29 of the 1,689 complaints filed about the Saab 9-3 are about the throttle and cruise control — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2003.
29
Complaints
2%
Share of all complaints
6
Crashes
1
Fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ECU ISSUES, LOSS POWER WHEN DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #11308684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN I USED MY CRUISE CONTROL SOMETIMES IT ENGAGES AND DOES NOT ENGAGE. IT DID THIS FOR OVER A MONTH. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR, I DID MY RESEARCH ON IT AND IT SAID THAT IT HAS A STEERING FLUID LOSS PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE QUALITY IS POOR. I AM CURIOUS TO WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON IT YET.
NHTSA complaint #11279200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONCERN 1 AS A FEMALE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO BE STRANDED IN MY VEHICLE, RECENTLY WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A BATTERY ISSUE TURNED OUT TO BE A KEY FOB ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED WITH A WELL CARED FOR VEHICLE THAT HAS KEYS THAT START AND GET TO DESTINATION, BUT HAVE GOTTEN BACK IN MY VEHICLE AND THE CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE FOB. CONCERN 2 I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL IS AUTOMATICALLY COMING ON, AND I HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN IT OFF, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I WAS NOT AWARE UNTIL UNTIL I TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR STILL TRAVELED AT THE CRUISE SPEED, TAPPING THE BRAKE DID NOT DISENGAGE THE CRUISE SETTING.
NHTSA complaint #11082035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FREQUENTLY THE CAR STALLS SUDDENLY IN TRAFFIC, LOOSES POWER I CAN'T ACCELERATE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS POTENTIAL TO GET HIT. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE CAR VIBRATES AND ALL OF SUDDEN A LOT OF SMOKE COMES OUT FROM BACK AND RICH GASOLINE SMELL COMES AND THE SPEED TURNS TO 0. I TURN IT OFF FOR FIVE MINUTES AND RESTART SOMETIMES IT STARTS OK SOMETIMES IT VIBRATES AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY
NHTSA complaint #10955386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING THE IGNITION SWITCH TURNS TO THE OFF POSITION SUDDENLY. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THERE ARE ANY VIBRATIONS IN THE CAR SUCH AS WHEN I REACH INTO AND SHUT THE CENTER COUNSEL, SHUT THE GLOVEBOX, WHEN ANYTHING EVEN LIGHTLY GRAZES THE KEY FOB, WHEN A BALLOON POPPED IN MY CAR AND EVEN WHEN I SNEEZE IN THE CAR! WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR COMPLETELY LOOSES POWER SUCH AS LIGHTS (INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR), POWER STEERING, SPEED AND BASICALLY ALL CONTROLS OF THE CAR ARE LOST. THE CAR IGNITION HAS MOVED TO OFF AT MANY SPEEDS INCLUDING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, 50 MPH, 35 MPH, 25 MPH AND EVEN WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! I CAN'T DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE I AM DEATHLY SCARED MY CAR WILL SHUT DOWN WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. IF THAT WAS TO HAPPEN I WOULD BE DEAD IN A SECOND! THIS FAULTY IGNITION COULD CAUSE GREAT HARM TO NOT ONLY MYSELF YET TO INNOCENT PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. THIS IS THE SECOND IGNITION SWITCH I HAVE PUT IN MY SAAB AND IT HAS 94.5K MILES ON IT. SAAB'S ARE FAMOUS FOR THEIR ELECTRICAL IGNITION ISSUES AND I BEG THE GOVERNMENT TO PLEASE STEP IN AND DEMAND A RECALL. BEST REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10874768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING CAR ON MIDDLE LANE ON HIGHWAY APPROACHING TRAFFIC, WHEN MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THIS WAS AFTER GETTING A COMPLETE TUNE UP INCLUDING OIL CHANGE, NEW BATTERIES AND TIRES. TOWED CAR TO REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER REPAIR, THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AND THEN THERE WAS SMELL OF GAS AND CAR CONTINUED TO STALL. TOOK CAR BACK TO REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS REPLACED AND GAS SMELL WAS ELIMINATED. BUT ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AND CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AGAIN. TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP, YET AGAIN. THIS TIME, STARTER WAS CHANGED AND MECHANIC CLAIMS THAT A NEW ECU/ECM IS NEEDED FOR ENGINE BUT PART FOR 2006 MODEL HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED AND IS NOW RUNNING ON 2004 ECI/ECM AND ENGINE LIGHT STILL REMAINS ON AND STARTED IS A BIT ROUGH.
NHTSA complaint #10765050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #10684258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60-70 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10682150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THIS HAS OCCURRED ON MULTI OCCASIONS. USUALLY IN COLD WEATHER THE CAR USUALLY WHILE BRAKING WILL REPORT A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AND STABILITY CONTROL. SPEEDOMETER QUITS WORKING, AND MESSAGE APPEARS TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. ONCE YOU STOP AND TURN OFF THE CAR, AND THEN RESTART ALL MESSAGES DISAPPEAR AND CAR RETURNS TO NORMAL OPERATION. THE SYSTEM MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS THE FIVE INCIDENT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10679642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
[XXX] BOUGHT JUST IN MAY.
NHTSA complaint #10654110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MULTIPLE SHORTS INDICATED ON SID. ORIGINAL MESSAGE "ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL FAILURE". THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONGST SAAB OWNERS FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL. OCCASIONALLY, AN ASSOCIATED AN ABS FAILURE INDICATION WILL APPEAR WHILE TRAVELING. HAVE NOT NOTICED A LOSS IN ABS FUNCTION YET, BUT IT WAS DRY WHEN THESE SHORTS OCCURRED. THE FAILURE IS ASSUMED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION AND ITS USE HAS BEEN LOST.
NHTSA complaint #10592938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WITH OUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
NHTSA complaint #10551077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AT 65 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFT KNOB, SHIFT COVER AND ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE CAR - THE BASE-METAL STICK SHIFT WAS ALL THAT REMAINED, AND THUS THE SAFETY LATCH THAT PREVENTS CAR FROM BEING SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, INSTEAD OF A FORWARD MOVING GEAR, NORMALLY ATTACHED TO THE EXTERIOR, WAS NOW MISSING. ALAS, SAFELY SHIFTING INTO ANY OF ITS 6 GEARS, WAS NOT AN OPTION ... IT'S ODD, BUT PER ITS ORIGINAL MANUFACTURING SPECS, THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IN THE 9-3, HAS ZERO LOCKING MECHANISM TO KEEP THE KNOB AND COSMETIC HOUSING FROM SEPARATING. NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO DEALERSHIPS AND ACROSS THE INTERNET. GM STILL COVERS 9-3, 2008, UNDER ITS WARRANTY POLICIES.
NHTSA complaint #10512690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10449255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3 SPORT COMBI WAGON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH UPHILL WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED TO 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE CEASED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AS SOON AS IT HIT 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION YET THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AT LEAST TWICE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000.
NHTSA complaint #10351322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK WHEN DEPRESSED FULLY DURING TAKEOVER MANEUVERS OR PASSING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THREE OCCASIONS SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR USED EXACTLY TWO YEARS AGO IN VIRGINIA AND AFTER THE THIRD TIME, I DECIDED NEVER TO PUSH THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY IN FOR FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT SPECIALLY WHEN MY CHILDREN ARE PRESENT. THE PEDAL DID BECOME UNSTUCK AFTER A FEW FRIGHTENING SECONDS ON ALL OCCASIONS. SPEED WAS NOT HIGH, 35 MPH ONCE AND 45 OR SO THE OTHER AT THE MOST.
NHTSA complaint #10303768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A GEAR BOX MALFUNCTION. THE WARNING LIGHT DIMMED A FEW DAYS LATER. AFTERWARDS, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ACCELERATION FAILURES. AFTER IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SHIFT UNEASILY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED AND ALLOW HER TO SHIFT GEARS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE LACK OF ACCELERATION COULD CAUSE A CRASH WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. SHE SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND IS AWAITING A RETURN CALL; HOWEVER, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THEY PROBABLY WOULD BE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000.
NHTSA complaint #10242660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR MAT HAS GROOVES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO ANCHOR DOWN ONTO THE FLOOR. HOWEVER, THE GROOVES WILL NOT LATCH AND CAUSES THE FLOOR MAT TO GET STUCK UNDERNEATH BOTH PEDALS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 2,650, AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10189260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO WORK SEVERAL TIMES. THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE LOCKED AND NOT ABLE TO PRESS DOWN. TODAY AFTER ACCELERATING FROM 0 TO ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. I FELT LIKE THE CRUISE CONTROL KICK IN. I TRIED TO PRESS ON THE BRAKES BUT THEY WOULD NOT WORK. I WAS DRIVING IN THE PASSING LANE TO AVOID HITTING ANY CARS. I NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON. I TURNED IT OFF AND THE BRAKES FINALLY STARTED TO WORK. THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND CLAIMS HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF ANY SUCH COMPLAINTS. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OF THESE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET.
NHTSA complaint #10187056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.