2003 SAAB 9-3 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
323
Owner Complaints
5
Recalls
14
Service Bulletins
2
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 SAAB 9-3
The 2003 SAAB 9-3 has received a total of 323 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. 14 technical service bulletins have been issued by SAAB CARS USA, INC. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (36 complaints), Suspensionfront (27 complaints), and Power Trainautomatic Transmission (23 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 SAAB 9-3
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 2003 SAAB 9-3, potentially affecting up to 211,502 vehicles.
Recall 11E009000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
| 4,887 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE IN USE.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 07V087000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
| 94,377 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINES WERE DAMAGED DURING PRODUCTION.
Consequence: OVER TIME, THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL LINES TO LOOSEN FROM THE PUMP RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL MAY IGNITE RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL DEVELOP A SECURING BRACKET THAT WILL SECURE THE FUEL LINES TO THE FUEL PUMP EVEN IF THE PLASTIC RETAINING TABS SHOULD BREAK. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 13, 2007. THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGNS -...
View full details →Recall 05V236000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
| 68,654 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION WERE TO OCCUR WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REDESIGNED CHECK VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 17, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
View full details →Recall 04V226000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
| 31,335 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT MAY RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
View full details →Recall 04V540000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
| 12,249 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE MAY CAUSE ENGINE HESITATION OR STALLING.
Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE STALLS AS A RESULT OF THIS CONDITION, IT CAN BE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 SAAB 9-3
323 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 SAAB 9-3. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 SE CONVERTIBLE TO THE NEARBY PUBLIX SUPERMARKET. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HIT. I PARKED IT IN THE LOT WITH THE TOP DOWN AND WENT INTO THE STORE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES. IT WAS A WARM DRY DAY IN FLORIDA ABOUT 85 DEGREES. I CAME OUT AND PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURNED IT TO START THE CAR, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED FOR NO KNOWN REASON. I CALLED GM, THEY TOOK THE CAR TO A GM FACILITY AND INSPECTED IT, AND THEN CAME BACK A WEEK LATER AND SAID THE UNEXPLAINED DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG WAS NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR IT. I FIND THAT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE. THE AIRBAG SHOULD NOT DEPLOY ARBITRARILY WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITH THE KEY FOB IN THE IGNITION, THE POWER STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MANUALLY TURNED THE IGNITION KEY TO THE LEFT TO RIGHT IN ORDER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FLIKKEMA SAAB (2424 176TH ST, LANSING, IL 60438 (708) 474-19330) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COLUMN INTEGRATED MODULE (CIM) NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. WHEN THE VEHICLE DECELERATED, IT SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AT WILL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WHEN DRIVING UP A HILL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
ECU IN CAR BECOMES COMPLETELY FRIED BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION IT IS MOUNTED FROM THE FACTORY BECAUSE OF HEAT SOAK
I AM RECEIVING AN ONSTAR NOT AVAILABLE ERROR - THERE WAS A RECALL 08089-B PART # 10027804 - I WANT MY ONSTAR DISABLED. WHO DO I CONTACT?
Safety Rating for the 2003 SAAB 9-3
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 SAAB 9-3 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 SAAB 9-3
SAAB CARS USA, INC. has issued 14 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 SAAB 9-3. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
4712421 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
GEARBOX IS SLUGGISH, SPECIFICALLY DURING SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR. *TT
4402498 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
GENERAL FAULT DIAGNOSIS FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *EH
6412468 — STEERING
NOISE WITH STEERING WHEEL TURNING. *TT
03022004 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ONSTAR MALFUNCTION MESSAGE ON SID AND DTC U1500 08 SET IN CU/PU. *EH
020604 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ONSTAR SOFTWARE UPDATE AND LOW BATTERY COMPLAINTS. *TT
02062004 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
ONSTAR SOFTWARE UPDATE AND LOW BATTERY COMPLAINTS. *EH
02042004 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
ADDITIONAL PROCEDURE FOR DISCONNECTING BATTERY POWER TO TELEMATICS UNIT. *EH
39124092 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
UPDATE OF ONSTAR ENGLISH VERSION. *EH
8312429 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
REMOTE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. *EH
2482423 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0638 AND/OR P1682, DISLOGED PINS IN H42-2. *TT
Showing 10 of 14 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 SAAB 9-3
NHTSA has opened 2 investigations into potential safety defects in the 2003 SAAB 9-3.
Other Model Years of the SAAB 9-3
- 1998 SAAB 9-3 — 0 complaints
- 1999 SAAB 9-3 — 80 complaints
- 2000 SAAB 9-3 — 72 complaints
- 2001 SAAB 9-3 — 74 complaints
- 2002 SAAB 9-3 — 52 complaints
- 2003 SAAB 9-3 (current)
- 2004 SAAB 9-3 — 236 complaints
- 2005 SAAB 9-3 — 114 complaints
- 2006 SAAB 9-3 — 227 complaints
- 2007 SAAB 9-3 — 182 complaints
- 2008 SAAB 9-3 — 215 complaints