10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
56,320 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #5

Aug 152007

9-3 4-cyl

  • 178,000 miles
Premature dic failure. Consistantly burns out spark plugs.

- Newark, NY, USA

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problem #4

Oct 072007

9-3

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
1999 Saab 93 caught fire while on the Ohio turnpike. Seems like the fire originated under the hood in the engine compartment. (Ohio traffic crash report)

- Chicago, IL, USA

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problem #3

Dec 152002

9-3

  • Manual transmission
  • 60,000 miles
Heater box froze up upone turning the control dial to defrost windshield...internet discussion boards say Saab knows of this problem. Very expensive repair to fix properly and permanently...probably taking this to small claims based upon what I've read...

- Carlisle, MA, USA

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problem #2

Oct 032003

9-3 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles
I wanted to alert you to a potentially dangerous situation in the '99 Saab 9-3. they have a climate control system problem that can cause the ventilation system controls to become so stiff that it causes the knob to snap off rendering the system useless. Saab is fully aware of this problem and requires the consumer to pay for the repairs that in their terms "may" solve the problem for a short time. These include replacing the knob ($10), the shaft ($200), and the ventilation control box ($600). It appears that Saab considers the environmental controls to be a luxury not a necessary safety system. I think that your Agency would disagree with Saab assessment and should require a more proactive corrective plan from the vehicle manufacturer.

- Seymour, CT, USA

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problem #1

Sep 162003

9-3

  • 8,600 miles
The consumer had just filled the gas tank with fuel and was driving away when the vehicle stalled for no reason. The consumer managed to restart the vehicle and drove to the dealership. The mechanic could not locate the cause of the stalling problem.

- Fairborn, OH, USA

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