUARY 15, 2008, EQUIPPED WITH THE HIGH FEATURE V6 TURBOCHARGED ENGINE IDENTIFIED BY REGULAR PRODUCTION OPTION LP9.A TANDEM VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY PROVIDES BRAKE POWER-ASSIST.THE ENGINE IS THE PRIMARY VACUUM SOURCE TO THE BOOSTER AND ITS EFFECT IS AMPLIFIED BY A VENTURI.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, SUCH AS A COLD ENGINE START OR AT HIGH ALTITUDES, AN ELECTRIC VACUUM PUMP (EVP) SUPPLEMENTS ENGINE VACUUM.A PRESSURE SWITCH MEASURES BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM AND COMMANDS THE EVP WHEN TO TURN ON/OFF.CHECK VALVES ARE LOCATED AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, VENTURI, AND PRESSURE SWITCH. GM IDENTIFIED TWO ISSUES THAT AFFECT EVP PERFORMANCE: CORROSION OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS INSIDE THE PUMP CAUSED BY MOISTURE INGRESS THROUGH THE AIR OUTLET WHEN THE EVP SHUTS OFF AND THE VACUUM IN A SECTION OF…
PE08005 · opened Jan 28, 2008 · closed Jun 3, 2008