2006 SAAB 9-3 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
227
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
6
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 2006 SAAB 9-3
The 2006 SAAB 9-3 has received a total of 227 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP. 6 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Air Bags (86 complaints), Service Brakes Hydraulic (16 complaints), and Seat Belts (14 complaints).
Recalls for the 2006 SAAB 9-3
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2006 SAAB 9-3, potentially affecting up to 147,392 vehicles.
Recall 16V063000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 113,716 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →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 →Owner Complaints for the 2006 SAAB 9-3
227 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2006 SAAB 9-3. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2006 SAAB 9-3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and shut off, the contact attempted to start the vehicle, and the vehicle failed to start. The contact also noticed a fuel odor coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Warning message that airbag is not working. Loud hissing sound immediately in front of dashboard, as if air is escaping. We cannot drive the car for fear of the airbag inflating. We are going to have to towed to a repair shop to be fixed and will keep all paperwork.
ECU ISSUES, LOSS POWER WHEN DRIVING.
ECU ISSUES, LOSS POWER WHEN DRIVING.
ECU ISSUES, LOSS POWER WHEN DRIVING.
Safety Rating for the 2006 SAAB 9-3
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2006 SAAB 9-3 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2006 SAAB 9-3
General Motors, LLC has issued 6 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2006 SAAB 9-3. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
MI-731-2726 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
SAAB SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, PARTICLES OF GRAVEL OR STONES MAY COLLECT BETWEEN THE COIL SPRING AND THE LOWER SPRING SEAT CAUSING THE SPRING TO CORRODE. THIS CORROSION MAY WEAKEN THE SPRING AND IN SOME CASES, MAY CAUSE THE SPRING TO BREAK...
MI-811-2716 — STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
SAAB SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES CONTROL MODULE'S ANALOGUE INPUTS MAY PRODUCE INVALID SIGNAL. THIS MEANS THE SOFT TOP'S CONTROL MODULE DOES NOT FUNCTION AS INTENDED. DIFFICULTIES IN OPENING/CLOSING SOFT TOP IN EXTREMELY HOT WEATHER. FUNCTION OF SOFT TOP MECHANISM RETURNS AFTER COOLING...
07-053 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
SAAB SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT-FUEL TANK FILLER CAP. VEHICLE MAY EXPERIENCE A CONDITION WHERE THE FUEL TANK CAP WON'T TIGHTEN PROPERLY OR THE FUEL TANK CAP WON'T COME OFF OR IS BROKEN. *PE CSC LETTER WAS RECEIVED. UPDATED 12/1/08. *PE
SB-07053 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
GENERAL MOTORS: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A CONDITION WHERE THE FUEL TANK CAP WON'T TIGHTEN PROPERLY, OR FUEL TANK CAP WON'T COME OFF, OR IS BROKEN. THESE CONDITIONS MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ILLUMINATION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT (MIL). *PE
SB-07053 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
GENERAL MOTORS: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A CONDITION WHERE THE FUEL TANK CAP WON'T TIGHTEN PROPERLY, OR FUEL TANK CAP WON'T COME OFF, OR IS BROKEN. THESE CONDITIONS MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ILLUMINATION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT (MIL). *PE
3712649 — SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
REPLACEMENT OF SPEED SENSOR WIRING HARNESS. *KB
NHTSA Investigations for the 2006 SAAB 9-3
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 2006 SAAB 9-3.
Investigation EA08026 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS Closed
Opened:
Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture
Other Model Years of the SAAB 9-3
- 2001 SAAB 9-3 — 74 complaints
- 2002 SAAB 9-3 — 52 complaints
- 2003 SAAB 9-3 — 323 complaints
- 2004 SAAB 9-3 — 236 complaints
- 2005 SAAB 9-3 — 114 complaints
- 2006 SAAB 9-3 (current)
- 2007 SAAB 9-3 — 182 complaints
- 2008 SAAB 9-3 — 215 complaints
- 2009 SAAB 9-3 — 46 complaints
- 2010 SAAB 9-3 — 31 complaints
- 2011 SAAB 9-3 — 33 complaints