2004 SAAB 9-3 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
236
Owner Complaints
6
Recalls
12
Service Bulletins
2
Investigations
Overview of the 2004 SAAB 9-3
The 2004 SAAB 9-3 has received a total of 236 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 6 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP. 12 technical service bulletins have been issued by SAAB CARS USA, INC. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Seat Belts (67 complaints), Suspensionfront (29 complaints), and Suspension (18 complaints).
Recalls for the 2004 SAAB 9-3
NHTSA has recorded 6 recalls for the 2004 SAAB 9-3, potentially affecting up to 149,449 vehicles.
Recall 14V318000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
| 28,789 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →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 10V043000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
| 14,126 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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...
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 03V514000 — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
| 1,658 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO FOLD FORWARD IN A FRONTAL CRASH, RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND/OR FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2004 SAAB 9-3
236 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 SAAB 9-3. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
Retractor won't pull driver side seat belt back in
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.
******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE THE CONSUMER PLACED THE REQUEST*DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******
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 CALLED THEM. SHE TOLD ME ANYONE CAN FIX A BROKEN SEATBELT, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE AND WE CAN'T FIND ANYONE TO HELP US. BASICALLY BECAUSE WE WERE NOT A LOCAL KNOWN CUSTOMER THIS DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT SUPPORT US UNLESS I PROVED THEY HAD TOO.
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.
Safety Rating for the 2004 SAAB 9-3
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2004 SAAB 9-3 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2004 SAAB 9-3
SAAB CARS USA, INC. has issued 12 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2004 SAAB 9-3. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
06081 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT-FUEL TANK CAP. *KB
8812529 — STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
UPDATING THE HOOD SYSTEM. *TT
8122532 — VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
UPDATING THE SOFTWARE FOR SUNROOF PINCH PROTECTION. *TT
15017 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE SUPPLIER'S MANUFACTURING PROCESSING. RECALL CAMPAIGN 15017 FRONT SEAT BELT REPLACEMENT. *TT
8532479 — SEAT BELTS
REPLACEMENT OF FRONT SEAT BELT. *EH
8522484 — SEATS
THE BACK OF THE SEAT CANNOT BE FOLDED FORWARD. *EH
8312464 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
NO CENTRAL LOCKING SWITCH ON PASSENGER SIDE. *TT
3652466 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CHANGE IN SPS PROGRAMMING. *EH
5512439 — PARKING BRAKE
HANDBRAKE LEVER JAMMING/CANNOT BE LOWERED. *MR
44024253 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SPRINTINESS IN DRIVE AND JERKINESS WITH SHIFT UP. *EH
Showing 10 of 12 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2004 SAAB 9-3
NHTSA has opened 2 investigations into potential safety defects in the 2004 SAAB 9-3.
Investigation PE08051 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS Closed
Opened:
FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE
Other Model Years of the SAAB 9-3
- 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 — 323 complaints
- 2004 SAAB 9-3 (current)
- 2005 SAAB 9-3 — 114 complaints
- 2006 SAAB 9-3 — 227 complaints
- 2007 SAAB 9-3 — 182 complaints
- 2008 SAAB 9-3 — 215 complaints
- 2009 SAAB 9-3 — 46 complaints