There are 6 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2006 Saab 9-3in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE FRONT DRIVER COIL SPRING BROKE AND THE BROKEN END OF THE COIL WAS PRESSED AGAINST THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. WHEN THE TIRE WAS REMOVED A 1/4" DEEP GOUGE WAS OBSERVED IN THE SIDE WALL. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE PARKED, I NOTICED A LOUD BANG AND A STRANGE NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. I IMMEDIATELY REMOVED THE TIRE TO CHECK FOR PROBLEMS AND FOUND THE BROKEN SPRING AND GOUGE. IF THIS OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY (MY COMMUTE IS APP 80 MILES ROUND TRIP) IT COULD HAVE EASILY PUNCTURED THE TIRE AND CAUSED A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM. OR LEFT ME STRANDED IN AN UNSAFE LOCATION. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 SAAB CONVERTIBLE. I LEFT TO GO TO WORK THIS MORNING AND THERE WAS A HORRIBLE NOISE IN THE FRONT. I DRIVE THE INTERSTATE PART WAY TO WORK AND THE NOISE SEEMED TO LESSEN. WHEN I GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE AND CAME TO A STOP LIGHT THE NOISE WAS EXTREMELY LOUD. I TURNED AROUND AND TOOK MY CARE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. I FOUND OUT THAT BOTH OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS HAD FRACTURED AND ONE WAS STUCK IN MY PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE TIRE ON THE INSIDE HAD BEEN CUT ALL THE WAY AROUND THE WHEEL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SERVICE PEOPLE COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT I DID NOT GET IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE WITH SAAB'S ON THE INTERNET IN ORDER TO FIND THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM. I THEN CALLED SAAB DEALERSHIP (THE ONLY ONE IN THE AREA) 30 MILES AWAY AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COILS BREAKING. I NOW HAVE TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED ALL THAT WAY AND THEY ARE NOT SURE IF SAAB IS GOING TO COVER A RENTAL CAR FORE ME. I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK AND NOW WILL HAVE TO BE OUT THE EXPENSE OF A RENTAL CAR. SAAB SHOULD COVER ALL OF MY EXPENSES. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL LIST AND NOT PUT PEOPLE IN SUCH DANGER WHEN SAAB IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ALWAYS TOLD EVERYONE HOW MUCH I LOVE MY SAAB AND THEY WOULD LOVE ONE TOO. NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR WHEN IT IS FIXED, BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST THAT THERE ISN'T SOMETHING ELSE WRONG THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
FOUND BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKEN IN HALF FOLLOWING A NOTICEABLE DETERIORATION OF RIDE QUALITY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. MY MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS, STRUTS, AND SWAY BARS IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND NOTED THAT THE BREAK ON THE RIGHT COIL SPRING WAS APPROXIMATELY A HALF INCH FROM THE TIRE POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A PUNCTURED TIRE. *TR
PREMATURE FATIGUE FAILURE OF COIL SPRING ON DRIVER'S FRONT MACPHERSON STRUT. FAILURE CAUGHT BEFORE TIRE PUNCTURE INCIDENT. FRACTURE OCCURRED ON BOTTOM COIL. VEHICLE: SAAB 9-3 2.0T YEAR: 2006 MILEAGE: 38000 MILES AWAITING DEALER REPAIR. *TR
COIL SPRINGS ON MY 2006 SAAB 9-3 WITH 35500 MILES BROKE. IT RUBBED ON MY FRONT RIGHT TIRE WHICH MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE OUT OF ALIGNMENT STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, IT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE SYSTEM WAS CLEARED. THE DEALER WAS VAGUE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND STATED IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC DOORS LOCKS AND THE TRUNK RELEASE AS WELL. THE DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK AT WILL AND THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND TRUNK CAME OPEN ON ONE OCCASION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. *AK UPDATED 08/14/06. *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.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026