2008 Saab 9-3 seat belt problems

SEAT BELTS

I have been trying to get this recall done for many years and with no luck. Most recently June 26th 2026 I was informed my recall was not fixable again and I hope for the last time. Enough is enough! Van Bortel Chevrolet in Macedon Ny tried again today which is there 2nd attempt. I had to buy a software card to give them the tool they didn’t have to fit in there tech 2 scanner and even with the card they were unable to fix. It’s a major safety issue I have been more than patient with and can’t even begin to tell you over the years how much time and money spent trying to fix. I think at this point they need to replace car with similar or purchase from me.

NHTSA complaint #11746834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

Driver seat belt fails to retract. When retraction failure occurs, it is obvious to the seat occupant immediately. If a crash were to occur with a seat belt in this condition, the result could increase the risk of injury to the driver. The seat belt retraction failure has been reproduced and confirmed. No warning lamps but, the seat belt showed earlier symptoms of not working properly, by not engaging when hard braking occurred. I will have the tensioner replaced.

NHTSA complaint #11426755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

TAKATA RECALL. RECEIVED NOTICE IN MARCH 2016 THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO FIX, AND TO DATE HAVE STILL RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION OF HOW TO GET THIS CORRECTED. ALSO, RECEIVED NOTICE OF SAFETY BELT RECALL BUT AGAIN NO NOTIFICATION OF WHERE AND WHEN PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10946947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RELEASE WHEN FASTENED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,023. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #10788389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

WE RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT GM RECALL 14222/15027, THAT WE NEED TO TAKE OUR CAR TO A SAAB OFFICIAL SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT REPLACED. WE LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, AND THERE IS NO SAAB OSC IN OUR STATE. I CONTACTED SAAB, AND WAS TOLD WE CAN ONLY TAKE THE CAR TO A SAAB OSC "AS THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE ACCESS TO THIS PART AND CAN INSTALL, THEN COVER THE REPAIR AND THEN CLOSE OUT THE RECALL." THE NEAREST SAAB OSCS ARE IN CHATTANOOGA, TN (ABOUT 150 MILES AWAY) AND MARIETTA, GA (ABOUT 159 MILES). BEING FORCED TO DRIVE THIS DISTANCE, ESPECIALLY WITH AN UNSAFE SEATBELT, SEEMS LIKE AN ONEROUS BURDEN THAT SHOULD NOT BE PLACED ON THE OWNER. DO I HAVE ANY RIGHTS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE WITHIN A REASONABLE DISTANCE OF MY HOME?

NHTSA complaint #10786076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V318000 (SEAT BELT) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 09/18/15*LJ UPDATED 09/22/15

NHTSA complaint #10732394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SEATBELT TENSIONER FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE OVER 7 MONTHS AGO BUT TO THIS DAY NO ONE HAS OR IS MAKING THE PART. WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE IF SOMETHING OCCURS ? I HAVE CHECKED WITH MY DEALER REGULARLY AND STILL NO PART AVAILABLE IT IS ALSO MADE BY THE TAKATA COMPANY. THE AIRBAG PROBLEM PEOPLE.

NHTSA complaint #10701394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SEATBELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SECURE THE SEATBELT BUT THE FAILURE WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V318000 (SEATBELTS) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10661042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FOR THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SECURE THE SEAT BELT INTO THE LATCH; HOWEVER, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER MOVED FORWARD BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO SECURE THEM. NONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT OFFER A REMEDY. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,100. UPDATED 08/27/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELTS WERE BOTH REPLACED WITH NO ASSISTANCE OFFERED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. UPDATED 9/5/2014

NHTSA complaint #10604787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.