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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 (5)
Seat belts: front, retractor
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2011 Saab 9-3 Convertible vehicles manufactured July 30, 2003, to February 15, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the driver's side front seat belt retractor may break, causing the seat belt webbing not to retract.
Risk and remedy
Risk: In the event of a crash, a seat belt that has not retracted may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt retractor, free of charge. The recall began on October 6, 2015. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007. GM's number for this recall is 14222. Note: Special Coverage 10086 will replace the passenger side seat belt retractor if it fails, free of charge, for the life of the vehicle.
Seat belts: front, retractor
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 SAAB 9-3 SEDANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT, OVER TIME, COULD FAIL TO RETRACT.
Risk and remedy
Risk: USING A SEAT BELT THAT HAS NOT RETRACTED, AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE RETRACTOR FREE OF CHARGE. IF THE FRONT PASSENGER RETRACTOR WERE TO FAIL TO RETRACT, GM WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER RETRACTOR FREE OF CHARGE UNDER A SPECIAL COVERAGE THAT WILL BE RELEASED FOR THE SAME POPULATION FOR 10 YEARS FROM NEW VEHICLE DATE OF SALE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT SAABPARTS.COM/US. Note: In June 2014, GM expanded the special coverage from 10 years to be for the lifetime of the vehicle.
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist, vacuum
CERTAIN SPORT SEDAN AND CONVERTIBLE PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH A VACUUM PIPE CHECK VALVE FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER THAT MAY FAIL FROM EXPOSURE TO ELEVATED TEMPERATURES. THIS COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST, USUALLY WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING.
Risk and remedy
Risk: IF THIS CONDITION WERE TO OCCUR WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REDESIGNED CHECK VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 17, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
Seat belts: front, retractor
SOME SPORT SEDANS WERE BUILT WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT WERE DAMAGED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. IF DAMAGED, OVER TIME, THE AUTOMATIC TENSIONING SYSTEM (ATS) CABLE IN THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR COULD BREAK CAUSING THE BELT WEBBING TO NOT RETRACT.
Risk and remedy
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT MAY RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
Seats: front assembly, recliner
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." THE BACKREST LOCKING MECHANISM ON SOME FRONT SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Risk and remedy
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO FOLD FORWARD IN A FRONTAL CRASH, RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND/OR FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SEATS TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED COMPONENT. IF EITHER OR BOTH OF THE SEATS HAVE THIS COMPONENT, THEY WILL BE REPLACED. THE DEALER MAY NEED TO ORDER A COMPLETE NEW SEAT OR SEATS (INCLUDING MATCHING UPHOLSTERY) AND THE PARTS MAY TAKE UP TO TWO TO FOUR WEEKS TO ARRIVE. SAAB WILL PROVIDE A RENTAL CAR FOR THE OWNER UNTIL THE NEW SEAT(S) IS (ARE) AVAILABLE AND INSTALLED BY THE DEALER. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
Canadian recalls (3)
Show 3 Canadian recalls
Seats and restraints
2014-06-12 · campaign 2014-228 · 961 vehicles
On certain convertible model vehicles, the tensioning cable in the driver's seat belt retractor may break, causing the belt to fail to retract. If a crash were to occur with a seat belt in this condition, it could increase the risk of injury to the driver. Correction: Dealers will replace seat belt retractor assemblies.
Seats and restraints
2010-02-10 · campaign 2010-039 · 665 vehicles
On certain vehicles, the Automatic Tensioning System (ATS) cable of the seatbelt retractors could fail. Should this occur, the webbing spooled out by the user would not retract. If the spool cable were to break while the belt is being worn, the belt would function normally in a crash. It would then be obvious to the occupant that the belt needs repair as soon as possible. Correction: Dealers will replace the driver's seatbelt retractor.
Seats and restraints
2004-05-12 · campaign 2004-160
On certain vehicles, the Automatic Tensioning System (ATS) cable in the seatbelt retractor could break, causing webbing spooled out by the user to not retract. With this condition in the event of a vehicle crash, a front seat occupant may receive more severe injuries. Correction: Dealers will replace the seatbelt retractor assemblies.
Owner complaints (207)
Owners filed 207 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Saab 9-3 (10 crashes, 2 fires, 8 injuries reported). Among 14 model years of this model, it ranks #2 for the most complaints (median 64).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Seat belts | 79 | |
| Suspension | 52 | |
| Air bags | 20 | |
| Electrical system | 13 | |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 6 | |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 6 | |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2004 Saab 9-3.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2004 Saab 9-3 w/SAB | – | – | – | – |
| 2004 Saab 9-3 Convertible w/SAB | – | – | – | – |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2004 Saab 9-3 version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| 9-3 Convertible 2.0 L Manual 5-spd | 19 | 27 | 22 | $3,750 |
| 9-3 Convertible 2.0 L Manual 6-spd | 18 | 28 | 22 | $3,750 |
| 9-3 Convertible 2.0 L Automatic (S5) | 17 | 26 | 20 | $4,100 |
| 9-3 Sport Sedan 2.0 L Manual 5-spd | 20 | 30 | 24 | $2,800 |
| 9-3 Sport Sedan 2.0 L Manual 5-spd | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,750 |
| 9-3 Sport Sedan 2.0 L Manual 6-spd | 18 | 25 | 21 | $3,900 |
| 9-3 Sport Sedan 2.0 L Automatic (S5) | 19 | 27 | 22 | $3,050 |
| 9-3 Sport Sedan 2.0 L Automatic (S5) | 18 | 27 | 21 | $3,900 |
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.