2000 Saab 9-3 problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE FROM REVERSING, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.”

“SAAB 2000 9-3 TURBO CONTINUED TO BE PLAGUED WITH NO START PROBLEMS (RECALLED ITEM REPAIRED BY SAAB DEALERSHIP. OIL SLUDGE AS A RESULT OF PROBLEMS RELATED TO RECALL CAUSED ENGINE/TURBO TO FAIL AT 94,000 ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO MECHANIC. SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP IS DOCUMENTED AND SHOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS TYPE OF ENGINE. TURBO FAILURE. *TR”

“The driver's side, side air bag deployed spontaneously. There was no apparent reason or cause, ie no side impact of any kind, no door slamming or other provocation. The car was parked in a garage for six hours before I sat in the car, closed the door, then BLAM! Temperature was moderate, where as the car is often parked on a city street in direct sun. Air bag deployment was a loud bang followed by smoke from an explosive, and a sting on my neck and shoulder where the bag hit me. Bits of foam from the seat interior, where the air bag was located, blew around the car interior. I suffered temporary hearing loss in my left ear due to the loud bang. I was also quite startled. No other people were at risk. No other air bags have deployed since I've owned the car, approx. 20 yrs., purchased used. I will consult an authorized repair shop, insurance agent, and a dealer service center for more info. A Saab dealer service center told me a new replacement air bag would be available from Sweden at a cost of $700. That would be in addition to the cost of repairing the seat, door frame panel, and other items. There were no prior dash board or related fault code messages. The…”

“WHILE DRIVING MY CAR I HAD TO PUSH ON THE BRAKES FAIRLY HARD. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTED AND THEN STAYED RETRACTED. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A PROPER REPLACEMENT FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT AND HAVE YET TO FIND ONE FOR LESS THAN $200.00 FOR A USED ONE AND OVER $300.00 FOR A REFURBISHED ONE. GM JUST HAPPENS TO HAVE NEW ONES BUT THEY ARE ALMOST $500.00 ACCORDING TO THE REP FROM GM.THESE SEAT BELTS HAVE A CHARGING CYLINDER ON THEM THAT SETS OFF THE AIR BAG. THAT ALONE CAUSES YOU TO HAVE TO SHIP IT AS A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL.IF YOU CAN FIND SOMEONE TO SHIP IT AT A REASONABLE COST. (NOT HAPPENING)IF YOU GO WITH THE "UNIVERSAL" SEAT BELT SOLD BY SOME COMPANIES THEY DON'T EVEN WORK AND YOU ARE TOLD TO JUST CUT THE SEAT BELT TO MAKE IT FIT. KIND OF DESTROYS THE INTEGRITY OF THE SEAT BELT BY DOING THAT I WOULD THINK. I HAVE MADE TWO COMPLAINTS WITH GM ABOUT THIS AND CONSIDERING THEY HAD JUST RECALLED THE 2004-2009 SAAB'S FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE I THOUGHT THEY MIGHT WORK WITH ME TO SOME EXTENT. I KNOW NOW THAT IT IS NOT THE CASE. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE. [XXX] *TR UPDATED 3/13/2015 *JS”

“GAS STARTED LEAKING AT A STEADY STREAM FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK WHENEVER THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. FROM THE DEALER REPAIR STATEMENT: "CUSTOMER STATES CHECK RAW GAS LEAKING FROM ABOVE THE FUEL TANK, ONLY WITH CAR RUNNING. FUEL TANK RETAINER CLIP BROKEN. REPLACED FUEL TANK RETAINER CLIP." MY CONCERN: THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM (FUEL TANK RETAINER CLIP FAILURE AND LEAKING GAS) WAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR 2001 AND NEWER SAAB 9-3S. SAAB SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED 2000 MODELS AS WELL SINCE THEY HAVE THE SAME DESIGN (ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND COMMENTS ON THE WEB). OVERALL, THIS IS A GOOD CAR, BUT SAFETY MATTERS!”

“2000 SAAB 9-3 WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE. CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. THE NEW BELT SHRED. DEALER SAID TO PAY FOR THE SECOND REPAIR AND THEN GET REIMBURSED. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED FOLLOWING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WATER PUMP WHICH FAILED TWICE, THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A RATTLING SOUND. THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE CLUTCH, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DISAGREED WITH THEIR FINDINGS. THE DEALER THEN INSTALLED AN AC COMPRESSOR BRACKET INCORRECTLY WHICH RESULTED IN ANOTHER FAILURE OF THE SERPENTINE BELT. THE DEALER STATED THE FAILURE OF THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS NOT A RESULT OF IT BEING FAULTY, IT WAS DUE TO THE BELT BEING DAMAGED OR CRACKED. THE DEALER STATED THE AIR CONDITIONING BRACKET HAD BROKEN AND IN DOING SO, IT THREW THE BELT OFF OF THE PULLEYS. THE AC BRACKET WAS THE CASUAL PART FAILURE NOT THE BELT. THE BELT WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT CAME OFF. THE OIL PUMP RING AND CRANKSHAFT SEAL WERE REPLACED DUE TO AN OIL LEAK AT THE PUMP. *JB”