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Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (4)
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINES WERE DAMAGED DURING PRODUCTION.
Risk and remedy
Risk: OVER TIME, THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL LINES TO LOOSEN FROM THE PUMP RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL MAY IGNITE RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL DEVELOP A SECURING BRACKET THAT WILL SECURE THE FUEL LINES TO THE FUEL PUMP EVEN IF THE PLASTIC RETAINING TABS SHOULD BREAK. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 12, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
Electrical system: ignition, module
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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.
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 CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINES WERE DAMAGED DURING PRODUCTION.
Risk and remedy
Risk: OVER TIME, THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL LINES TO LOOSEN FROM THE PUMP RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL MAY IGNITE RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL DEVELOP A SECURING BRACKET THAT WILL SECURE THE FUEL LINES TO THE FUEL PUMP EVEN IF THE PLASTIC RETAINING TABS SHOULD BREAK. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 14, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
Air bags
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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.
Canadian recalls (3)
Show 3 Canadian recalls
Fuel system
2006-04-26 · campaign 2006-095 · 808 vehicles
On certain Saab 9-3 convertible and 9-3 Viggen vehicles, the fuel pump retaining tabs holding the fuel lines were damaged during production. Over time, this could cause the fuel lines to loosen from the pump resulting in fuel leakage. If an ignition source were present, the fuel may ignite resulting in a vehicle fire. Correction: Dealers will install a bracket that will secure the fuel lines to the fuel pump even if the plastic retaining tabs should break.
Electrical
2005-09-20 · campaign 2005-271
Certain 2000-2002 Saab 9-3 and 9-5 model vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder gasoline engines, and 2001-2003 9-5 models equipped with 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. Overheating of the IGBT occurs most often at engine start-up but may also occur while the engine is running. When the IDM fails on a 4-cylinder while it is running, the engine may stall without warning, with no ability to be restarted. When the IDM fails on a 6-cylinder engine while it is running, the driver will initially experience reduced power and rough operation because the engine will only be running on three cylinders. The check engine light will flash. If the driver continues, unburnt fuel in the exhaust can cause thermal damage to the catalytic converter. The engine may stall and not restart. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the IDM.
Fuel system
2004-12-08 · campaign 2004-427 · 381 vehicles
On certain Saab 9-3 convertible and 9-3 Viggen vehicles, the fuel pump retaining tabs holding the fuel lines were damaged during production. Over time, this could cause the fuel lines to loosen from the pump resulting in fuel leakage. If an ignition source were present, the fuel may ignite resulting in a vehicle fire. Correction: Dealers will install a bracket that will secure the fuel lines to the fuel pump even if the plastic retaining tabs should break.
Owner complaints (59)
Owners filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Saab 9-3 (1 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, 1 deaths reported). Among 14 model years of this model, it ranks #8 for the most complaints (median 64).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Electrical system | 23 | |
| Engine and engine cooling | 14 | |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 13 | |
| Air bags | 4 | |
| Seats | 2 | |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | |
| Suspension | 1 | |
| Tires | 1 | |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2001 Saab 9-3 version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| 9-3 2.0 L Automatic 4-spd | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,900 |
| 9-3 2.0 L Automatic 4-spd | 18 | 25 | 21 | $3,200 |
| 9-3 2.0 L Manual 5-spd | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,750 |
| 9-3 2.0 L Manual 5-spd | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,050 |
| 9-3 Convertible 2.0 L Automatic 4-spd | 18 | 25 | 21 | $3,200 |
| 9-3 Convertible 2.0 L Automatic 4-spd | 19 | 26 | 21 | $3,900 |
| 9-3 Convertible 2.0 L Manual 5-spd | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,750 |
| 9-3 Convertible 2.0 L Manual 5-spd | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,050 |
| 9-3 Viggen 2.3 L Manual 5-spd | 18 | 28 | 22 | $3,750 |
| 9-3 Viggen Convertible 2.3 L Manual 5-spd | 18 | 28 | 22 | $3,750 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.