2004 Saab 9-3: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 236 complaints
236
Total Complaints
70,000mi
Median Mileage
SEAT BELTS
Top Issue
11
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

49,368 25th Percentile
70,000 Median Mileage
100,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SEAT BELTS
67
SUSPENSION:FRONT
29
SUSPENSION
18
AIR BAGS
16
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
11
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
10
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
5
TIRES
4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
4

Severity Assessment

11
Crashes
2
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND LEAVING A SHOPPING MALL CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES, AND SECONDS LATER THE TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE STALLED, AND COULD NOT BE STARTED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, WHO REPLACED THE T6ECM OR MAIN COMPUTER.*AK"
"WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND LEAVING A SHOPPING MALL CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES, AND SECONDS LATER THE TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE STALLED, AND COULD NOT BE STARTED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, WHO REPLACED THE T6ECM OR MAIN COMPUTER.*AK"
"PULLED INTO A STANDARD, PAVED, PARKING SPACE TURNED ELECTRONIC IGNITION KEY TO OFF POSITION AND REMOVED KEY. CAR DID NOT TURN OFF, ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTINUED TO FUNCTION AS THOUGH KEY WAS IN IGNITION.*AK ONBOARD COMPUTER DISPLAYED "STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE: CONTACT SERVICE." TURNED..."

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