The 2011 SAAB 9-3 has 4 safety recalls and 30 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (25 complaints).
Recalls4safety recalls
Complaints30filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
NHTSA recall 16V063000 · Feb 3, 2016 · 113,716 vehicles · opened 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 belts › Front › Retractor
NHTSA recall 14V318000 · Jun 12, 2014 · 28,789 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, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
NHTSA recall 11E009000 · Feb 28, 2011 · 4,887 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.
Fuel system, other › Delivery › Fuel pump
NHTSA recall 11V015000 · Jan 19, 2011 · 4,400 vehicles
Problem: SAAB IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 AND 2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2010 THROUGH DECEMBER 2010. CERTAIN FUEL PUMPS INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MAY HAVE INTERNAL COMPONENTS WITH INCORRECT SPECIFICATIONS.
Risk: THE SUBJECT FUEL PUMPS CAN SEIZE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: SAAB WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 3, 2011. OWNERS MAY 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
2011 Saab 9-3 SW 4WD
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
12.7%
2011 Saab 9-3 4 DR 4WD
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
12.1%
2011 Saab 9-3 SW RWD
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
12.7%
2011 Saab 9-3 C FWD
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
2011 Saab 9-3 4 DR RWD
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
12.1%
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
21 / 30 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel
9-3 SportCombi
24mpg combined
City / highway
21 / 30 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel
9-3 Sedan AWD
23mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 29 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · All-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
9-3 Convertible
23mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 28 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/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 Convertible
21mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S5) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
9-3 SportCombi
21mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S5) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
9-3 Sedan AWD
20mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/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
25
1
0
0
96,500 mi
Seat belts
3
0
0
0
—
Power train
1
0
0
0
—
Service brakes
1
0
0
0
—
Unknown or other
1
0
0
0
—
Suspension
1
0
0
0
—
Engine
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
May 29, 2021Seat belts driver side seat belt not retracting, there is a recall but does not include this vin number.
Aug 30, 2020 · 90,000 miles · crashAir bags DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET GOING IN A FORWARD, STRAIGHT MOTION.
May 15, 2020 · 103,000 milesAir bags TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Nov 4, 2018 · 120,000 milesEngine TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT DETECTED A STRONG ODOR OF COOLANT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT AND SCREWS WERE MISSING THAT CONNECTED THE TRANSMISSION TO THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE WARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Jan 22, 2018Unknown or other PUMP ON REAR XWD FAILURE
Jun 1, 2017Air bags LETTER IS RESPONSE TO THE RECALL OF A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG; SEEKING HELP FOR THIS DILEMNA NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 16V063. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. UPDATED 06/29/2017 *JS
May 11, 2016Air bags TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-955-9007. THE CONTACT ASKED THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE THE DEALER NEARBY REPAIR THE AIR BAGS. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO DEALER THAT WAS 60 MILES AWAY FROM THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
May 11, 2016Air bags TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. DORSHAL AUTOMOTIVE WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INITIALLY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS BEING SENT; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STILL WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE RECALL REMEDIED DUE TO THE LACK OF PART AVAILABILITY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED…
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
EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · openDesiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture 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…