2003 SAAB 9-3 Electrical System Problems

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?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, SMOKE EMITTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO FLAMES VISIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DOORS OF THE VEHICLE FAILED TO LOCK. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO MOVE INTO THE ON POSITION. A TOW TRUCK OPERATOR STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE MOVED BECAUSE THE WHEELS WERE LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

DRIVING STEADY PACE, SID FADES OUT, RADIO SHUTS OFF, GAUGES TURN OFF, AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. PULLED OVER AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT FROM ENGINE BAY. IT WAS FROM THE SOLENOID ON THE STARTER. I GOT A NEW STARTER AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I THEN BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY AND THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED. I HAD TO CHARGE THE BATTERY UP TO 100% TO GET THE CAR STARTED. THE ALTERNATOR WAS FINE SO MY BELIEF IS THERE IS AN OPEN CIRCUIT SOMEWHERE IN THE CAR. JUST RECENTLY THE SAME SITUATION HAPPENED AGAIN, STARTER MOTOR BURNED UP AND BATTERY DRAINED. *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE 3 NORTHBOUND LANES OF U.S. 23, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. I WAS GOING ABOUT 62 MPH. I ACTIVATED MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS, SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, AND SHUT OFF THE IGNITION KEY. I THEN TURNED THE IGNITION KEY TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND IT RESTARTED. THIS IS ABOUT THE 5TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST 5 MONTHS. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN GMS IGNITION RECALL!!! *TR

I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN 2 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT IS A KNOW PROBLEM THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH ON THE 2003 SAAB 9-3 CAUSES STALLING AND LOCK SYSTEM FAILURES. IF FACT AT ONE POINT THE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE BACK ORDERED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SPORADIC PROBLEM AND COMES AND GOES. *TR

THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME ALMOST IMMOBILE IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). ONCE IN THIRD GEAR, PERFORMANCE IS BACK TO NORMAL. IF DRIVER IS NOT AWARE OF SITUATION (CRUISE LIGHT OFF IS ONLY INDICATION IF CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS TURNED ON), DRIVER CAN EASILY GET INTO BAD SITUATION AS CAR WILL NOT PERFORM AS USUAL (VERY SIGNIFICANT DEGRADATION OF PERFORMANCE). ALL THAT IS NEEDED TO RESET PROBLEM IS TO TURN THE KEY OFF AND RESTART THE ENGINE AND THE CONDITION WILL GO AWAY FOR AS LITTLE AS 10 MINUTES OR UP TO AS MUCH AS 2 HOURS OF DRIVING. IT IS SUSPECTED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIR MASS SENSOR AS REPLACING AIR MASS SENSOR WITH USED PART, PROBLEM DISAPPEARED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF DRIVER IS NOT AWARE AND TRIES TO MAKE A QUICK MANEUVER INVOLVING TIGHT TRAFFIC...

THE SAAB WILL INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO START. WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED IN THE IGNITION, ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OPERATE AS DESIGNED, HOWEVER THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER. THIS IS NOT A BATTERY OR STARTER PROBLEM. THE CAR DOES NOT MAKE ANY CRANKING SOUNDS OR STARTER CLICKS. RATHER, THERE IS NO ENGINE TURN OVER AT ALL. AFTER WAITING FOR 30 - 60 MINUTES, THE CAR WILL START AS IF THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WHATEVER. THE ISSUE APPEARS TO BE THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH. THERE IS NO ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS NOT "RECREATABLE." IT IS 100% UNPREDICTABLE AS TO WHEN IT WILL OCCUR. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET FOR "SAAB 9-3 (OR S900) INTERMITTENT START" WILL RETURN THOUSANDS OF POSTS FROM DRIVERS DESCRIBING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. FIXES INCLUDE POURING WATER OR SNOW ON TOP OF THE NSS, DRILLING A HOLE IN THE DASHBOARD AND RUNNING...

VEHICLE WAS STALLING DURING ACCELERATION , THEN FUEL PUMP HAD COMPLETE MALFUNCTION .... AFTER REPLACEMENT, ENGINE HAS ALWAYS RUN POORLY AND ALMOST ALWAYS STALLS DURING ACCELERATION. REPLACED IGNITION COIL , AND IT DIDN'T FIX PROBLEM . I HAVE TALKED TO 4 OTHER SAAB 9-3 OWNERS FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AND 2004 AND EVERY ONE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE AND MESSAGE DISPLAY BOARD WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REFUSED TO MAKE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,300.

PASSENGER AND I WERE DRIVING AND ACTIVATED BOTH FRONT HEATED SEATS ON THE HIGHEST SETTING. SOON AFTER, BOTH OF US DETECTED A BURNING SMELL AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF BOTH HEATED SEATS. UPON ARRIVAL, WE EXITED AND VISUALLY OBSERVED A SMALL BURN MARK WHERE THE PASSENGER'S LEFT SHOULDER WOULD BE. IT BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER AND SINGED THE HAIR OF THE PASSENGER. THE BURN MARK IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A NICKEL AND WE CAN NO LONGER USE THE HEATED SEAT FUNCTION. *TR

1.) ALL THE WIRING ISSUES STARTED OCCURRING SINCE FEB 2009- CURRENTLY. 2.) MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR WIRING IS DYSFUNCTIONAL CAUSING MANY WIRING/ELECTRICAL ISSUE FAILURES TO OCCUR THROUGHOUT MY VEHICLE. -MY ALARM WILL GO OFF WHENEVER IT WANTS TO WHILE I AM AT WORK OR AT HOME SO I HAD TO UNPLUG MY HORN (WHICH IS DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT SINCE I CAN'T USE MY HORN TO WARN PEOPLE OF AN ACCIDENT.) -ALSO, ON MY DISPLAY UNIT SHOWS "A RED NO PRESSURE" FOR MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SEAT WHICH HAS ME ALWAYS HAVING TO LEAVE IT BUCKLED WHEN NO ONE IS IN THE CAR IN ORDER FOR THE DISTRACTING LIGHT TO GO OFF. - MY RADIO WORKED FINE UNTIL MY BACK AMP COMPLETELY QUIT ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO FOR NO REASON. I NEVER PLAY MY MUSIC LOAD AND DO NOT USE BASE AND TO GET THIS FIXED WILL...

WAS ON MY WAY TO REPAIR SHOP FOR AN ONSTAR MALFUNCTION WHICH KNOCKED OUT MY ENTIRE SOUND SYSTEM, INCLUDING WARNING BUZZERS, ETC....WHILE ON THE FREEWAY I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN INVADED BY ALIENS THE CAR COULD BARLEY DRIVE THEN ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS AND MALFUNCTION LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON MY COMPUTER SCREEN IM LUCKY IT DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT I COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR I COULD NOT ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW, COULD NOT GET THE CAR FROM DRIVE TO PARK, COULD NOT STEER, SHUT IT OFF AND IT WOULDN'T START AGAIN WITHOUT A JUMP. BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED NO MORE THEN 6 MONTHS PRIOR. IT APPARENTLY WAS THE ALTERNATOR. IT IS A HAZARD WHEN IT MALFUNCTIONS DUE TO NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. I HAVE HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FOR 62,000 IT SHOULDN'T HAVE SO MANY BREAKDOWNS AND MALFUNCTIONS I HAVE OWNED IT FOR A LITTLE OVER...

I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. THE CAR WAS WORKING COMPLETELY FINE BEFORE I BROUGHT IT IN, BUT I FIGURED I SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS RECALL ITEM (THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS - RECALL ID# 12866). WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR AFTER THEY PERFORMED THE NECESSARY SERVICE, THE CAR WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AND SHAKING SIGNIFICANTLY. THE MECHANIC REASSESSED THE VEHICLE AND TOLD ME THAT MY IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE HAS AN INTERNAL FAULT. THE DEALER HAS OFFERED TO REPAIR THE CAR FOR $996. *TR

2003 SAAB 93 LINEAR - HEATING/AIR CONDITION BLOWER MOTOR COMPONENT FAILURE. POWER DRIVER WINDOW REGULATOR COMPONENT FAILURE. DEALER REPLACING BOTH PARTS. THE TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPAGE WHEN ACCELERATING AT LOWER SHIFTS AFTER COASTING AT SLOWER SPEEDS 20 TO 30 MPH OR HARD SPRING TO NEXT GEAR FROM STOP, VERY SIMILAR TO COMPLAINTS ALREADY RECORDED. DEALER HAS PREVIOUSLY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE TO CORRECT AND NOW SUGGESTS NEW VALUE BODY OR COMPLETE TRANSMISSION. *JB

WEDNESDAY MARCH 3, 2007, MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR SPORTS SEDAN (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) WITH 61,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WAITING TO SWITCH FROM RED TO GREEN. ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO PROCEED ACROSS THE INTERSECTION. THE INITIALLY ACCELERATED TO 20 MPH AND CEASED TO ACCELERATE. I NOTICED THAT I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND STEERING HAD BECOME HEAVY, I GLANCED AT THE TACHOMETER AND IT SHOWED THAT THE ENGINE HAD SHUT DOWN BUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WERE FUNCTIONING. I COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START FOR OVER 15 MINUTES. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS RUNNING, ONBOARD DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED OK, BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AFTER THE INTERVAL OF NO STARTS, THE CAR STARTED. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSTIC CODES INDICATED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED....

VEHICLE COMPUTER BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. VEHICLE COMPUTER NO LONGER WORKS. SHOWS ODD DATA ON DISPLAY SCREEN LOCKS MAY NOT WORK. WINDOW MAY NOT WORK CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. UNABLE TO TELL WHETHER AIRBAGS WOULD BE AFFECTED. *NM

THE DAY PRIOR I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE IMMEDIATELY. THE NEXT DAY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH OUR NEWBORN AND NEPHEW TO THE MALL WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ON A BUSY STREET. THE FASTEST IT WOULD GO WAS 20-25 MPH. THERE IS ONLY HAVE 37K MILES ON IT AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT. THIS HAD HAPPENED ALSO ON MAY 1 AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT SAID THAT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE HAD A ERROR AND THAT THEY WERE DOWNLOADING NEW SOFTWARE. HE SAID HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE TIMES TO OTHER DRIVERS. THIS SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE A CASE FOR RECALLS. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SEVERE IF THE CAR HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED. *NM

2003 9-3 LINEAR. REQUESTING FOLLOW UP STATUS ON MEMO, DATED 3-26-06. *TS THE VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF ALTHOUGH THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HESITATED SLIGHTLY WHEN MOVING. WHEN BRAKING THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND SKID. THE BRAKES GRABBED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP QUICKLY. THE ALARM WAS VERY SENSITIVE. EVERYTIME A BUS OR TRUCK PASSED THE VEHICLE WITH THE ALARM ENGAGED IT WOULD SOUND. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOT WAY TO ADJUST THE SENSITIVITY OF THE ALARM. THE WINDOWS WERE OFF TRACK. THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *NM ***NAR***

BRAKE PADS & ROTORS, SEAT BELT, BATTERY REPLACEMENT, TIRE, TRANSMISSION, SUNROOF MALFUNCTION. *NM

THE LEASE ON THIS VEHICLE BEGAN ON OCTOBER 6, 2003. IT HAS HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES STARTING LESS THAN 30 DAYS AFTER DELIVERY. MOST RECENTLY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2005. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED THREE TIMES AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TWICE. EACH TIME THE ONSTAR DID NOT WORK BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. WE NO LONGER HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN THIS VEHICLE AND IF WE OWNED IT WE WOULD SELL IT. PROBLEMS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: * CD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING AND WAS REPLACED WITHIN FIRST 30 DAYS OF LEASE. * BRAKES REPLACED WITHIN FIRST 60 DAYS OF LEASE. * ONSTAR COMPUTER REPLACED WITHIN FIRST 60 DAYS OF LEASE. * VEHICLE COMPUTER UPDATED WITHIN FIRST YEAR OF LEASE. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED AND ALMOST REQUIRED A TOW DUE TO INOPERATIVE TRANSMISSION BUT, THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY SHIFTED INTO LIMP MODE BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED ALLOWING US TO DRIVE...

MY SAAB HAS HAD A LITANY OF PROBLEMS SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. IT ALL STARTED WITH LITTLE ITEMS. IGNITION WOULDN'T START THE CAR. HEAD LIGHTS BURNT OUT. DASH PEELING, DOOR HANDLES DISCOLORING, EMERGENCY BRAKE GETTING STUCK AND BEING ABLE TO OPERATE MY CAR. ENGINE WARNING LIGHT BECAUSE MY GAS CAP WASN'T ON CORRECT. STEERING WHEEL LOCKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. WHEEL LOCK LIGHT REMAINING ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING. BRAKES REPLACED DUE TO FACTORY RETRO FIT. SEAT BELTS BEING RECALLED. COMPUTER CONSTANTLY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED SO THE CAR WOULD FUNCTION. ELECTRONIC KEY FAILING SO I COULDN'T START MY CAR. MY CAR IS A 5 SPEED AND THE SHIFTER HANDLE HAS AN CONTINUES TO COME OFF IN MY HAND. A MINIMUM OF 3 FUSES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE DASH BOARD GOES BLANK AT TIMES SHOWING NO FUNCTIONS OF THE CAR. WINDOW WOULDN'T GO UP OR DOWN AND...

THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE. THE REPAIRS WORKED FINE FOR TWO WEEKS, THEN THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, THE FOG AND HEAD LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT ONCE A MONTH, THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RECOIL TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE PASSENGERS, THE CLUTCH PEDAL DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER PRESSURE WHEN APPLIED, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT "SPIN OVER," THERE WAS A BLOWN FUEL PUMP FUSE, THE DRIVER WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE, THE SUNROOF DEFLECTOR DID NOT COLLAPSE WHEN CLOSING THE GLASS CAUSING THE GLASS TO RE-OPEN ON IT'S OWN, THE DRIVER DOOR PANEL DID NOT FIT THE FLUSH TO THE DOOR PANEL, THE RADIO AND THE ONSTAR FEATURE DID NOT WORK. *SC *JB

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH AND THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING AND BRAKE POWER. CONSUMER LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD AND SAW THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO UPDATE THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE DEFECT WHICH OCCURRED. *AK

HEADLIGHTS WAS TOO LOW WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *LA THERE WAS NOISE IN THE REAR WHILE BACKING AND TURNING (THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM), THE ONSTAR FEATURE WOULD NOT WORK AND WAS INTERMITTENT, THE SEAT BELT LIGHT HAD COME ON AND WOULD GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY (UNABLE TO DUPLICATE), NEED SERVICE SOON LIGHT WOULD COME ON (UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED), THE SQUEAL IN THE REAR, COULD HAVE ALSO BEEN LINKED TO SALT AND SAND IN THE ROTORS, THE TRUNK WOULD NOT STAY OPEN, THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE FOUND TO BE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, AND THE PADS HAD RUST ON THEM. *SC *JB

OWNER HAD JUST LEFT THE DEALER AFTER HAVING THE 15,000 MILE OIL CHANGE AND CHECK UP. WHILE DRIVING, THE OWNER HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. PASSING MOTORIST INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

TWICE WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT MY CAR HAS STALLED. IT HAS STALLED ONCE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 35 MPH. IT HAS ALSO GOTTEN STUCK IN PARK TWICE AFRTER I START IT. THE SID SAYS GEAR BOX MALFUNCTIONED. THE LIGHTS BURN OUT AND THE INTERIOR IS FALLING APART. THIS CAR HAS 17,000 MILES IN IT.*AK

2003 SAFE 9-3 2.0T LINEAR, PURCH NEW 2/21/03 DIES' UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN BEING DRIVEN. FIRST INCIDENT: CAR 'DIED' RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD COMPLETELY UNEXPECTEDLY. ASSUMED IT WAS A 'FLUKE' AND TOOK NO ACTION. AFTER SECOND INCIDENT: DEALER "RESET FUEL ADAPTATION VALVE". AFTER THIRD INCIDENT (DANGEROUS - MERGING INTO FREEWAY) DEALER "REPROGRAMMED T8 AND RESET FUEL ADAPTATION PER SAFE TECHNICAL HOT LINE" ALL INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITHIN LAST TWO WEEKS. CAR RESTARTS WITH NO WARNING LIGHT OR "SIDE" INDICATION OF PROBLEM UPON IGNITION. *CB

SINCE PURCHASING MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 IN JUNE THE CAR HAS STALLED 4 TIMES WHILE EITHER AT STOP LIGHTS OR SITTING IN TRAFFIC. ONCE THE CAR STALLED WHILE GOING 40 MPH. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. EACH TIME A SOFTWARE UPGRADE IS PERFORMED. AND EVERY TIME I CONTACT THE SERVICE DEPT THEY ARE SURPRISED AS TO THIS OCCURRENCE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD A SHORTAGE. *PH

I RECEIVED MY SAAB 9-3 BACK IN FEB 2003 AND HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ONSTAR SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (RADIO SND SID). THE ONSTAR COMPUTER HAS BEEN REBOOTED TWICE, THE SID HAS FINALLY BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER, I STILL EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO. PERIODICALLY, WHEN YOU START THE CAR, NOTHING BUT STATIC COMES OUT OF THE SPEAKERS AND THE SYSTEM NEEDS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ONE LAST ITEM I FORGOT TO MENTION. AFTER THE LAST REBOOT OF THE ONSTAR SYSTEM, I DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS NO LONGER WORK EXCEPT FOR THE VOLUMN AND CHANNEL CHANGER.*AK

I PICKED UP MY CAR ON FEBRUARY 24, 2003 AT NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING I WAS TESTING THE CD PLAYER IN THE CAR AND IT WOULDNT WORK. SO I BROUGHT BACK THE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY SAID THEY HAD TO FIX SOMETHING WITH THE COMPUTER. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY 2 MONTH OLD SON AND THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. WHILE I WAS TRYING TO BRING IT INTO SAAB IT STALLED ANOTHER 2 TIMES. THEY SAID THEY HAVE TO REPLACE SOME COMPUTER. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER I STARTED NOTICING THAT I WAS HAVING SERIOUS PICKUP ISSUES. FOR EXAMPLE, IF I WAS ACCELERATING AFTER A RED LIGHT I COULD HIT THE GAS AS HARD AS POSSIBLE AND I STILL WOULDNT MOVE FOR A SOLID 2 SECONDS. THIS ALMOST BECAME DISASTROUS WHEN A TRUCK NEARLY HIT ME BECAUSE I COULDNT MOVE THE...

THE CAR STALLED ON ME UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS - TWICE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND WAS ON A SIDE ROAD GOING ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE GAS PEDAL TOTALLY STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE THE CAR ACTUALLY HAD STALLED. THE SECOND TIME WAS ABOUT A WEEK LATER AND UNFORTUNATELY I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR CRAWLING AT ABOUT 5 MPH AND THE CAR TOTALLY STALLED AGAIN. IN BOTH INSTANCES I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT ON AGAIN AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE. WHEN I CALLED MY SAAB DEALER AFTER THE SECOND OCCURRENCE, THE SERVICE CONSULTANT TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A REPROGRAMMING EFFORT THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS SURPRISED THAT HE OFFERED A SOLUTION RIGHT AWAY, SO I ASKED IF HE KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND THEY WEREN'T SENDING A RECALL NOTICE TO FIX...

AFTER SLOWING DOWN IN TRAFFIC, MY WIFE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, BUT THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE ENGINE ICON ON THE DASH DISPLAY WAS ILLUMINATED. THE SAAB INFORMATION DISPLAY (SID) DID NOT SHOW ANY PROBLEMS. LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND CONTINUE ON TO WORK. APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES LATER THE ENGINE WAS SLUGGISH AND ALMOST STOPPED AGAIN. IN ADDITION THE RADIO HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CHANGE STATIONS BY ITSELF, AND THE REMOTE MIRRORS WILL SOMETIMES MOVE BY THEMSELVES. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SAAB DEALER AND A SOFTWARE UPDATE HAS SUPPOSEDLY TAKEN CARE OF THE MIRRORS AND ENGINE/IGNITION, BUT THE RADIO PROBLEM IS NEW. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF SAAB HAD BEEN PROACTIVE AND SOUGHT OUT OWNERS OF THIS PARTICULAR MODEL (9-3 LINEAR) SOONER AND NOTIFIED THEM OF A NECESSARY SOFTWARE UPDATE. AN ENGINE DYING IN TRAFFIC, AN INTERSECTION, A TRAIN CROSSING, ETC., CAN BE A DANGER....

I PURCHASED A 2003 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR W/ LAUNCH PACKAGE (STEEL GREY) APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO. FOUR DAYS AFTER MY PURCHASE I WAS DRIVING USING THE STEPTRONIC SHIFTING AND THE CAR LOST POWER. WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DASH SAID TO PULL OVER AND CONTACT SAAB. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND PULL OVER, A SEVERE GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD AND FELT UNDER MY RIGHT FOOT. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY SAW A COMPUTER EVENT "WHEEL SPEED MISMATCH" BUT WAS NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED OR HOW THIS WAS CAUSED. THEY SAID WHEN THE CAR DETECTS A PROBLEM IT DISABLES PORTIONS OF THE ENGINE AND COMPUTERS AND ONLY ALLOWS YOU TO GO APPROX 20 MPH TO MAKE A SAFE STOP. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED THIS "LIMP HOME MODE" THEY SAID IT WAS SIMILAR TO A WINDOWS "SAFE...

MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 WITH 900 MILES HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO BE SERVICED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONS. I HAVE LEASED THIS CAR FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED REPAIRS BUT HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. THE COMPUTER PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN A HAZARD WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AND HAVE ALSO BEEN A NUISANCE. THE LOCKING SYSTEM ON THE CAR HAS FAILED TO WORK ON MORE THAN 3 OCCASIONS LEAVING THE CAR UN-LOCKABLE AND IT HAS TRIGGERED THE ALARM SYSTEM ON MANY OCCASIONS. THE DOME LIGHT WILL LIGHT AND STAY ON WHEN I AM DRIVING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONS THAT I CAN DISCUSS IN DETAIL IF NEEDED. THE COMPUTER PROBLEMS MAKE THIS CAR UNPREDICTABLE AND IN MY OPINION DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.