2004 Saab 9-3 problems
Owners have filed 236 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Saab 9-3. Seat belts is the most reported problem area, at 34% of complaints. After that come suspension (24%) and air bags (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 236 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Seat belts 34% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 11 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 9 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 70,000 miles 190 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 21 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 10 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 42 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 40 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 28 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 29 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 5 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 10 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 190 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 70,000 miles. For seat belts specifically, the median reported mileage is about 84,000 miles (66 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 11 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 9 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 13 model years of the Saab 9-3 with enough data (94 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 saab 9-3 convertible. The contact was involved in a crash with another vehicle while driving 30 MPH; however, his air bags failed to deploy. There were no serious injuries, but the driver and his spouse complained of aches and pains. A police report was filed. The manufacturer has not been notified. The dealer was informed of the air bag failure. The current and failure mileages were approximately 42,000. Updated 5/27/09
Complaint received via e-mail." I had an accident with my car. The air bag on the driver's side did not deploy yet the passenger side did. It was a total front collision in which I hit a ford econoline van in the rear end and was driving at the speed of approx 50 kph. No one was in the passenger seat and the air bag deployed. I was driving and belted yet my air bag did not deploy. I hit the steering wheel.
Owner was driving at approximately 65 MPH the check engine light came on and the vehicle stalled. Vehicle "b" rear ended owner's vehicle while being driven at 70 MPH. Upon impact, the frontal air bags failed to deploy. Owner sustained injuries, was taken to the emergency room and released.
1. Standard driving conditions in minnesota. 2. Front left coil spring breakage. Near the top of spring. 3. Replaced both front springs at dealership.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 saab 9-3. When the contact attempted to buckle her front seat belt, she noticed that the retractor failed. This prevented the belt webbing from retracting. The dealer stated that her VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign id number 04v226000 (seat belts:front:retractor). It would cost approximately $497 to replace the seat belt retractor assembly. The contact is in the process of having the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer did not assist. The failure and current mileages were 47,000.