There are 4 stored owner reports matching the engine leading-label group for the 2005 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 4 of 4 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 93. THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL SERVICE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE COOLANT WAS REFILLED YET THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS TOO POROUS, CAUSING THE COOLANT TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN SERVICED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
THIS IS THE SIXTH FAILURE ON THE ENGINE. MY WIFE WAS IN MARYLAND WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON (THIS IS NOT THE 1ST TIME). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AN HOUR AWAY IN BALTIMORE. THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED, IT WAS REPAIRED AND THEN SHE HAD TO GET HER OWN RIDE TO THE DEALER (WE ARE FROM OHIO). THIS STARTED HAPPENING AFTER THE ENGINE WAS USING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF OIL. THERE WAS A RECALL BECAUSE THE FACTORY ALIGNED ALL THE RING GAPS IN THE SAME DIRECTION. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TORN DOWN AND REPAIRED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KICKS ON EVERY 400 TO 1000 MILES. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE RINGS, COMPUTER, THROTTLE BODY TWICE, AIR BOX AND OTHER SMALLER ITEMS. BY THE WAY EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS THE ENGINE GOES INTO LIMP MODE AND DOESN'T GO ABOVE THIRTY MILES AN HOUR. THIS IS REAL SAFE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR
LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEED 4 TIMES ON 5/17/2006, 4/17/2006. 04/7/2006/AND 4/03/2006. SERVICED EACH TIME BY SAAB DEALER WITH ASSISTANCE FROM NATIONAL TECHNICAL. PROBLEMS CONTINUED. MADE REQUEST FOR RE-PURCHASE UNDER LEMON LAWS OF ST OF WA. CAR RE-PURCHASED BY SAAB USA. *JB
THE ENGINE ON MY 2005 SAAB 9-3 HAS FAILED TWO TIMES WITHIN THE FIRST 4900 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED IN JUNE OF 2005 AND THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. THE FAILURE RESULTS IN THE CAR ACCELERATING EXTREMELY SLOW WITHOUT ANY PRIOR NOTICE. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED ON JULY 18, 2005 WHEN I WAS NEARLY HIT MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. THE SAME SYMPTOMS PRESENTED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE ABOUT TO OCCUR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE SAABNET WEBSITE AND IT APPEARS I AM NOT ALONE IN FALLING VICTIM TO THE DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY IN THE SAAB 9-3 MODEL. IT APPEARS TO BE A PERVASIVE PROBLEM. SAAB'S ATTORNEY INDICATED THAT THIS DID NOT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A RECALL NOR A PROBLEM THAT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
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
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.