164 of the
1,689 complaints filed about the Saab 9-3
are about the seat belts —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
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.
The contact owns a 2005 Saab 9-3. The contact stated that the front passenger's side seat belt failed to latch. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V318000 (Seat Belts). The vehicle was not repaired. There was no further information provided. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11536267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
CALLED DEVOE AUTOMOTIVE IN NAPLES TO HAVE RECALLED SEATBELT FIXED, IT JUST FAILED TO RETRACT. I SENT A PICTURE OF THE VIN. AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND IT AND COULD NOT HELP US WITH OUT A LETTER WITH OUR VIN ON IT SAYING THE BROKEN SEATBELT WAS RECALLED, JUST BECAUSE IT WILL NOT RETRACT THAT DIDN'T MEAN IT WAS A RECALL ISSUE. I ASTKED HOW I WOULD GET A LETTER BUT RECEIVED NO GUIDANCE. I WAS ALSO TOLD SAAB IS OUT OF BUSINESS AND THEY WILL HELP KNOWN CUSTOMERS AND SINCE WE WERE IN TAMPA THEY COULDN'T HELP IT WAS SO FAR FOR US TO TRAVEL. I STATED THEY ARE ONE OF FIVE DEALERSHIP WHO WAS LISTED TO FIX THIS RECALL. ALSO TOLD THEM TAMPA REPAIR MAN WAS SICK WITH CARONA VIRUS AND THAT'S WHY I CALLED THEM. SHE TOLD ME ANYONE CAN FIX A BROKEN SEATBELT, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE AND WE CAN'T FIND ANYONE TO HELP US. BASICALLY BECAUSE WE WERE NOT A LOCAL KNOWN CUSTOMER THIS DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT SUPPORT US UNLESS I PROVED THEY HAD TOO.
NHTSA complaint #11321112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SAAB 9-3. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO UTILIZE THE SEAT BELT, THE RETRACTOR FAILED AND WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL PLACED ON CERTAIN TYPES OF SAAB VEHICLES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS). THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL WAS ONLY RELATED TO 2004-2011 MODELS. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH MAYORS SAAB (6001 NORTHERN BOULEVARD, WOODSIDE, NY 11377, (718) 274-2300) AND JIM ELLIS AUDI OF MARIETTA (1715 COBB PKWY S, MARIETTA, GA 30060-9253, 770-590-4450) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000.
NHTSA complaint #11282500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA 14V318000 WAS A RECALL FOR SEAT BELTS THAT FAILS TO RETRACT. WHEN I GET INTO MY CAR AND PULL IT OUT TO FASTEN IT OFTEN REMAINS SLACK. THAT EVENT CAUSED ME TO DO RESEARCH AND FIND THE RECALL. BUT IT DID NOT EXTEND TO MY CAR WHICH HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE RECALL WAS TOO NARROW.
NHTSA complaint #11202805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I RECIEVED A LETTER RECALL 15027 DATED DECEMBER 2018. I HAD TO HAVE MY SEATBELT REPAIRED IN JUNE 2016. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $401 AND WAS REPAIRED BY BICKLERS REPAIR. I AM REQUESTING REEMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR IN 2016. IT IS STILL NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY SO I CURRENTLY HAVE IT IN FOR REPAIRS AT RIMROCK PONTIAC IN BILLINGS.
NHTSA complaint #11165716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HELLO, I HAVE BEEN RENTING THIS CAR OUT FOR AWHILE....I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RENT IT OUT BECAUSE OF THE RECALL, HOWEVER, I REPAIRED THIS ISSUE MONTHS AGO AND THE DEALER THAT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM HAS SUBMITTED PROOF TO YOU TWICE BUT STILL NO ONE HAS UPDATED THIS TO YOUR WEBSITE AND THIS IS SEVERELY EFFECTING MY CAR RENTAL BUSINESS. PLEASE ADVISE?
NHTSA complaint #11164708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION CHEVROLET WEST AMARILLO (7300 I-40 FRONTAGE RD, WEST AMARILLO, TX 79106, 806-553-5673) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIRS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.
NHTSA complaint #11121019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATIONS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS) AND 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER (ROYAL CADILLAC OF TUCSON, 520-777-1708) WAS CALLED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT SEIZING WHEN BEING APPLIED. SHE STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT HAD TO BE MANEUVERED BACK AND FORTH TO GET IT SECURED COMFORTABLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #11100171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION OR NOT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (JUST SAAB, 5591 WOOSTER PIKE, CINCINNATI, OH 45227, (513)-527-4300) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #11099063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2006 SAAB 93 BASE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS NO SUCH CONTRACT WITH SAAB OWNERS OR WARRANTY SERVICE OFFER FOR THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11075898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS) AND 16V063000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. WEST COUNTY VOLVO (14410 MANCHESTER RD, MANCHESTER, MO) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
NHTSA complaint #11073037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FAILED TO RETRACT THE SEAT BELT AFTER COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. DELAWARE CADILLAC (1606 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, WILMINGTON, DE 19806, (302) 656-3100) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.
NHTSA complaint #11064641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE NHTSA ANNOUNCED A RECALL PERTAINING TO THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT NOT RETRACTING. RECALL #14V318000. AS OF 3/10/17, MY 2010 SAAB 9.3 SEDAN IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALL BUT, THE RECALL ONLY STIPULATES THE CONVERTIBLE MODEL. MY QUESTION RELATES TO HOW DID THE NHTSA DETERMINE IT WAS ONLY THAT MODEL AND NOT THE OTHERS? RIGHT NOW MY SEATBELT DOESN'T RETRACT WHEN EXTENDED IN THE NORMAL OPERATING EXTENDED POSITION. I FEEL THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY INVOLVE ALL OTHER 2010 MODELS. PLEASE CLARIFY.
NHTSA complaint #11052487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.