There are 27 stored owner reports matching the engine leading-label group for the 2003 Saab 9-3 in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 27 of 27 matching reports. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. WHEN THE VEHICLE DECELERATED, IT SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AT WILL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WHEN DRIVING UP A HILL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED; HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE DIC AND THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND THE DIC WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE MIRRORED NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA04008 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 02/23/16*LJ *CN
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. SLOWED AND STOPPED VEHICLE OFF SIDE OF ROAD. TURNED KEY TO OFF POSITION, THEN RE-STARTED VEHICLE WHEN TURNED KEY TO ON. CAR RAN FINE AFTER RE-STARTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. SUSPECT DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY AN EXTREMELY SLOW DELAYED RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENT WHICH PROGRESSED TO AN ENGINE STALL. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AFTER STALLING. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V540000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL EXPIRED AND WERE UNABLE TO HONOR THE RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
VEHICLE WAS STALLING DURING ACCELERATION , THEN FUEL PUMP HAD COMPLETE MALFUNCTION .... AFTER REPLACEMENT, ENGINE HAS ALWAYS RUN POORLY AND ALMOST ALWAYS STALLS DURING ACCELERATION. REPLACED IGNITION COIL , AND IT DIDN'T FIX PROBLEM . I HAVE TALKED TO 4 OTHER SAAB 9-3 OWNERS FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AND 2004 AND EVERY ONE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.
2003 SAAB 9-3 SE CONV (73K MIKES AT TIME OF INCIDENT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY CAR SUDDEENLY QUIT RUNNING DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED AND RUINED CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND O2 SENSORS SAAB FORCED TO RECALL THIS PART UP TO YEAR 2002. MY 2003 IS OLD SAAB BODY STYLE WITH DEFECTIVE DI CASSETTE. PART NUMBER ON CASSETE IS FROM THE 2002 AND EARLIER MODEL YEARS. *TR
AFTER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 40F, THE VEHICLE DISPLAYS A MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE DIAGNOSIS IS A FAILURE ON THE SECONDARY AIR PUMP AND CHECK VALVE. THIS IS AN EMISSIONS SYSTEM. THE PUMP WAS ADDED TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE UNDER EMISSIONS TESTING. THE VEHICLE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND SAAB IS NOT COVERING THIS ITEM UNDER EMISSIONS WARRANTY. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE, MANY SAAB OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ISSUE. *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
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.
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
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
I PURCHASED MY SAAB 9-3 LINEAR ON 1/16/03, AND WITHIN 2 MONTHS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TURNING ON, AND STALLED OUT 3 TIMES. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 11 TIMES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND EVERY TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS MY GAS CAP, GAS EVAP LEAK, OR SOFTWARE UPDATES. MIND YOU I AM 6 MONTHS PREGNANT AND THE LAST STALL OUT I WAS ON A VERY BUSY STREET GOING 40MPH (LAST MONTH). THEY HAVE REPLACED MY GAS CAP TOO - SAYING THIS WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I CAN NEVER GET A HOLD OF ANY ONE AT SAAB TO DISCUSS - SO I HAVE RESULTED TO THE LEMON LAW. BUT IN REALITY THIS IS A CRITICAL PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS MANY PEOPLE ON THIS SIGHT HAVE ESCAPED INJURY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THRU A S CURVE, MY CAR STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER. THE SPLIT SECOND LOSS OF POWER ON A TURN CAUSED ME TO CROSS INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC BEFORE I REACTED TO BRING MY CAR BACK INTO MY OWN LANE. I WAS LUCKILY THAT NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OR I WOULD HIT THEM HEAD ON. MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 COASTED TO AN AREA OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. AGAIN LUCKILY THAT THERE WAS A ROAD SHOULDER TO PULL OVER ON. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE DEALER RESPONSE AT THE FIRST TIME WAS "THAT'S OK IF IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE"...BUT GUESS WHAT IT IS STILL HAPPENING AND SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM.. HOPEFULLY WE DONT HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO BE KILLED BEFORE SAAB FIXES IT.
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION, AND GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC UPGRADED THE SOFTWARE FOR THE ENGINE. *AK
THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT. I HAD ORIGINALLY FILED COMPLAINT 10041666 A FEW WEEKS AGO. NOW THE PROBLEM WITH MY SAAB STALLING HAS BECOME WORSE. I WAS TRAVEL IN TRAFFIC, WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE STALLING CAUSED ME TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT ME. WHICH IN TURN CAUSED A FOUR CAR ACCIDENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED, BUT NOW MY PROBLEM IS MUCH MORE SEVERE. I HAVE CONTACTED SAAB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM (MUCH LIKE I DID THE FIRST TIME) AND NOTING IS BEING DONE TO HELP ME. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE THAT STALLS ALL THE TIME, AND IS AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED TOTALLY USELESS AND A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED OVER $15000 IN DAMAGE TO MY SAAB ALONE, ALONG WITH DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. I AM REALLY SURPRISED THAT I WAS NOT KILLED OR SEVERELY HURT IN THE ACCIDENT. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND HELP OUT ALL THE SAAB 9-3 OWNERS HERE... THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE, AND THE REPRESENT A VERY LARGE PROBLEM JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. *LA
MY 2003 SAAB 9-3 HAS STALLED 3 TIMES IN TRAFFIC. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAME UP WITH NOTHING. CAR IS IN SHOP RIGHT NOW AND WILL SEE IF ANYTHING IS FOUND BUT I DOUBT IT. SAAB CUSTOMER CARE IS OBLIVIOUS TO PROBLEM. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHILE CRUISING IN TRAFFIC AT SPEED UNDER 30 MPH. CAR COMPLETELY LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT START UNTIL PULLED OFF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF AND TURNED ON AGAIN. *LA
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK
I HAVE A 2003 SAAB 9-3 LINEAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR STALL ON ME IN TRAFFIC 4 TIMES NOW OVER THE LAST 4 MONTHS. I NOW REALIZE I'M FAR FROM THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I HAVE BEEN IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC 3 OF THE 4 TIMES. LUCKILY IN THE OUTSIDE LANE AND ABLE TO PULL OFF. I HAVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND RUN HIGH OCTANCE FUEL (RECOMMENDED). HOPEFULLY SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO PRESS GM AND FORCE THEM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.*AK
MY SAAB 9-3 SS 2003 STALLED TODAY .COMPLETELY LOST E POWER ALSO COULDNT TURN STEERING WHEEL.LUCKY NOT TO GET HIT FROM BEHIND SINCE I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA .THE CAR STARTED AFTER I TURNED IT BACK ON ,THERE WAS NO ERROR MESSAGES,ONLY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THE PROBLEM HAPPENED.AN OCCURANCE LIKE THIS IN THE FREEWAY WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC .FROM VARIOUS INTERNET FORUMS I HAVE READ OWNERS OF THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE HAVING SIMILIAR PROBLEM.NHTSA WILL NEED TO TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT INJURIES OR EVEN FATALITIES IN THE FUTURE
BRAND NEW 2003 SAAB 9-3 ARC JUST STALLS. MY ENGINE HAS STALLED FOR NO REASON NUMEROUS TIMES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE DAYS AFTER I GOT THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED, EVERY TIME THEY TELL ME THAT I AM JUST ABOUT MAKING IT UP. THEY CAN NEVER FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, AND SAAB CORPORATION IS NO HELP. *LA
Showing 1-20 of 27 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
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Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.