There are 8 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 2003 Saab 9-3in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS HAVE NO SOUND. THEY ARE HOOKED UP TO THE EHU UNIT WHICH THE MANUFACTURER SAYS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF CAN NOT HEAR THE SIGNAL AND YOU DO NOT KNOW IF THEY ARE STILL ON. THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THIS PART. MY SOUND SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING EITHER. *TR
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
TWICE WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT MY CAR HAS STALLED. IT HAS STALLED ONCE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 35 MPH. IT HAS ALSO GOTTEN STUCK IN PARK TWICE AFRTER I START IT. THE SID SAYS GEAR BOX MALFUNCTIONED. THE LIGHTS BURN OUT AND THE INTERIOR IS FALLING APART. THIS CAR HAS 17,000 MILES IN IT.*AK
HEADLIGHTS WAS TOO LOW WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *LA THERE WAS NOISE IN THE REAR WHILE BACKING AND TURNING (THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM), THE ONSTAR FEATURE WOULD NOT WORK AND WAS INTERMITTENT, THE SEAT BELT LIGHT HAD COME ON AND WOULD GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY (UNABLE TO DUPLICATE), NEED SERVICE SOON LIGHT WOULD COME ON (UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED), THE SQUEAL IN THE REAR, COULD HAVE ALSO BEEN LINKED TO SALT AND SAND IN THE ROTORS, THE TRUNK WOULD NOT STAY OPEN, THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE FOUND TO BE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, AND THE PADS HAD RUST ON THEM. *SC *JB
DEALER - SAAB EXCHANGE WON'T/CAN'T FIX VEHICLE. STEERING PROBLEM, RATTLE PROBLEM, FAN BLOWER PROBLEM, SEAT PROBLEM, BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM, ETC... *LA
CAN NOT DIM LIGHTS WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. ENTRY TO SOME MILITARY BASE OR OTHER ENTRY GATES REQUIRE LIGHTS TO BE DIMMED TO PARKING LIGHTS. THERE IS A THREE WAY SWITCH TO TUNE LIGHT TO PARKING BUT ONLY WORK WHEN ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN MY OPINION. YES SAAB JUST GIVES YOU THE RUN AROUND ON WHAT'S THE FIX, EVEN SUGGEST TO REMOVE A FUSE?? I DEMAND ACTION!!!! *JB
MESSAGE OF "HEADLIGHT LEVELING MALFUNCTION, CONTACT SAAB DEALER" CAME UP ON CAR COMPUTER. TAKEN TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY. CAME UP DURING THE DAY SO WAS UNAWARE IF THERE WAS A LIGHTING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.*AK
REAR LIGHT OVER LICENSE PLATE WOULD NOT GO OUT, LEAVING MY CAR AT NIGHT ILLUMINATED. TAKEN TO DEALER. PROBLEM RESOLVED.*AK
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.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026