20 of the
323 complaints about the 2003 Saab 9-3 are about the
steering — 6% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
60,017 miles.
F
20
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Steering
1155.0%
Anti-Theft Device
315.0%
Column
210.0%
Electric Power Assist System
210.0%
Hydraulic Power Assist System
15.0%
Rack AND Pinion
15.0%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 130,000 milesHarvey, IL
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITH THE KEY FOB IN THE IGNITION, THE POWER STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MANUALLY TURNED THE IGNITION KEY TO THE LEFT TO RIGHT IN ORDER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FLIKKEMA SAAB (2424 176TH ST, LANSING, IL 60438 (708) 474-19330) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COLUMN INTEGRATED MODULE (CIM) NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #11297754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 71,810 milesEuless, TXCrash2 injured
STEERING
HIT CONCRETE WALL
NHTSA complaint #10896212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesEuless, TXCrash2 injured
STEERING
COIL SPRING BROK CAUSED TIRE TO COME OFF TURNDED SIDEWAYS UNDER FIREWALL CAUSING US TO CRASH INTO CONCRETE BARRIER
NHTSA complaint #10861627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 71,810 milesEuless, TXCrash2 injured
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING LOST POWER. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE BECAME STUCK UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER RECEIVED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE POLICE WAS AT THE SCENE, BUT DID NOT FILE A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. ONE DAY AFTER THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,810.
NHTSA complaint #10853277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 miles11572, NY
STEERING
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.
NHTSA complaint #10785262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesDepere, WI
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY REFUSED TO TURN TO THE ON POSITION AND A STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #10730907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilmington, OHCrash
STEERING
2003 SAAB 9-3'S STEERING LOCKED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY**CC WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED, THE CONSUMER CROSSED INTO THE ONCOMING LANE, HIT A SNOW BANK, A SNOW RAMP TO A FLOWER BED, WENT AIRBORNE AND HIT A WOODEN BUSINESS SIGN, CROSSED TO MORE PROPERTIES, AND CAME TO REST ON THE REAR END OF A PLEASURE BOAT. THE COMPUTER ON THE VEHICLE READ STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION. THE CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE DURING THE ACCIDENT; WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED THE STEERING WORKED AGAIN, BUT THE MESSAGE STEERING LOCKED MALFUNCTION REMAINED.
NHTSA complaint #10187917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 57,000 milesAlbuquerque, NMCrash
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 93 SAAB. THE ENGINE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING, AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE THE STEERING FUNCTION WAS LOST AS WELL. THE ONSTAR INDICATOR READ THAT THE STEERING AND ENGINE WERE MALFUNCTIONING. ON EIGHTEEN OCCASIONS THE SAAB DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE ,AND REFUSED TO PURCHASE BACK THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. ON MARCH 16, 2007, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND DROVE INTO A CEMENT WALL. AFTER THE RECENT FAILURE SAAB'S DIAGNOSIS WAS TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED WHILE BEING THREE MONTHS PREGNANT. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND THERE WAS SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 57,000.
NHTSA complaint #10185587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 36,000 milesCollingswood, NJ
STEERING
SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR 7/1/06 I HAVE HAD SEVERAL STEERING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR PULLING AND JERKING. I HAVE HAD 2 ALIGNMENTS DONE WHEELS BALANCED AND CALIPERS ADJUSTED. THE CAR PULLED ON MY TEST DRIVE BEFORE PURCHASING THE CAR AND I WAS PROMISED IT WOULD BE RESOLVED. WHEN IT WAS NOT RESOLVED THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO BUY BACK THE CAR. TWO DEALERSHIPS WORKED ON THIS PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION THIS IS STILL A PROBLEM AND I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR STRAIT WITHOUT A FIRM GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL. SAAB HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL AT ALL AND HAS NO SOLUTION AND HAS OFFERED NO HELP. THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE CAR CAN JERK UNEXPECTEDLY.
NHTSA complaint #10182655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,017 milesVirginia Beach, VA
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE GAS GAUGE READ JUST OVER 1 BAR OF FUEL REMAINING WHEN A TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE AND GEARBOX MALFUNCTION MESSAGE APPEARED IN THE DISPLAY SCREEN. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE FAILED. NO ONE WAS INJURED AT THE TIME DUE TO THE LATE HOUR AND THERE BEING NO OTHER TRAFFIC NEAR BY BUT HAD THERE BEEN TRAFFIC AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE MOST LIKELY RESULTED FROM THE FAILURES.
NHTSA complaint #10174368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Francisco, CA
STEERING
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***
NHTSA complaint #10158414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Acworth, GA
STEERING
APPROXIMATELY 14 MONTHS AFTER LEASING A NEW 2003 SAAB 9.3 I WAS DRIVING AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR NO REASON. I GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS FIXED. APPROXIMATELY 12 MONTHS LATER I AM MERGING ONTO I75 FROM I285 AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AGAIN AND THANKFULLY I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10143487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 32,000 milesFresno, CA
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
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 REQUIRED THE REGULATOR TO BE REPLACED. ERRACTIC IDLE. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON BUT, DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHY. BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 30,000 MILES AND ROTORS TOO.
NHTSA complaint #10125939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesSAN Diego, CA
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
A REOCCURRING ERROR WILL DISPLAY ON THE SAAB INFORMATION MANAGEMENT DISPLAY INDICATING A WHEEL LOCK ERROR. THIS ERROR SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. SAAB HAS REVIEWED THE VEHICLE MORE THAN FOUR TIMES, EACH TIME REPLACING PARTS; THESE PARTS HAVE BEEN: A NEW KEY, A NEW STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, AND TWO NEW SOLENOIDS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SAAB DELEARSHIP HAS INDICATED THAT THERE IS POSSIBLY A FAULTY SOLENOID BUT IS UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING BUT TO KEEP REPLACING PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10098629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesSAN Diego, CA
STEERING:COLUMN
A REOCCURRING ERROR WILL DISPLAY ON THE SAAB INFORMATION MANAGEMENT DISPLAY INDICATING A WHEEL LOCK ERROR. THIS ERROR SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. SAAB HAS REVIEWED THE VEHICLE MORE THAN FOUR TIMES, EACH TIME REPLACING PARTS; THESE PARTS HAVE BEEN: A NEW KEY, A NEW STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, AND TWO NEW SOLENOIDS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SAAB DELEARSHIP HAS INDICATED THAT THERE IS POSSIBLY A FAULTY SOLENOID BUT IS UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING BUT TO KEEP REPLACING PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10098629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hartland, VT
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
SINCE OWNING MY 2003 9-3, THE PARKING BRAKE STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE ULTIMATELY HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR BUSHINGS ON THE SWAY BAR HAD TO BE REPLACED, MULTIPLE LIGHT BULBS. AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, MOST RECENTLY THE POWER STERRING PUMP NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE SEAT BELT ALSO LET GO AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I THOUGHT THAT ALL THAT COULD GO WRONG, HAD GONE WRONG UNTIL THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT. NOW READING OTHER OWNER COMMENTS I HAVE NO FAITH IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS MY FOURTH SAAB, MY LAST I TRADED AT OVER 180,000 MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10082994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hartland, VT
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
SINCE OWNING MY 2003 9-3, THE PARKING BRAKE STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE ULTIMATELY HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR BUSHINGS ON THE SWAY BAR HAD TO BE REPLACED, MULTIPLE LIGHT BULBS. AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, MOST RECENTLY THE POWER STERRING PUMP NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE SEAT BELT ALSO LET GO AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I THOUGHT THAT ALL THAT COULD GO WRONG, HAD GONE WRONG UNTIL THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT. NOW READING OTHER OWNER COMMENTS I HAVE NO FAITH IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS MY FOURTH SAAB, MY LAST I TRADED AT OVER 180,000 MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10082994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,000 milesBurlington, VT
STEERING:COLUMN
THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THE STEERING COLUMN WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10048655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Buffalo Grove, IL
STEERING
DEALER - SAAB EXCHANGE WON'T/CAN'T FIX VEHICLE. STEERING PROBLEM, RATTLE PROBLEM, FAN BLOWER PROBLEM, SEAT PROBLEM, BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM, ETC...
NHTSA complaint #10047502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kennewick, WA
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED.
NHTSA complaint #10042589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.