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FaultScore report

2000 Saab 9-3 Convertible problems

Owners have filed 16 complaints about the 2000 Saab 9-3 Convertible with NHTSA between 2001 and 2020. The largest single group is the electrical system. Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 4 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Saab 9-3 Convertible All 2000 cars
C

FaultScore 58/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Saab 9-3 Convertible.

How this is worked out

The numbers

16

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

2

Fires reported

2

Injuries reported

79,950 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

23%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 41 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure 39 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 41
Against the median year of the Saab 9-3 Convertible. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
31.3% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 39
23% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2000 compares with every other Saab 9-3 Convertible

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2000 Saab 9-3 Convertible

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Electrical System 4 25.0%

Median failure at 26,400 miles

Airbags 3 18.8%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 174,183 mi

Seat Belts 2 12.5%

Median failure at 128,672 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 12.5%

Median failure at 65,401 miles

Tires 1 6.3%
Fuel & Propulsion 1 6.3%

Median failure at 79,950 miles

Lights 1 6.3%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 95,000 mi

Body & Structure 1 6.3%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 95,000 mi

Engine & Cooling 1 6.3%

Median failure at 100,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

25,000 – 49,999 miles 4 30.8%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 2 15.4%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 3 23.1%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 3 23.1%
150,000+ miles 1 7.7%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Sep 2001 peak 3 May 2020

NHTSA investigations into the 2000 Saab 9-3 Convertible

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

PE05017 Opened 7 Apr 2005 Closed 23 Sep 2005 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

ENGINE STALL/ ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

ODI OPENED PE05-017 BASED ON 35 REPORTS OF ALLEGED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IDM CASSETTE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MOST REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.IN 3 INCIDENTS, THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED SMOKE AND/OR FIRE RESULTED FROM THE IDM FAILURE.DURING PE05-017, ADDITIONAL FAILURE DATA WAS IDENTIFIED AS NOTED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY ABOVE.THE COMPLAINT DATA REPRESENTS INCIDENTS WHERE THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED A STALL OR FIRE.ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2005, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A...

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 174,183 miles Richmond, VA 1 injured

AIR BAGS

DRIVING ALONG, MAYBE 20-30 MPH AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYS FOR NO REASON (SIDE, NOT STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG). . NO CRASH, NO IMPACT, JUST DRIVING STRAIGHT AND, BOOM! MY LEFT EAR IS RINGING AND MY LEFT ARM IS PROBABLY BRUISED.

NHTSA complaint #11323899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles NEW Carlisle, OH Fire

INTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE A 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. I WAS CLEANING THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE DRIVER DOOR OPEN. I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE AREA BETWEEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE RIGHT DOOR. I OPENED THE RIGHT DOOR TO FIND THE LIGHT FIXTURE IN THE RIGHT QUARTER PANEL HAD FALLEN OUT AND WAS BURNING THE SEAT COVER BY THE AIR BAG. THE LAMP REFLECTOR IS METAL AND BURNED THE SEAT COVER.

NHTSA complaint #10365535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles NEW Carlisle, OH Fire

STRUCTURE

I HAVE A 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. I WAS CLEANING THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE DRIVER DOOR OPEN. I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE AREA BETWEEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE RIGHT DOOR. I OPENED THE RIGHT DOOR TO FIND THE LIGHT FIXTURE IN THE RIGHT QUARTER PANEL HAD FALLEN OUT AND WAS BURNING THE SEAT COVER BY THE AIR BAG. THE LAMP REFLECTOR IS METAL AND BURNED THE SEAT COVER.

NHTSA complaint #10365535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Angeles, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

I'VE GOT A 2000 SAAB 9-3 AND I WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. INSTEAD MY HEAD GOT KNOCKED AGAINST THE SIDE WINDOW, DRIVING MY GLASSES INTO MY FOREHEAD. NOW I'VE GOT A SCAR ACROSS MY FOREHEAD THAT WILL REQUIRE PLASTIC SURGERY. DAMAGE TO THE DOOR WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO WARRANT REPLACEMENT--YET THE AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF. I BELIEVE EITHER THE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE OR THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA complaint #751889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 174,183 miles Richmond, VA 1 injured

AIR BAGS

DRIVING ALONG, MAYBE 20-30 MPH AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYS FOR NO REASON (SIDE, NOT STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG). . NO CRASH, NO IMPACT, JUST DRIVING STRAIGHT AND, BOOM! MY LEFT EAR IS RINGING AND MY LEFT ARM IS PROBABLY BRUISED.

NHTSA complaint #11323899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Potomac, MD

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH 2016. THE SAAB CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER CONTINUES TO TELL ME THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE AND "I SHOULD NOT WORRY BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS WITH SAAB VEHICLES." HOWEVER, I OWN OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME RECALL, AND THOSE MANUFACTURERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN THE REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10935100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 145,011 miles ST Louis, MO

SEAT BELTS

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR I HAD TO PUSH ON THE BRAKES FAIRLY HARD. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTED AND THEN STAYED RETRACTED. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A PROPER REPLACEMENT FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT AND HAVE YET TO FIND ONE FOR LESS THAN $200.00 FOR A USED ONE AND OVER $300.00 FOR A REFURBISHED ONE. GM JUST HAPPENS TO HAVE NEW ONES BUT THEY ARE ALMOST $500.00 ACCORDING TO THE REP FROM GM.THESE SEAT BELTS HAVE A CHARGING CYLINDER ON THEM THAT SETS OFF THE AIR BAG. THAT ALONE CAUSES YOU TO HAVE TO SHIP IT AS A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL.IF YOU CAN FIND SOMEONE TO SHIP IT AT A REASONABLE COST. (NOT HAPPENING)IF YOU GO WITH THE "UNIVERSAL" SEAT BELT SOLD BY SOME COMPANIES THEY DON'T EVEN WORK AND YOU ARE TOLD TO JUST CUT THE SEAT BELT TO MAKE IT FIT. KIND OF DESTROYS THE INTEGRITY OF THE SEAT BELT BY DOING THAT I WOULD THINK. I HAVE MADE TWO COMPLAINTS WITH GM ABOUT THIS AND CONSIDERING THEY HAD JUST RECALLED THE 2004-2009 SAAB'S FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE I THOUGHT THEY MIGHT WORK WITH ME TO SOME EXTENT. I KNOW NOW THAT IT IS NOT THE CASE. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 3/13/2015

NHTSA complaint #10609014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 112,334 miles Pheonix, AZ

SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT AND BECAME TIGHT AROUND THE CONTACT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT BEGAN CHOKING FROM THE PRESSURE OF THE SEAT BELT BECOMING TIGHTER. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 112,334.

NHTSA complaint #10495116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles NEW Carlisle, OH Fire

INTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE A 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. I WAS CLEANING THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE DRIVER DOOR OPEN. I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE AREA BETWEEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE RIGHT DOOR. I OPENED THE RIGHT DOOR TO FIND THE LIGHT FIXTURE IN THE RIGHT QUARTER PANEL HAD FALLEN OUT AND WAS BURNING THE SEAT COVER BY THE AIR BAG. THE LAMP REFLECTOR IS METAL AND BURNED THE SEAT COVER.

NHTSA complaint #10365535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 95,000 miles NEW Carlisle, OH Fire

STRUCTURE

I HAVE A 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. I WAS CLEANING THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE DRIVER DOOR OPEN. I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE AREA BETWEEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE RIGHT DOOR. I OPENED THE RIGHT DOOR TO FIND THE LIGHT FIXTURE IN THE RIGHT QUARTER PANEL HAD FALLEN OUT AND WAS BURNING THE SEAT COVER BY THE AIR BAG. THE LAMP REFLECTOR IS METAL AND BURNED THE SEAT COVER.

NHTSA complaint #10365535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Morrow, GA

TIRES

MY CAR WAS DAMAGED ON THE WAY TO WK BECAUSE I HIT A POT HOLE ON NEW CONSTRUCTION. WHO WOULD I TALK TO ABOUT THIS. I ALMOST HAD A BLOW OUT & IT WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE NEW TARRED ROAD HAS A DEEP HOLE & IT'S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.

NHTSA complaint #10262171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Columbus, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE BLEW DO TO EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILD UP, SAAB HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE 1999 AND OFFERED A EXTENDED WARRANTY TO ORIGINAL BUYERS TILL 8 YEARS AND UNLIMITED MILEAGE. TO FIX, ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. CAR ONLY HAS 100,000 MILES. THE OIL PORTHOLES THAT SQUIRT INTO THE PISTONS ARE CLOGGED BURNING OUT THE CYLINDERS. TO FIX THE CONCERN $4-5,000, IF WE CAN USE THE ENGINE THAT CAME WITH THE CAR, USED ENGINES ARE GOING FOR $2-3000 AND YOU CANNOT BUY A NEW OR REBUILT ONE.

NHTSA complaint #10258846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,950 miles OAK Ridge, NJ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

2000 SAAB 9-3 SE CONVERTIBLE. ON COMMUTE HOME, WAS PULLED OVER BECAUSE OF A DETECTED GASOLINE LEAK. GASOLINE WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE AUTO BY THE GAS TANK. POLICE HAD CAR FLAT BEDDED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE CAUSE WAS FROM A "BROKEN CLIP THAT ATTACHED THE FUEL LINE TO THE FUEL PUMP". COSTS FOR REPAIR AND TO REFILL TANK TOTALED $1057.58. 2001 VEHICLES OF THIS SAME MODEL WERE ALREADY RECALLED FOR THIS SAME REASON (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V557000).

NHTSA complaint #10164953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,401 miles Springfield, VA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE BEGAN SHIFTING POORLY AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE UNLESS TURNED OFF (5 SPEED MANUAL TRANS). SAAB DEALERSHIP OPENED TARNSMISSION AND FOUND IT NEEDED FULL REPLACEMENT (60,000 MILES) AND ALSO NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH. SINCE THAT TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AND GO OFF ERRATICLY. SAAB CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENTS AND DIAGNOSTICS!

NHTSA complaint #10093558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,401 miles Springfield, VA

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

VEHICLE BEGAN SHIFTING POORLY AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE UNLESS TURNED OFF (5 SPEED MANUAL TRANS). SAAB DEALERSHIP OPENED TARNSMISSION AND FOUND IT NEEDED FULL REPLACEMENT (60,000 MILES) AND ALSO NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH. SINCE THAT TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AND GO OFF ERRATICLY. SAAB CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENTS AND DIAGNOSTICS!

NHTSA complaint #10093558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,000 miles West Chesterfield, NH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, AUTO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY, NO POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. BURNT ELECTRICAL SMELL FROM ENGINE. CAR WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, WHERE A FAILED IGNITION CASSETTE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY SINCE DAY ONE, IN SOME CASES FOR DAYS AT A TIME. I HAVE ASKED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT SEVERAL DEALERS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT COULD BE BECAUSE OF A LOOSE GAS CAP AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT (SAAB USA CLAIMS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM). THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT, BUT BECAUSE IT COMES ON SO OFTEN, I IGNORED IT. $900 REPAIR BILL!

NHTSA complaint #10090611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 26,400 miles Newton, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

MY 2000 SAAB 9-3 STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY...THE DEALER REPACED THE DIRECT IGNITION MODULE AND CAR WAS OKAY.

NHTSA complaint #10033090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 26,400 miles Newton, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

MY 2000 SAAB 9-3 STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY...THE DEALER REPACED THE DIRECT IGNITION MODULE AND CAR WAS OKAY.

NHTSA complaint #10033090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 26,400 miles Newton, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 2000 SAAB 9-3 STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY...THE DEALER REPACED THE DIRECT IGNITION MODULE AND CAR WAS OKAY.

NHTSA complaint #10033090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Angeles, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

I'VE GOT A 2000 SAAB 9-3 AND I WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. INSTEAD MY HEAD GOT KNOCKED AGAINST THE SIDE WINDOW, DRIVING MY GLASSES INTO MY FOREHEAD. NOW I'VE GOT A SCAR ACROSS MY FOREHEAD THAT WILL REQUIRE PLASTIC SURGERY. DAMAGE TO THE DOOR WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO WARRANT REPLACEMENT--YET THE AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF. I BELIEVE EITHER THE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE OR THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA complaint #751889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.