2003 Saab 9-3 electrical system problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, SMOKE EMITTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO FLAMES VISIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DOORS OF THE VEHICLE FAILED TO LOCK. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO MOVE INTO THE ON POSITION. A TOW TRUCK OPERATOR STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE MOVED BECAUSE THE WHEELS WERE LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.”

“DRIVING STEADY PACE, SID FADES OUT, RADIO SHUTS OFF, GAUGES TURN OFF, AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. PULLED OVER AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT FROM ENGINE BAY. IT WAS FROM THE SOLENOID ON THE STARTER. I GOT A NEW STARTER AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I THEN BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY AND THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED. I HAD TO CHARGE THE BATTERY UP TO 100% TO GET THE CAR STARTED. THE ALTERNATOR WAS FINE SO MY BELIEF IS THERE IS AN OPEN CIRCUIT SOMEWHERE IN THE CAR. JUST RECENTLY THE SAME SITUATION HAPPENED AGAIN, STARTER MOTOR BURNED UP AND BATTERY DRAINED. *TR”

“AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE 3 NORTHBOUND LANES OF U.S. 23, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. I WAS GOING ABOUT 62 MPH. I ACTIVATED MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS, SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, AND SHUT OFF THE IGNITION KEY. I THEN TURNED THE IGNITION KEY TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND IT RESTARTED. THIS IS ABOUT THE 5TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST 5 MONTHS. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN GMS IGNITION RECALL!!! *TR”

“I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN 2 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT IS A KNOW PROBLEM THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH ON THE 2003 SAAB 9-3 CAUSES STALLING AND LOCK SYSTEM FAILURES. IF FACT AT ONE POINT THE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE BACK ORDERED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SPORADIC PROBLEM AND COMES AND GOES. *TR”

“THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME ALMOST IMMOBILE IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). ONCE IN THIRD GEAR, PERFORMANCE IS BACK TO NORMAL. IF DRIVER IS NOT AWARE OF SITUATION (CRUISE LIGHT OFF IS ONLY INDICATION IF CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IS TURNED ON), DRIVER CAN EASILY GET INTO BAD SITUATION AS CAR WILL NOT PERFORM AS USUAL (VERY SIGNIFICANT DEGRADATION OF PERFORMANCE). ALL THAT IS NEEDED TO RESET PROBLEM IS TO TURN THE KEY OFF AND RESTART THE ENGINE AND THE CONDITION WILL GO AWAY FOR AS LITTLE AS 10 MINUTES OR UP TO AS MUCH AS 2 HOURS OF DRIVING. IT IS SUSPECTED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIR MASS SENSOR AS REPLACING AIR MASS SENSOR WITH USED PART, PROBLEM DISAPPEARED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF DRIVER IS NOT AWARE AND TRIES TO MAKE A QUICK MANEUVER INVOLVING TIGHT TRAFFIC (LEFT TURN WHEN PERFORMANCE IS PARAMOUNT). WHATEVER THIS CONDITION IS THAT THE ELECTRONICS/ENGINE CONTROLS IS/ARE ENTERING IS UNACCEPTABLE AND THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER IN A RECALL. *TR”