Problems · by component

2000 Saab 9-3 electrical system problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2000 Saab 9-3 cite electrical system, 40% of all 62 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
25
40% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 10, 2014Electrical systemODI 10632197
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS HE WAS TAKING THE VEHICLE FOR EMISSIONS TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS REJECTED DUE TO THE CODES THAT SHOWED ON THE EMISSION TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE IDM CODE, WHICH IS THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL, OVER HEAT AND FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO INFORMED HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN BECAUSE IT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V399000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: MODULE). HE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY LATER INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $700 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS MILEAGE 106,871.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 8, 2011Electrical systemODI 10405626
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-3. IN 2006, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V399000. THE FAILURE WAS NOT PRESENT AT THE TIME, BUT THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED AS A PRECAUTIONARY REMEDY. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND OFTEN STALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY FURTHER LIABILITY. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED CORRECTLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 6, 2009Electrical systemODI 10275915
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 26, 2009Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10269966
“THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS STARTING FOR MANY YEARS AND I HAVE TAKEN IT TO VARIOUS SAAB SERVICE CENTERS WITHOUT MUCH LUCK. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE YEARS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR ISSUED ON THE PART WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN WHEN THE RECALL WAS ISSUED THEY SAID THAT MY DI CASSETTE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I HAVE JUST HAD TO PAY AND REPLACE THIS PART AND I FEAR THAT THIS DAMAGED PART HAS COMPROMISED OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 13, 2009Electrical systemODI 10254844
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-3. THE IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED IN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. TWO MONTHS LATER, HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V399000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE) AND HE IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE A NEW IGNITION MODULE WAS ALREADY INSTALLED. DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CLOGGED DUE TO IGNITION MODULE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 64,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 5, 2008Electrical systemODI 10250865

Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system: module

Remedy pending

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.

Electrical systemReported Sep 14, 2005NHTSA 05V399000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.