2003 Saab 9-3 engine and engine cooling problems

“VEHICLE WAS STALLING DURING ACCELERATION , THEN FUEL PUMP HAD COMPLETE MALFUNCTION .... AFTER REPLACEMENT, ENGINE HAS ALWAYS RUN POORLY AND ALMOST ALWAYS STALLS DURING ACCELERATION. REPLACED IGNITION COIL , AND IT DIDN'T FIX PROBLEM . I HAVE TALKED TO 4 OTHER SAAB 9-3 OWNERS FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AND 2004 AND EVERY ONE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT WAS HAVING AN UNRELATED REPAIR PERFORMED AT THE DEALER WHEN HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED HAVING REPAIRS TO THE ENGINE AND SERVICE BRAKES. THE REPAIRS WERE NOT PERFORMED. THE CONTACT LOCATED TWO RECALLS FOR THE REPAIRS RECOMMENDED BY THE DEALER (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 04V540000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 05V236000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: POWER ASSIST: VACUUM: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THAT CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH EITHER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THEY WOULD SPEAK WITH THE DEALER TO DETERMINE IF THE REPAIR NEEDED WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPAIR LISTED IN THE RECALLS. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL OR NOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,180.”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY AN EXTREMELY SLOW DELAYED RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENT WHICH PROGRESSED TO AN ENGINE STALL. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AFTER STALLING. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V540000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL EXPIRED AND WERE UNABLE TO HONOR THE RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”

“2003 SAAB 9-3 SE CONV (73K MIKES AT TIME OF INCIDENT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY CAR SUDDEENLY QUIT RUNNING DIRECT IGNITION CASSETTE FAILED AND RUINED CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND O2 SENSORS SAAB FORCED TO RECALL THIS PART UP TO YEAR 2002. MY 2003 IS OLD SAAB BODY STYLE WITH DEFECTIVE DI CASSETTE. PART NUMBER ON CASSETE IS FROM THE 2002 AND EARLIER MODEL YEARS. *TR”

“AFTER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 40F, THE VEHICLE DISPLAYS A MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE DIAGNOSIS IS A FAILURE ON THE SECONDARY AIR PUMP AND CHECK VALVE. THIS IS AN EMISSIONS SYSTEM. THE PUMP WAS ADDED TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE UNDER EMISSIONS TESTING. THE VEHICLE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND SAAB IS NOT COVERING THIS ITEM UNDER EMISSIONS WARRANTY. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE, MANY SAAB OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ISSUE. *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 93 SAAB. THE ENGINE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING, AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE THE STEERING FUNCTION WAS LOST AS WELL. THE ONSTAR INDICATOR READ THAT THE STEERING AND ENGINE WERE MALFUNCTIONING. ON EIGHTEEN OCCASIONS THE SAAB DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE ,AND REFUSED TO PURCHASE BACK THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. ON MARCH 16, 2007, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND DROVE INTO A CEMENT WALL. AFTER THE RECENT FAILURE SAAB'S DIAGNOSIS WAS TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED WHILE BEING THREE MONTHS PREGNANT. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND THERE WAS SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 57,000. *AK”