2003 Saab 9-3 Fuel System Problems

THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME ALMOST IMMOBILE IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). ONCE IN THIRD GEAR, PERFORMANCE IS BACK TO NORMAL. IF DRIVER IS NOT AWARE OF SITUATION (CRUISE LIGHT OFF IS ONLY INDICATION IF CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS TURNED ON), DRIVER CAN EASILY GET INTO BAD SITUATION AS CAR WILL NOT PERFORM AS USUAL (VERY SIGNIFICANT DEGRADATION OF PERFORMANCE). ALL THAT IS NEEDED TO RESET PROBLEM IS TO TURN THE KEY OFF AND RESTART THE ENGINE AND THE CONDITION WILL GO AWAY FOR AS LITTLE AS 10 MINUTES OR UP TO AS MUCH AS 2 HOURS OF DRIVING. IT IS SUSPECTED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIR MASS SENSOR AS REPLACING AIR MASS SENSOR WITH USED PART, PROBLEM DISAPPEARED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF DRIVER IS NOT AWARE AND TRIES TO MAKE A QUICK MANEUVER INVOLVING TIGHT TRAFFIC (LEFT TURN WHEN PERFORMANCE IS PARAMOUNT). WHATEVER THIS CONDITION IS THAT THE ELECTRONICS/ENGINE CONTROLS IS/ARE ENTERING IS UNACCEPTABLE AND THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER IN A RECALL. *TR

IN, APPROXIMATELY, THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, MY ENGINE WARNING LIGHT MY ENGINE WARNING LIGHT HAS GONE ON. IN CONTACTING THE DEALER, THE FIRST TIME, THE GAS CAP HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY PUT BACK ON. THE TWO SUBSEQUENT TIMES, I AM CERTAIN THAT IT HAD BEEN. AFTER THE THIRD TIME, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THINKING IT WAS EITHER THE O2 SENSOR, OR THE GAS CAP. I WAS TOLD, BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR, THAT THERE WAS (I BELIEVE HE SAID) A VAPOR LEAK. IT WOULD REQUIRE PUTTING ON A REDESIGNED GAS CAP. THE SERVICE WRITE-UP STATED IT WAS "REPLACED WITH AN UPDATED GAS CAP". *TR

WAS DRIVING CAR SMELT FUEL PULLED OVER AND FOUND GAS SPRAYING OUT FROM UNDER CAR BY FUEL TANK NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR RAN FINE BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF FUEL COMING OUT. FUEL LINES HAD STARTED TO COME OUT FROM FUEL PUMP LIKE REPORTED IN THE 2001 SAAB 93 RECALL. *AK

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

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

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

I OWNS A 2003 SAAB 1993 LINEAR WITH AUTOMATIC. WHEN DRIVING A CAR, CAR STALLED MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT HAPPEND 3 TIMES SO FAR. CAR STALLED AND HANDLE GOT LOCKED UP. ENGINE LIGHT CAME UP. IT WAS DANGEROUS EPECIALLY AT THE FREEWAY. LUCKILY NEVER RESULTED IN BIG ACCIDENTS. DEALER ARE SAYING IT'S COMPUTER PROBLEM, BUT SOME PEOPLE SAID IT MIGHT BE THE FAULTY FUEL PUMP.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY HESITATED AND STALLED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO DID NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO REFUSED TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER.*AK