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Electrical system

Saab 9-3 Electrical problems by year

187 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Saab 9-3's electrical system. Dead batteries, warning lights, wiring, alternators, infotainment and electronic module failures.

Electrical complaints by model year

YearElectrical complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20101000
20091000
200811110
200712010
200613110
20059000
200413100
200346000
200214001
200123001
200023111
199921000

Electrical recalls

Latest 9-3 electrical complaints

2008 Saab 9-3Electrical systemAirbagsSeats & seat belts

I have been trying to get this recall done for many years and with no luck. Most recently June 26th 2026 I was informed my recall was not fixable again and I hope for the last time. Enough is enough! Van Bortel Chevrolet in Macedon Ny tried again today which is there 2nd attempt. I had to buy a software card to give them the tool they didn't have to fit in there tech 2 scanner and even with the card they were unable to fix. It's a major safety issue I have been more than patient with and can't even begin to tell you over the years how much time and money spent trying to fix. I think at this point they need to replace car with similar or purchase from me.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Air bags · Seat beltsNHTSA 11746834
2001 Saab 9-3Fuel systemElectrical system

The contact owns a 2001 Saab 9-3. The contact stated that the vehicle was overheating while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. A mobile independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 05V399000 (Electrical System) and 06V126000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Filed Incident Fuel system, gasoline · Electrical systemNHTSA 11627255
2002 Saab 9-3Electrical system

The soft top is faulty and the rear lights are as well.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or otherNHTSA 11507579
2004 Saab 9-3Electrical system

Constant random recurrence of error codes P2122 and P2138 (either together or on their own) which results in the car switching to low power mode, with very low acceleration which makes it very dangerous to merge into traffic, pull out of stops, red lights, etc. Technically supposed to require changing the throttle pedal sensor, but changing it does not solve the issue, which is electrical. This is a known issue for GM cars.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11467557
2005 Saab 9-3Electrical system

Altornator keep malfunctioning happend multiple time

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11278465
2006 Saab 9-3Electrical systemAirbagsFuel system

Takata recall, I took my 06 saab 93 aero into bellevue washington cadillac dealership to get my air bag recall fixed, after I hot the recalled airbag replaced they reset my ecm and now my airbag light is on intermittently and drains my battery dead over night! I have called bellevue cadillac and they refuse to do anything about the damage they did to my car by replacing the recalled airbag with another bad airbag! They listed in their computers that they fixed my car and never did so now I am stuck with another bad...

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faulty airbag and now a battery drain issue from it. My car has been literally undriveable since the day they replaced the recalled airbag. The car also has a failed gas gauge due to electrical issues from the factory which was never recalled, the fuel sending units are bad and never worked properly since the car was purchased which alot if people with the same saabs have experienced all over the world!

Filed Incident Electrical system · Air bags · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11180544
2003 Saab 9-3Electrical system

I am receiving an onstar not available error - there was a recall 08089-b part # 10027804 - I want my onstar disabled. Who do I contact?

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11128082
2005 Saab 9-3SteeringElectrical systemDriver assistance

My car won't start and no mechanic can figure out exactly why due to there not being any saab dealers near the area I'm stuck in... I have been living out of my car for 3 months cuz I don't want anyone to steal my car

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical system · Electronic stability control (ESC)NHTSA 11123274
2008 Saab 9-3Electrical system1 injury

Accident happened after headlight low-beam failed.Was told and shown a melted headlight module that overheated and caused the low-beam headlights to go out. The entire headlamp assembly was replaced. As were other crash involved parts

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11099428
2005 Saab 9-3Electrical system

Horn does not blow, please wait light stays on. And burns the battery out over a day or so while car is stationary have to recharge.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or otherNHTSA 11056947
2006 Saab 9-3Electrical systemLights

Takata recall my car have electrical issue with the motor transmission and tail lights my tail light aint working all the time the passenger side tail light look like the wire caught on fire by the plug and the transmission jurk sometimes and the odbo2 saying there's no transmission fluid and its full the crank shaft sensor like come on and wont go off after I replace it then the throttle body code came up and I replace it then now it start off slow and when I check odbo2 it saying the throttle body and I know it's not so thats tell me it's the wiring harness

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11055002
2008 Saab 9-3Electrical systemLights

The headlights in my vehicle started flickering and shut off while driving in the dark a few days ago. After safely parking the car, I investigated and found that the housings are designed to be unservicable but I was able to investigate and found that nearly all of the internal wiring shielding had cracked and fallen off (please see attached photos, I appologize about the quality). The headlights failing without notice created a very dangerous blackout scenario which could have very easily resulted in serious injury and/or death due to manufacturing defect and by no fault by or prior warning to the operator. I was lucky!

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11053416
2006 Saab 9-3Electrical systemAirbagsDriver assistanceCrash1 injury

Takata recall, after getting a notice I looked online called every single dealer in my area they all said they don't work on saabi hope everything is gm finally I found one most of them said sub went bankrupt so in a few years the car should be fixed faded out and you should get rid of it they said no one will fix it because there's no older this is the of the dealerships within 100 mile radius dealership gmc's somehow I got connected to a repair shop that specializes in sob and they said they said they could do...

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it there about one month out and I would have to come to them which was 400 miles away I told him it was a hardship also and if they could arrange to pick it up or we could arrange another shop to fix it for the dealer they said nope with only ones in northern california appointment later I got a notice from gmc it was and ambiguous it stated your seatbelt and airbag might not be recall however you might want to check this website which was in small print I took it as a discouraging memo when I checked it out they said if you don't have any dealers in yourn your area no I cannot drive it because of safety concerns nor can I sell it because of african more of the concerns I had showing a lawn service recalled I believe gmc is required and responsible in this case to buy back your vehicle for me or offer me a replacement in this case they are avoiding there's possibility and no matter if the company would bankrupt they are the ones that assumed I have been driving with this issue and I have kids and it is unsafe I need to help they need to be in burst me for the whole cost of the vehicle for

Filed Incident Electrical system · Air bags · Electronic stability control (ESC)NHTSA 11051848
2008 Saab 9-3Electrical systemEngine & coolingFuel system

Recently, while starting the car it started up very rough. A few weeks ago the check engine light also came on and the mechanic told me there was an issue in cylinder 2. We replaced all spark plugs and coils, and the issue did not go away. In addition, the car has also started stalling randomly. Luckily, I haven't been driving at high speeds when this has happened but it's now shut off about 7 or 8 times in the last month. Been wondering if its intake valves, fuel pump, powertrain control module, camshaft...

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timing... Sounds like lots of other people have experienced similar issues and hoping mines not because of the intake valves. Please email [[redacted]]@hotmail.Com if you have experienced similar issues and know the fix. Car is a manual transmission.*Jb

Filed Incident Electrical system · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11044367

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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