There are 4 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2004 Saab 9-3in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SAAB CONVERTIBLE 93. THE CONTACT STATED HE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FORM THE DEALER ON DECEMBER 11, 2013 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN HE TURNED THE IGINATION ON AT THE DEALER AND IT REMAINED ON. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT WAS AN IGINATION MALFUNCTION, AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,775.LJ
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I HAD PLACED MY 2004 9-3 SAAB IN PARK AND LEFT THE CAR RUNNING TO GET OUT AND TURN OFF MY SPRINKLERS. WHILE OUT OF THE CAR THE VEHICLE ROLLED UP THE DRIVEWAY AND HEADED TO WARDS MY GARAGE NARROWLY MISSING MY HOUSE. I RAN AFTER THE CAR AND JUMPED IN THE DRIVERS SEAT JUST AS THE CAR MADE CONTACT WITH THE GARAGE DOOR. I WAS ABLE TO PUT ON THE BRAKE AND STOP THE CAR BEFORE IT KNOCKED DOWN THE WHOLE GARAGE. I CONTACTED SAAB IMMEDIATELY AND THEY HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY THEIR MECHANICS WHO SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING. I KNOW THAT I HAD PUT THE CAR IN PARK BEFORE EXITING. THE CAR ALSO WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE AND INSTEAD OF ROLLING BACKWARDS HAD IT NOT BEEN IN PARK IT ACTUALLY ROLLED UP THE DRIVEWAY AS IF IT WENT FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. I WAS UNAWARE OF THE ISSUE UNTIL I HEARD THAT GM HAS OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. SINCE THEY ARE TRYING TO SELL SAAB I AM SURE THEY ARE TRYING TO HIDE THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY ALSO EXIST IN THE SAABS AS WELL. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2004 SAAB 9-3 AROUND MARCH 15, 2007. A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO, I WAS VACATIONING IN FLORIDA WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL SAAB DEALERSHIP IN ORLANDO, FL WHERE I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO PURCHASE A SPEED SENSOR. THIS WAS DONE AND THE COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $515.00. THE DAY AFTER THE REPAIR, I NOTICED THE CAR CONTINUED TO HAVE ROUGH AND INAPPROPRIATE SHIFTING. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL SAAB DEALERSHIP IN DUBLIN, OH WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGED AND THE TRANSMISSION REPROGRAMMED. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS, 'MILKY AND DARK IN APPEARANCE.' THEY SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE THE CAR, DRIVE IT FOR 2 WEEKS AND BRING IT BACK TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 2 WEEKS I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST FOR THIS IS $7000.00. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE COUPLINGS HAD GONE BAD AND CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THESE SAME COUPLINGS WERE RECALLED BY SAAB IN 2003-2004. HOWEVER, BY VIN NUMBER, MY VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE DATES OF THE RECALL. THE RADIATOR AND COUPLINGS WERE MANUFACTURED DURING THAT RECALL PERIOD AND ARE CONSIDERED TO BE DEFECTIVE PARTS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP TO CONTACT GM/SAAB TO TRY AND OBTAIN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. I HAVE BEEN IN THAT PROCESS FOR ALMOST 1 MONTH NOW. ORIGINALLY, THEY OFFERED TO PAY 25% TOWARDS PARTS AND LABOR FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION (ADMITTING GUILT) WHICH WOULD DECREASE THE COST FOR ME TO $5000.00. I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE. *TR
CAR INSTRUMENTATION PANEL TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. CAR "ACTS" AS IF IT WAS OFF WITH THE RED CIRCULAR ALARM FLASHING, CONSOLE LIGHTS OFF, CLOCK OFF, YET I AM DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND THE BRAKES, STEERING ARE PERFORMING AS IF I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (AS I AM). STOPPED FOR DINNER CAME OUT AND CAR DID NOT TURN ON, LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BUT NOTHING ELSE - COULD NOT OPEN TRUNK FROM THE KEY FOB THING OR FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR SWITCH. CALLED AAA THEY COULD NOT TURN THE CAR ON AND THE CAR BATTERY WAS CHARGED. KEY IN IGNITION AND BRAKE DEPRESSED DID NOT RELEASE CAR SHIFTER TO NEUTRAL. THIS WENT ON FOR AN HOUR. FINALLY I NEED TO GET INTO TRUNK AND FOUND A PLASTIC CAP BEHIND THE REAR SEAT HEAD REST AND DEPRESSED A SWITCH THAT OWNED THE TRUNK ALTHOUGH IT WAS TO PULL DOWN THE REAR SEAT... WE JOKED THAT NOW THE CAR WOULD TURN ON AND IT DID WHEN BY HAPPENSTANCE THE HIGH BEAMS WERE DEPRESSED. GOT IN THE CAR AND DROVE IT HOME BUT AGAIN THE CAR STILL DRIVING NORMALLY LOST THE CONSOLE LIGHTS AND FUNCTIONALITY SO I FLASHED THE HIGH BEAM AND ALL CAME BACK EXCEPT FOR CLOCK, OH, DID I MENTION NOW I HAVE A "GEAR BOX MALFUNCTION" DISPLAYED AS AN ERROR CODE. OH, I REPORTED THAT I REPLACE HEADLIGHTS ALMOST EVERY 2-3 MONTHS. MY INTERIOR CABIN FAN ISN'T WORKING AND THAT WAS AFTER IT WORKED EVEN WITH THE CAR TURNED OFF. *TR
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 May 4, 2026