"How reliable is the 2002 Saab 9-3?"

"Based on 49 NHTSA complaints, the 2002 Saab 9-3 has a median complaint mileage of 59163 miles. The most common issue is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM."

"What are common problems with the 2002 Saab 9-3?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Saab 9-3 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, accounting for a significant portion of the 49 total complaints filed."

2002 Saab 9-3: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 49 complaints

Total Complaints

59,163mi

Median Mileage

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

47,300 25th Percentile

59,163 Median Mileage

98,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SEAT BELTS

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

SEATS

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THIS IS THE SECOND SAAB, 1993 WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION THAT WILL REQUIRE REPLACING THAT I HAVE OWNED.*AK"

"THE REAR VIEW MIIRROR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT MOVE FAR ENOUGHT TO THE LEFT (9 P'CLOCK) TO PERMIT ADJUSTMENT SO THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS BLIND SPOT ON CARS MOVING UP TOWARD THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SO I CONCLLUDED THERE I A A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE MIRROR MECHANISM.... I TALKED TO ..."

"THE DRIVER SIDE SIDE-CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT VEHICLE BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS CAUSED INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. MR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED RINGING IN THE EARS AND SOME APPARENT HEARING LOSS WHICH NOW HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE PERMANENT. ALSO, THE LUMBAR IN THE..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28