1999 Saab 9-3 airbag problems

AIR BAGS

TODAY, SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR, AN AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT IN MOTION, AND THERE WAS NO IMPACT. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FROM THE OUTBOARD SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. I WAS SEATED IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED AND ITS SEAT BELT WAS UNFASTENED, HOWEVER A LAPTOP AND SOME OTHER LIGHTWEIGHT OBJECTS WERE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.

NHTSA complaint #11398304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT CRASHED OR DRIVEN OVER A ROAD BUMP WHEN THE DEPLOYMENT OCCURRED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AN INJURED RIGHT ARM, SHOULDER, AND TORSO, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

NHTSA complaint #11112450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

JUST AS I PARKED MY CAR, MY SIDE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY CAR DEPLOYED/EXPLODED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE/LEFT EAR AND NECK WERE INJURED.

NHTSA complaint #11104635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

WHILE PARKED, I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND STARTED THE CAR. MY PASSENGER SIDE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG DEPLOYED/EXPLODED UPON ENGINE STARTING. I SUFFERED A CONCUSSION, TINNITUS, AND INNER EAR DAMAGE FROM THE AIRBAG EXPLODING. TOOK CAR TO A GM DEALERSHIP WITH A SAAB TECHNICIAN TO HAVE CAR DIAGNOSED TO EXPLAIN WHY THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED/EXPLODED. NO DIAGNOSIS MADE. BUT THEY DID READ ERROR CODE SAYING AIRBAG SENSOR COMMUNICATION FAILURE AFTER AIRBAG DEPLOYED/EXPLODED. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE LIT PRIOR TO INCIDENT. THERE WERE NO SERVICE CODES PRIOR TO INCIDENT EITHER. (I HAD CAR CHECKED 1 WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT)

NHTSA complaint #11022426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SAAB 9-3. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS ON THE LEFT ARM, BUT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA complaint #10660042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE DRIVER OF THE 1999 SAAB 9-3 WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE ON MA RTE. 128 SOUTH. HER SON WAS IN A CHILD CARSEAT TIGHTLY BELTED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER SEAT, THE SEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER. THE SWITCH ON THE BELT BUCKLE WAS SET TO THE "CHILD SEAT" SETTING. THE DRIVER SIGNALED AND BEGAN TO CHANGE LANES TO THE MIDDLE LANE WHICH WAS CLEAR OF TRAFFIC. AS SHE WAS SHIFTING LANES, ANOTHER VEHICLE, A LIGHT-COLORED SEDAN, BEGAN TO MOVE SHARPLY INTO THE MIDDLE LANE FROM THE RIGHT. THE DRIVER WAS FORCED TO SWERVE TO THE LEFT TO AVOID COLLISION WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE, AND HER CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD TO THE LEFT AND HIT THE GUARDRAIL IN A FRONT-END COLLISION. THE DRIVER WAS THROWN FORWARD BUT WAS WEARING HER SEATBELT, WHICH HELD HER. HER AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE. HER SON'S CAR SEAT DID NOT REMAIN IN PLACE, BUT WENT FORWARD AND TIPPED OVER ON ITS SIDE, FACING THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR, SO THAT WHEN THE DRIVER OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR TO CHECK ON HER SON, AT FIRST SHE COULDN'T SEE HIM, AND SHE HAD TROUBLE EXTRACTING THE CAR SEAT. AN OFF-DUTY FIREMAN STOPPED TO HELP, CUT THE SEAT BELT AND EXTRACTED THE SEAT. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND TREATED FOR WHIPLASH; HER SON DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE SUSTAINED INJURY. THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURER, AND THE INSURER TOWED THE CAR AND WANTS TO DISPOSE OF IT. WE (THE DRIVER AND HER HUSBAND) CONTACTED SAAB SEVERAL TIMES TO ASK THAT THE VEHICLE BE EXAMINED PRIOR TO DISPOSAL TO ADDRESS CONCERNS ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE REAR SEAT BELT AND THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG; SAAB WAS UNHELPFUL.

NHTSA complaint #10180596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

ON THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 6, 2006, MY 1999 SAAB 9-3 WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOUSE WHEN I STARTED THE CAR TO WARM IT UP TO TAKE MY FIVE YEAR OLD TO SCHOOL. MY 5 YEAR OLD SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AS THE CAR WAS WARMING UP. WITHOUT NOTICE OR PROVOCATION THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN MY 5 YEAR OLDS FACE. THIS VIOLENT EXPLOSION CAUSED A SCRATCH AND REDNESS ON MY DAUGHTERS FACE. UPON SPEAKING WITH SAAB I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING, AND UPON THEIR INSTRUCTION - I TOOK THE CAR THE LOCAL SAAB DEALER, WHO UPON EXAMINING THE CAR SAID THAT THE REASON FOR THIS HAPPENING IS INCONCLUSIVE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. SAAB IS GIVING US THE RUNAROUND, AND WE NEED SOMEONE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS INCIDENT. I AM HOPING THAT FILING THIS COMPLAINT WILL HELP.

NHTSA complaint #10176087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN HOME DRIVEWAY. DRIVER SHUT HIS DOOR NORMALLY AND AIRBAG DEPLOYED, HITTING PASSENGER WHO WAS STILL GETTING ADJUSTED IN HER SEAT.

NHTSA complaint #10108266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

ON TWO OCCASSIONS, IT WAS NECESSARY TO BRING THE SAAB TO A QUICK STOP ON THE FREEWAY. ON 3/25/00, I NEEDED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP, GOING 65 MPH AND THE CAR SEEMED TO ALMOST SLIDE, NOT GRIPPING THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 25 YEARS, AND HAD TO MAKE EMERGENCY STOPS IN THE PAST, AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS EXPERIENCE. I BELIEVE THE SAAB 9-3'S SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR ABILITY TO STOP IN AN EMERGENCY. ALSO, MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #720693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CRASH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG . DOOR AND GLOVE COMPARTMENT CANNOT BE OPENED. THE IMPACT BLEW OUT THE GLASS ON THE SIDE DOOR AND CRACKED THE WINDSHELD. DAMAGES TOTALLED $8,000 - $10,000. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA complaint #842666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CRASH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG . DOOR AND GLOVE COMPARTMENT CANNOT BE OPENED. THE IMPACT BLEW OUT THE GLASS ON THE SIDE DOOR AND CRACKED THE WINDSHELD. DAMAGES TOTALLED $8,000 - $10,000. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA complaint #842666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER HIT A TERRAIN ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, BUT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #836031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.