The Used Car Index

2000 Saab 9-3 problems

NHTSA lists 50 complaints for the 2000 Saab 9-3, 4 of them mention a crash and 1 mention a fire. 7 complaints mention an injury, with 9 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-07.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as SAAB 9-3.

At a glance

Complaints
50
With crash
4
With fire
1
With injury (complaints)
7
Injuries
9
Deaths
0
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
103,202
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
57

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2346.0%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1326.0%
AIR BAGS1020.0%
EQUIPMENT36.0%
SEAT BELTS36.0%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE24.0%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING12.0%
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER12.0%
PARKING BRAKE12.0%
POWER TRAIN12.0%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMIGNITION18
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGENGINE5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCOOLING SYSTEM1
EQUIPMENTAPPLIANCE1
EXTERIOR LIGHTINGHEADLIGHTS1
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHERSTORAGE1
POWER TRAINCLUTCH ASSEMBLY1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

2 recalls.

05V399000

Date: 2005-09-14. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH B205/B235 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND B308 6-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE OVERHEATING AND BURNOUT OF THE ISOLATED GATED BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR (IGBT) WITHIN THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE (IDM) DUE TO INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ELECTRICAL LOADS. (excerpt)

Consequence: OVERHEATING OF THE IGBT OCCURS MOST OFTEN AT ENGINE START-UP, BUT IT MAY ALSO OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. ENGINE STALLING MAY OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. (excerpt)

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE WHAT VERSION IDM IS IN THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE IDM IF IT IS A VERSION BUILT PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTION OF QP3. AN INTERIM LETTER WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS IN OCTOBER 2005, INFORMING THEM OF THE CONDITION. PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AND OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN TO THE DEALERS TO HAVE THE IDM REPLACED BY LETTER DATED MARCH 13, 2006. OWNERS MAY (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

01V168000

Date: 2001-05-18. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE AIR BAG ALERT LABELS MAY NOT BE PERMANENTLY AFFIXED AS REQUIRED BY THIS STANDARD.

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE SUNVISOR SURFACE AND APPLY A NEW AIR BAG ALERT LABEL ON BOTH SUNVISORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 30, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 investigations; 0 open.

PE05017

Opened: 2005-04-07. Closed: 2005-09-23.

ENGINE STALL/ ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

ODI OPENED PE05-017 BASED ON 35 REPORTS OF ALLEGED ENGINE STALLING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE IDM CASSETTE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND MOST REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.IN 3 INCIDENTS, THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED SMOKE AND/OR FIRE RESULTED FROM THE IDM FAILURE.DURING PE05-017, ADDITIONAL FAILURE DATA WAS IDENT

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Linked campaign numbers: 05V399000, 06V410000.

Manufacturer communications

57 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT18
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
STRUCTURE5
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
WHEELS4
ENGINE2

11006621

Date: 2024-08-26. Type: Service Campaign. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is com

11004557

Date: 2024-06-17. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is formerly known as a Product Allegation Resolution (PAR) claim.

11002312

Date: 2024-06-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS) Error Codes E4398, E4399, E4401, E4403, M4404, M4413, M6954, M6955, E4414, E4423, E4491, E4492, or E6961 and resolution information.

10251890

Date: 2024-03-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

This technical bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up.

10250775

Date: 2024-02-22. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

This service bulletin provides service information to technicians on guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system.

10249579

Date: 2024-01-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN.

This PI bulletin advises the technician on the proper way to install the pistons in an engine.

10244274

Date: 2023-10-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: WHEELS.

This service bulletin provides information about the Hunter wheel Road Force balancers that should be utilized for all repairs requiring balance and Road Force measurement.

10242262

Date: 2023-08-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

This service bulletin provides graphics, information and guidelines for engine component wear to assist service personnel as a guideline to perform necessary engine repairs and prevent unnecessary engine replacement.

10235799

Date: 2023-04-27. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: WHEELS.

This service bulletin provides information about the Hunter wheel Road Force balancers that should be utilized for all repairs requiring balance and Road Force measurement.

10234110

Date: 2023-03-17. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

This service bulletin provides service information on new torque specification and installation procedure for ACDelco Spin-On Oil Filters.

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
9-350

Same model, other years

All model years | All Saab models

Other Saab models, 2000

Sources

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