NHTSA Safety Recalls
Saab 9-3 Recalls by Year
NHTSA's files hold 15 recall campaigns for the Saab 9-3, across 12 model years from 2000 to 2011. The 2004 has the most (6); the fewest among years with a recall is 2000 (2).
Saab 9-3 years to avoid by our method: 2003 (4.1× the median year).
- Model years
- 12
- Recall campaigns
- 15
- Most recalls
- 2004
- Owner complaints
- 1,281
2000–2011, with a recall
6 recalls
all model years, NHTSA
Owners have filed 1,281 complaints with NHTSA about the Saab 9-3 across 12 model years; the most, 212, concern the 2003.
Owners marked a crash on 51 of the Saab 9-3 complaints (4%) and a fire on 22.
Across all Saab 9-3 model years, owners name the air bags most often (at least 333 complaints), then the electrical system (166).
NHTSA received the most complaints about the Saab 9-3 in 2016: 246, across all model years.
The component recalled most often on the Saab 9-3 is seat belts: front: retractor, in 11 model-year listings.
The newest Saab 9-3 recall, 16V063000, was reported on February 3, 2016 and concerns the air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module.
Saab 9-3 years to avoid
The 2003 Saab 9-3 stands out most: 100 complaints between 2002 and 2006, 22% of them naming the electrical system.
The 2003 also carries 5 recalls, against a median of 4 for the ranked Saab 9-3 years.
The best-measured Saab 9-3 years are 2002 (0.3×), 2001 (0.3×) and 2005 (0.9×).
The ranking uses owner complaints in each model year's first years on the road, adjusted for NHTSA's complaint volume for that model year. It is not adjusted for sales and is not a reliability rating. Method
Recalls and complaints by model year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | First years | vs median year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 4 | 30 | 1 | not ranked |
| 2010 | 4 | 30 | 4 | not ranked |
| 2009 | 3 | 43 | 2 | not ranked |
| 2008 | 3 | 184 | 7 | not ranked |
| 2007 | 3 | 155 | 25 | 1.0× |
| 2006 | 3 | 179 | 38 | 1.9× |
| 2005 | 3 | 95 | 17 | 0.9× |
| 2004 | 6 | 207 | 28 | 1.2× |
| 2003avoid | 5 | 212 | 100 | 4.1× |
| 2002 | 4 | 37 | 10 | 0.3× |
| 2001 | 4 | 59 | 10 | 0.3× |
| 2000 | 2 | 50 | 4 | not ranked |
First years: complaints received from the year before the model year to three years after it.Saab 9-3 years without a link have no recall page on this site.
What gets recalled most on the Saab 9-3
- SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR11
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP9
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE6
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS5
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE3
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS3
- AIR BAGS2
- FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP2
- SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
Saab 9-3 model-year listings per recall component; one campaign can cover several years.
Every Saab 9-3 recall campaign (15)
| Campaign | Component | Years | Risk named | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16V063000February 3, 2016 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2006–2011 | crash, injury and death | 113,716 |
| 14V318000June 12, 2014 | seat belts: front: retractor | 2004–2011 | crash and injury | 28,789 |
| 11V015000January 19, 2011 | fuel system, other: delivery: fuel pump | 2010–2011 | crash | 4,400 |
| 10V043000February 18, 2010 | seat belts: front: retractor | 2004 | crash and injury | 14,126 |
| 07V087000March 7, 2007 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2002–2003 | fire | 94,377 |
| 06V126000April 20, 2006 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2001 | fire | 11,886 |
| 05V399000September 14, 2005 | electrical system: ignition: module | 2000–2002 | crash | 103,202 |
| 05V236000May 19, 2005 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2003–2005 | crash | 68,654 |
| 04V557000November 19, 2004 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2001–2002 | fire | 17,394 |
| 04V540000October 20, 2004 | engine and engine cooling | 2003 | — | 12,249 |
| 04V226000May 11, 2004 | seat belts: front: retractor | 2003–2004 | crash and injury | 31,335 |
| 03V514000December 10, 2003 | seats: front assembly: recliner | 2004 | crash and injury | 1,658 |
| 01V314000October 3, 2001 | steering: linkages: tie rod assembly | 2002 | — | 1,366 |
| 01V168000May 18, 2001 | air bags | 2000–2001 | — | 43,073 |
| 11E009000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2003–2011 | crash | — |
Vehicles: NHTSA's count of potentially affected vehicles in the whole campaign, not only the Saab 9-3. Each campaign page has the defect, risk and fix in NHTSA's words.
Newest record on this page: June 26, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted