2003 Saab 9-3 Complaint Log

2003 SAAB 9-3 CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE FRONT END OF THE CAR JUST DROPPED OFF AFTER HAVING THE CAR INSPECTED THE FRONT COIL SPRING WAS FOUND TO BE BROKEN**CC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING WAS ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY RUST THAT HAD FORMED INSIDE A RUBBER BOOT THAT WAS USED AT THE BASE OF THE SPRING TO DAMPEN NOISE. WATER WAS ABLE TO GET INSIDE THE BOOTS AND REMAIN, WHICH CAUSED RUST TO FORM AND EVENTUALLY COMPROMISED THE INTEGRITY OF THE SPRING. THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE NEW SPRINGS DID HAVE THE RUBBER BOOTS THAT THE ORIGINAL SPRINGS HAD. *JB

WEDNESDAY MARCH 3, 2007, MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR SPORTS SEDAN (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) WITH 61,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WAITING TO SWITCH FROM RED TO GREEN. ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO PROCEED ACROSS THE INTERSECTION. THE INITIALLY ACCELERATED TO 20 MPH AND CEASED TO ACCELERATE. I NOTICED THAT I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND STEERING HAD BECOME HEAVY, I GLANCED AT THE TACHOMETER AND IT SHOWED THAT THE ENGINE HAD SHUT DOWN BUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WERE FUNCTIONING. I COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START FOR OVER 15 MINUTES. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS RUNNING, ONBOARD DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED OK, BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AFTER THE INTERVAL OF NO STARTS, THE CAR STARTED. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSTIC CODES INDICATED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. DEALER PROVIDED NO REAL EXPLANATION FOR FAILURE. WITHIN 3 WEEK PERIOD, VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN FOR FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT. PRIOR TO THAT REPAIR THE CAR HAD 60K SERVICE PERFORMED ON 12/13/07. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENT ON ALL REPAIRS REQUIRED BY PRIOR RECALLS. *JB

I HAVE OWNED 4 DIFFERENT SAAB MODELS AND I HAVE ALLAYS HAD HEATED SEATS. THIS LAST WINTER WHILE WEARING A SUIT AND WOOL OVERCOAT I FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON MY BACK. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED MY SEAT OFF, WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR THERE WHERE COIL BURN MARKS IN MY LEATHER SEAT. THERE HAS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF A HEATED SEAT COIL CAN BURN THROUGH LEATHER, AND CAN BE FELT THROUGH AN INCH OF WOOL... *TR

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT I EXPERIENCED WITH MY 2003 9-3. AFTER ABOUT A 40 MILE DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY, I , ALONG WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER, PULLED INTO MY FRIENDS DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD SCRAPPING NOISE FROM BENEATH MY CAR. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE CAR TO FIND THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK STRAP WAS HANGING DOWN AND WAS ONLY 3 OR 4 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. THE FORWARD BOLT HAD LOOSENED COMPLETELY OUT AND THE FUEL PUMP WIRING HARNESS (WHICH ATTACHES TO THE STRAP) IS KEEPING IT FROM BEING EVEN CLOSER TO THE GROUND. ALSO THE TANK ITSELF IS HANGING ABOUT 3 INCHES LOWER ON THE RIGHT SIDE. LUCKILY THE BRACKET FOR THE HARNESS HAD A BOLT RETAINING WASHER BECAUSE THE BOLT WAS STILL THERE, HANGING ON TO THE END OF THE FLOPPING STRAP. MY FRIEND (A MECHANIC BY TRADE) AND I APPLIED LOCTITE TO THE BOLT AND REFASTENED IT. IT APPERED THAT THERE WAS NO VISABLE DAMAGE TO THE TANK, LINE OR WIRING. SCARY PART WAS THAT IT WAS THE FORWARD END HANGING DOWN SO IT COULD HAVE EASILY CAUGHT ON SOMETHING AND RIPPED OUT FUEL LINES AND WIRING AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE AND COULD HAVE EASILY STARTED A FIRE RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. *JB

MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 VECTOR STARTED TO HAVE A BURNING SENSATION ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT UNDER MY LEFT THIGH. IT WAS SO HOT THAT I HAD TO PUT A TOWEL UNDER MY LEG WHEN THE HEATED SEAT WAS ON. EVENTUALLY, AFTER 2 MONTHS OF THIS, THE HEATED SEAT QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I DID TAKE IT IN FOR MAINTENANCE AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT BACK AGAIN TO HAVE THEM DISASSEMBLE THE SEAT. I HAVE READ ON SAAB CHATLINES THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GETTING THEIR SEAT LEATHER REPLACED BECAUSE OF BURN MARKS. I THINK THIS IS A VERY REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD CALLED TO LIGHT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT'S A BAD HEATING ELEMENT.*AK

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. *NM

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ONLY 35,400 MILES AT FAILURE. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER WHICH IS REPLACING TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

ABRUPTLY, AT 53,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. DEALER COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY, EXCEPT TO CITE VARIOUS "CODES." DEALER SAID THEY DO NOT CHECK THOSE CODES AT THE 45,000 MILE INTERVAL. SAAB REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, EVEN AFTER A POLITE APPEAL. APPARENTLY, SAAB DOESN'T VALUE ME AS A CUSTOMER, AND REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE ANY BLAME. ESTIMATED DEALER COST, INCLUDING TAX, IS ABOUT $7,500. I HAVE ALWAYS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED MY SAAB. A TRANSMISSION THAT FAILS AT 53,000 MILES (ON THE HIGHWAY, CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE) ON ITS OWN, WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING, IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. I AM A 4 TIME SAAB OWNER -- WON'T BE BUYING A SAAB AGAIN, FOR SURE, ALTHOUGH BEFORE THIS INCIDENT I WAS PLANNING TO BUY AN 9-7 IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. IF IT WASN'T SUCH A HASSLE, I WOULD FILE A LAWSUIT -- AMONG OTHER THINGS, I AM SURE THAT THIS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AT 50,000 MILES, JUST AS IT OBVIOUSLY WAS AT 53,000. *JB

WHEN DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION WILL COME OUT OF GEAR AT ANY RPM'S. *TR

NO WARNING OR SIGNS OF ANYTHING WRONG... ONE DAY I AM DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND TAKING AN EXIT, WHEN MY CAR STALLS OUT ON ME AT 90KM AND HOUR, I ALMOST HIT THE GUARD RAIL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 7 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH WHERE MY CAR HAS STALLED OUT ON ME. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I AM IN NEUTRAL AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. I TOOK THE CAR TO SAAB FOR SERVICE, AND THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND LET ME DRIVE IT HOME. TONIGHT I ALMOST KILLED A CHILD ON A BIKE AS I SLID TO A STOP AFTER MY CAR STALLED ON ME AGAIN. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW SAAB CAN LET SOMEONE DRIVE THEIR CAR HOME WHEN REPORTING SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM. PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! *JB

"GEAR BOX MALFUNCTION". AFTER OWNING A PRE-OWNED 2003 9-3 SAAB FOR NOT EVEN THREE WEEKS, THE TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE WENT OUT. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AT 55K IT IS COSTING WELL OVER $7,000.00!! THE TRANSMISSION SKIPS EVERY GEAR EXCEPT FOR 2ND AND 5TH. VERY NICE CAR, BUT WON'T EVER OWN ANOTHER. *NM

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.

GEARBOX MALFUNCTION, INTERMITTENT SHIFTING OR SUDDEN DECELERATION WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN APRIL 2006. THE CAR RAN FINE UNTIL AUGUST 2006 WHEN THE FIRST GEARBOX MALFUNCTION LIGHT WAS INDICATED WITH AN INABILITY FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO DOWNSHIFT. SINCE THE FIRST GEARBOX MALFUNCTION THE 2003 93 SAAB HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE (UNDER WARRANTY) SIX TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF 49 DAYS. I HAVE ASKED FOR GM/SAAB TO TAKE/BUY THE CAR BACK. MY CAR WAS IN THE AUTHORIZED SAAB SERVICE GARAGE (PORTLAND SAAB) FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2006 WHERE THE ENTIRE TRANSAXLE WAS REPLACED. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT COLDBROOK SAAB (WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR) FOR ANOTHER GEARBOX MALFUNCTION. *NM

TRANSMISSION SLIPS CONSTANTLY. SERVICE CENTER STATES THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC IS NOT INDICATING ANY ISSUES AND ALL IS NORMAL. THE INCIDENT DATE WAS THE LAST TIME IT OCCURRED.

THE DAY PRIOR I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE IMMEDIATELY. THE NEXT DAY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH OUR NEWBORN AND NEPHEW TO THE MALL WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ON A BUSY STREET. THE FASTEST IT WOULD GO WAS 20-25 MPH. THERE IS ONLY HAVE 37K MILES ON IT AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT. THIS HAD HAPPENED ALSO ON MAY 1 AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT SAID THAT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE HAD A ERROR AND THAT THEY WERE DOWNLOADING NEW SOFTWARE. HE SAID HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE TIMES TO OTHER DRIVERS. THIS SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE A CASE FOR RECALLS. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SEVERE IF THE CAR HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED. *NM

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. *NM

DT*: THE CALLER STATED, THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT START THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT THE RUSTED WIRING TO THE IGNITION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY A LETTER. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE, THE HORN DID NOT WORK, THE LOW HEAD BEAM FAILED. THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE, THE ALARM WOULD SOUND WITHOUT WARNING. UPDATED 07/25/06. *JB

A/C HAD AN ODOR OF MILDEW - HAD A DISINFECT HEATER BOX. *TR

THE BRAKE PEDAL ON MY '03 SAAB 9-3 SPORTS SEDAN SINKS TO THE FLOOR WHEN CONSTANT MODERATE PRESSURE IS APPLIED. THE SAAB DEALER ASSURES ME THAT ALL CARS OF THIS TYPE DO THIS. I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. *NM

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***

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED FUEL WAS NOTICED LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED ROAD DEBRIS PUNCTURED THE TANK. THE FUEL TANK DOES NOT HAVE ANY PROTECTION FROM DEBRIS. THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 06/15/06 - DEALER DIAGNOSED AND DROPPED GAS TANK . SWAPPED OVER FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY TO NEW GAS TANK. *TT

THE AUTOMOBILE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU ABOUT IS A 2003 SAAB 9-3 ARC. WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 2 1/2 YEARS AND HAVE DRIVEN IT OVER 63,000 MILES. CURRENTLY THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE OPERABLE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. THE WIRING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT HAS BURNT THROUGH AND IS NEARLY SO ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT. IN ADDITION THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TURN SIGNAL HAS STOPPED WORKING. IN THE TIME WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 7 TIMES. I NOTICED THE WIRING TO THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BECOMING DISCOLORED LAST YEAR, AT THAT TIME OUR DEALER WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY TSBS CONCERNING THE HEADLIGHTS FOR OUR CAR. THUS FAR NO DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED TO THE VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR THE BURNT WIRING ON THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. WE WILL BE REPORTING THIS TO OUR DEALER AGAIN AND WILL HAVE TO HAVE THEM FIX THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, SHOULD SAAB NOT HAVE UPGRADED THE WIRING TO THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT THIS PROBLEM WILL REPEAT. ALSO, AT NO TIME HAVE WE HAD LIGHTS PUT IN THE CAR THAT WERE ABOVE THE WATTAGE SPECIFIED BY SAAB IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. *NM

I HAD MY HEADLIGHTS CHANGED AT 65K BECAUSE THE BEAM WAS GETTING TO LOW AND IT WAS HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. WHILE THE LIGHTS WERE GETTING CHANGED THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE WIRES CONNECTING THE LIGHT TO THE CAR WERE MELTING. THREE MONTHS LATER AT 80K THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM FINALLY DIED. THE SID SAYS LOW BEAM FAILURE, WHICH IS DUE TO THE MELTING OF THE WIRES. *JB

MY SAAB 9 3 HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE - "FRONT END CREAKS WHEN I TURN OR GOES OVER BUMPS" THIS STARTED ON MARCH 2, 2006 WITH 41,694 UP UNTIL OCTOBER 17 2008 WITH 98,508 (SEPT 2007, DEC 2007 JUNE 2008). OUT OF THE 5 TIMES 4 OF THOSE TIMES THEY HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT STABILIZERS. IN OCTOBER 17 THEY STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG HOWEVER, AFTER WE LEFT THE DEALERSHIP WE STILL HEARD THE FRONT END MAKING NOISE. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY WHO THEN TELLS ME THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING. MAY 2009 - MY SPRING BROKE OFF MY CAR. *TR

GEARBOX MALFUNCTION HAS OCCURRED TWICE LEAVING ME STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR WILL NOT GO OVER 5 MPH. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THIS OCCURS UNEXPECTEDLY IN TRAFFIC. DEALER FIXED BOTH TIMES, BUT TRANSMISSION STILL SLIPPED AND I FEARED DRIVING IT. THE DEALER TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND HAD THEIR TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST DRIVE AND INSPECT IT. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 9.3 SAABS WITH CONTAMINATION OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS COOLED WITHIN A SECTION OF THE RADIATOR. THE BLOCK THAT SEPARATES THE COOLANT FROM THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS BAD AND CAUSES THE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. I WAS SCHEDULED FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, A NEW RADIATOR (UNDER WARRANTY), BUT THE CAR FAILED A 3RD TIME WHEN I WAS TRYING TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THEY HAD ANOTHER 9.3 SCHEDULED AT THE SAME TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT I NEED FRONT AND BACK BRAKES - NOT UNDER WARRANTY - WILL COST ME $1,000. THIS IS THE MOST SERIOUS OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR, BUT HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 16 DAYS FOR NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS, ON STAR, SID, LOCKS, DOOR ISSUE, WINDOW ISSUE, OIL LEAKS. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT A CAR WITH THIS SAFETY RATING CAN HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS AND ESPECIALLY THE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TRANSMISSION ISSUES THAT LEAVE YOU STRANDED IN TRAFFIC. *NM

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. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 93 LINEAR. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AGO THERE WAS COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE TRYING TO STOP AT A STOP LIGHT ON DRY PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THIS WAS THE FIRST TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. BUT SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL WHILE IN REVERSE AND WHILE TRYING TO STOP. THIS HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE THE DAY OF PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR EVERY TIME THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM . THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE SERVICE DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. *AK

BRAKE PADS & ROTORS, SEAT BELT, BATTERY REPLACEMENT, TIRE, TRANSMISSION, SUNROOF MALFUNCTION. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, IT REMAINED STUCK IN POSITION. IT TOOK THE CONTACT APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES TO RETURN THE PARKING BRAKE TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AAA AND THEY TOO WERE UNABLE TO MOVE THE BRAKE OUT OF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER SERVICE STATION TO SEE IF THE PARKING BRAKE COULD BE MOVED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT MUST APPLY MASKING TAPE OVER THE PARKING BRAKE SO IT CAN BE USED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 12,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000. UPDATED 12/11/08 *BF UPDATED 12/11/08. *JB

2003 SAAB 93 FAILS TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP IN A TIMELY MANNER. DELAY CAN BE AS LONG AS 5 SECONDS BEFORE REASONABLE RATE OF ACCELERATION IS ACHIEVED WITH LIGHT OR HEAVY APPLICATION OF THE GAS PEDAL. CAN OCCUR WHEN TURNING OR IN STRAIGHT LINE ACCELERATION. ONLY OCCURS IN VERY HOT WEATHER (PHOENIX, SUMMER). IN NORMAL WEATHER, AUTO EXHIBITS TYPICAL, SLIGHT TURBO LAG, BUT NOTHING NEARLY AS SEVERE AS THIS CONDITION. AUTO DID NOT EXHIBIT PROBLEM DURING ITS FIRST SUMMER IN 2003, BUT WAS SERVICED IN 2004 FOR SAME CONDITION. UPDATED ENGINE CONTROL SOFTWARE WAS LOADED AND SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT RESULTED. THIS TIME (2005), CAR WAS AGAIN SERVICED WITH UPDATED ENGINE CONTROL SOFTWARE, BUT ABSOLUTELY NO IMPROVEMENT RESULTED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITION, AND REQUIRES EXCEPTIONAL CARE WHILE DRIVING. I CONSIDER IT AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN, AND HAVE WARNED SEVERAL INDIVIDUAL AT THE SERVICING DEALER, KACHINA CADILLAC/SAAB OF HTIS. PER SAAB'S OWNER'S MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS, I AM CONTACTING YOU. I HAVE CONTACTED SAAB DIRECTLY TODAY AFTER DEALER FAILED TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM, WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND SEEMED COMPLETELY UNINTERESTED IN DOING ANY ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION.

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.

BRAKE PADS WORE THROUGH AND ROTORS WERE DAMAGED ON THE FRONT END. NO INDICATION OF BRAKE WEAR FROM DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT REGULAR SERVICE INTERVALS. SAAB HAS A LONG APPROXIMATELY 15,000 ENGINE SERVICE INTERVAL. CONSEQUENTLY BRAKES MAY ONLY BE INSPECTED EVERY 15,000 MILES. NEITHER DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER CAN ADVISE CUSTOMER OF WHEN BRAKE PADS SHOULD BE REPLACED. CUSTOMER HAS NO AVENUE TO RECEIVE ADVICE REGARDING BRAKE WEAR AND REPLACEMENT. ULITMATELY PADS ARE WORN OUT COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING, AND ROTORS ARE DAMAGED, CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE. ALL PARTS ARE REPLACED AT A COST TO THE CONSUMER OF $800.*AK

2003 SAAB 9-3 VECTOR HAS PROBLEMS WITH SUNROOF, FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT, ALARM SYSTEM, GAS CAP, SIDE VIEW MIRRORS AND THE BOARD COMPUTER. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE ONBOARD COMPUTER COULD NOT BE FIXED AFTER 3 SERVICE VISITS, UNTIL FINALLY THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED AND EXCHANGED FOR ANOTHER. THE GAS CAP WOULD NOT CLOSE PROPERLY, THE ALARM SYSTEM WENT OFF INADVERTENTLY, THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WOULD ADJUST THEMSELVES AFTER THE CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CD PLAYER MALFUNCTIONED. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON EVEN WHEN THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS. THE FRONT SPOILER IS FALLING APART. *JB

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 55 TO 65 MPH IN THE PASSING LANE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP TO 90 MPH. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD TO REDUCE THE SPEED DOWN TO 70 MPH, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATES UP TO 95 MPH. CONSUMER REAPPLIED THE BRAKES AND GOT THE VEHICLE DOWN TO 10 MPH WHEN HE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. A FIRE HAS TEMPORARY DEVELOP IN BOTH FRONT WHEELS AND EXTINGUISH ITSELF WITHIN 5 MINUTES. CONSUMER GOT BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. DEALER IS REPLACED THE COMPLETE BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OWNER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE. OWNER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND WENT INTO THE DEPARTMENT STORE TO SHOP.OWNER WAS IN THE STORE FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES. WHEN THE OWNER RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE FIRE TRUCKS WERE OUTSIDE EXTINGUISHING THE FLAMES. IT APPEARED THAT THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OWNER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE. OWNER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND WENT INTO THE DEPARTMENT STORE TO SHOP. WHEN THE OWNER RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE FIRE TRUCKS WERE OUTSIDE EXTINGUISHING THE FLAMES. IT APPEARED THAT THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

VEHICLE COMPUTER BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. VEHICLE COMPUTER NO LONGER WORKS. SHOWS ODD DATA ON DISPLAY SCREEN LOCKS MAY NOT WORK. WINDOW MAY NOT WORK CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. UNABLE TO TELL WHETHER AIRBAGS WOULD BE AFFECTED. *NM

AFTER BLOWING A TIRE BY RUNNING OVER A POTHOLE, I DISCOVERED THAT MY PIRELLI TIRES WERE SERIOUSLY WORN MUCH EARLIER THAN ANYONE SHOULD EXPECT. MY TIRES HAVE ROUGHLY 12,000 MILES ON THEM AND THEY ARE WORN DOWN TO THE WEAR TREAD INDICATORS. AFTER A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH MY DEALER I DISCOVERED THAT SAAB AND PIRELLI ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATION, BUT THEY HAVE FAILED TO LAUNCH A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. INSTEAD, THEY ARE REPLACING TIRES ON AN "AS-DISCOVERED" BASIS. IN OTHER WORDS, AS SAAB OWNERS DISCOVER THEY HAVE A TIRE ISSUE AND ACTUALLY REPORT THIS TO THE DEALER, THE TIRES ARE THEN REPLACED. SO, IF A SAAB OWNER DOES NOT THINK TO COMPLAIN TO THE DEALER, HIS/HER TIRES WILL NOT BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. THIS TO ME IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD AS NO DRIVER SHOULD EXPECT TIRES TO BE WORN TO NEAR BALDNESS AFTER ONLY 12,000 MILES. A BLOWOUT HAZARD SEEMS TO BE QUITE POSSIBLE, YET NEITHER SAAB NOR PIRELLI SEEM INCLINED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL THEY'RE FORCED TO REPLACE THE TIRES OF ONLY THOSE WHO COMPLAIN.*AK

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED MANY PROBLEMS WITH 2003 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR AS ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT APPEAR AND ECT. *BF THERE WERE REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE SUN ROOF REMAINING STUCK OPEN, STABILITY CONTROL PROBLEMS, LOW FRONT HEAD BEAM, GETTING AIR TO THE GAS CAP, THE MUD FLAP WAS CRACKED, AND ON ONE OCCASION WHEN DRIVING UP A HILL THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. *SC *JB

DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW CONTINUES TO EITHER FAIL OR NON-OPERATE. AUTOMATIC DRIVERS WINDOW HAS: 1) MALFUNCTIONED TO WHERE IT WOULD NOT GO UP AFTER 5 - 10 MINUTES OF TRYING, 2) COMPLETELY BROKEN ONCE TO WHERE IT WOULD NOT GO DOWN, 3) WAS REPLACED AND SAME PROBLEMS WERE EXPERIENCED TO WHERE IT WILL NOT GO UP AFTER 5-10 MINUTES OF TRYING. 4) WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME 5) HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE FIRST TWO WINDOW LIFTS TO WHERE IT TAKES 5 - 10 MINUTES SOMETIMES TO LIFT UP AND IS MAKING THE SAME NOISES AS THE FIRST TWO WHEN THEY BROKE. NO MAJOR CONSEQUENCES, EXCEPT THAT I HAVE HAD TO LEAVE MY WINDOW OPEN SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE IT WILL NOT LIFT UP. A COUPLE OF TIMES IT HAS BEEN RAINING, BUT LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO FIND A GARAGE TO PARK IN. I HAVE TALKED WITH ANOTHER 9-3 OWNER AND THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AND HAVE HAD THE WINDOW MODULAR REPLACED TWICE AS WELL. I'VE HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THE WINDOW LIFT, ONCE TO HAVE IT COMPLETELY REPLACED AND THE NEW LIFT IS STARTING TO MAKE THE SAME NOISES AS THE FIRST ONE DID WHEN IT BROKE

OVER A SPAN OF TWO MONTHS, MY 2003 SAAB 93 HAS HAD A VACUUM PUMP REPLACED 3 TIMES. ON EACH OCCASION, THE DEALER, CHERRY HILL CLASSIC CARS, HAS ADVISED ME THAT THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER, AND THAT SAAB "MUST BE HAVING PROBLEMS" WITH OR, OR THAT "SABB IS REDESIGNING" THE PART. AFTER EACH TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE PART, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE CAR WOULD HESITATE UPON ACCELERATION, OR WOULD "SPUTTER". THE DEALERSHIP NOW CLAIMS THAT THE SYSTEM TO WHICH THE VALVE IS CONNECTED IS "FILLING UP WITH WATER". AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE VALVE RECIRCULATION ENGINE EXHAUST TO HELP THE ENGINE WARM UP AND/OR BURN FUEL MORE EFFICIENTLY. SAAB CUSTOMER SERVICE, IF YOU CAN CALL IT THAT, WAS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS NO WAY OF TRACKING THE PROBLEM AS "EACH DEALER IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED". AS A RESULT, THE DEALER HAS HAD MY CAR FOR ALMOST A TWO MONTH PERIOD, AND THE PART IS STILL ON BACK ORDER. *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT GAS GAUGE FAILURE. WHEN CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE GAS GAUGES WERE OKAY. HOWEVER, WHEN DRIVING GAUGES SUDDENLY DROPPED. SOMETIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENED VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THERE HAD BEEN INCIDENTS WHERE VEHICLE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING. NO INJURY REPORTED. *AK *TC

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH AND THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING AND BRAKE POWER. CONSUMER LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD AND SAW THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO UPDATE THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE DEFECT WHICH OCCURRED. *AK

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. *AK

RECALL ISSUES ABOUT SAAB AND PIRELLI. *BF AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD HYDROPLANE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TREAD WEAR DID NOT QUALIFY THE TIRES FOR THE RECALL. *SC RECALL# 03V006000 PER THE CONSUMER *JB

THIS IS A SECOND COMPLAINT AND UPDATE TO 1/1/04 COMPLAINT PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED. SINCE THEN CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 2 ADDITIONAL TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE WITH NO RESOLUTION. ALSO CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR BROKEN FRONT SEAT, FAULTY FINISH ON DOOR HANDLES AND DASH BOARD, BRAKE SQUEAL, AND PROBLEMS CLOSING SUN ROOF. ALL PROBLEMS CURED OTHER THAN TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AND STEERING ALIGNMENT. CALLED SAAB USA PREVIOUSLY WHOM ADVISED TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE DEALER, WHO CAN NOT FIX. TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE CAN BE DANGEROUS WHEN DEPENDING ON AN AUTO TO REACT A CERTAIN WAY IN ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE SITUATIONS AND AUTO RESPONDS DIFFERENTLY. IN MY OPINION THIS PROBLEM COUPLED WITH ALL THE OTHERS IS A VIOLATION OF EXPRESS WARRANTIES OF THE MANUFACTURE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE ISSUE AS THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS MESSAGE BOARD. THANK YOU.*AK

EXPERIENCED A SIDEWALL BLOWOUT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE ON MY RECENTLY-PURCHASED SAAB 9-3 LINEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD 13.5K MILES WHEN PURCHASED, THE TIRE BLEW AT 14.2K. WAS DRIVING 50 MPH ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY, DID NOT HIT ANYTHING, TIRES HAD VERY RECENTLY BEEN INSPECTED FOR WEAR AND INFLATION, THERE WAS NO PRECIPITATING EVENT PRIOR TO HEARING A LOUD "POP"; SHORTLY THEREAFTER FELT AND HEARD THE EFFECTS OF THE DEFLATED TIRE. TIRE REMAINED ON THE WHEEL, BUT WAS FLAT WITH A SIGNIFICANT HOLE IN THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE PIRELLI P6 FOUR SEASON TIRES 215/55R16.*AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN SOMEONE HONKED THE HORN. AFTER PULLING INTO THE SERVICE STATION GAS WAS POURING FROM THE FUEL LINE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

DT: FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WORE OUT COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF BRAKE DUST THE LAST 10,000 MILES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL AND THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CALLED THREE TIMES AND THEY SAID THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR. THE CALLER ONLY HAS 26,000 MILES ON VEHICLE AND HE BELIEVES THIS IS NOT NORMAL. *NM

SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I HAVE A 2003 SAAB 9-3 ARC, BOUGHT ON 9/03, AROUND 13,000 MILES, YESTERDAY I WENT TO OFFICE AND STOPPED IN THE RIGHT POSITION TO PARK IN FRONT OF THE WALL, I STEPPED ON BRAKE, PUSH THE GEAR TO "P", ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE STARTED "HOWLING", AND ACCELERATED TO HIT THE WALL, IM PRETTY SURE THAT'S NOT THE HUMAN ERROR, 'CAUSE THE GEAR'S IN PARK, AND MY FOOT STEPPED ON BRAKE( I HAVE MORE THAN 20 YEARS DRIVING EXPERIENCE, TO PARK A CAR IS LIKE NORMAL REACTION), I WALK OUT THE CAR, THERE'RE TWO SHORT TIRE BURN MARK( IF IM NOT STEPPED ON BRAKE, WHY DOES IT HAVE THE BURN MARK), SO I CALLED MY CAR DEALER, THEY TOWED THE CAR AND TRY TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM, BUT IT COME OUT THE RESULT IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR! I REALLY WANT TO KNOW IF THERE'RE ANYBODY HAS THE EXPERIENCES. IM GLAD THAT THE THING OCCURRED IN FRONT OF A WALL, IF IT'S IN FRONT OF A STORE THAT MIGHT CAUSE LIVES!!!!!*AK IM AFRAID OF DRIVING MY SAAB AGAIN; ILL CALL SAAB TOMORROW TO FIND OUT IF THEY CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? IF YOU NEED SOME PICTURE EVIDENCE THAT I TOOK AFTER THE THING HAPPEN, I CAN SEND YOU BY MAIL!