NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 155 owner complaints for the 2007 Saab 9-3. Most complaints involve air bags (65) and suspension (24). The EPA rates it 18–22 mpg combined.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2011 Saab 9-3 Convertible vehicles manufactured July 30, 2003, to February 15, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the driver's side front seat belt retractor may break, causing the seat belt webbing not to retract.
TI AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN FUEL PUMPS, PART NUMBERS TU456 AND TU303, SOLD UNDER VARIOUS BRAND NAMES AS AFTERMARKET AND REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MAY SEIZE, STOPPING THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE CREATING A STALLING CONDITION.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“I CALLED ELKINS CHEVROLET IN MARLTON NJ AS LISTED ON MY RECALL FORM. I CALLED THEM TWO TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY TOLD ME THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. I THEN RECEIVED A FEW MORE RECALL NOTICES STILL LISTING THEM AS THE SERVICE CENTER. I CALLED AGAIN AN WAS THEN TOLD THE ONLY WORK OF CHEVROLETS. BOTH TURNED OUT TO BE BOLD FACED LIES!”
“FIRST ISSUE WAS FRONT SUSPENSION COILS. REPLACED BOTH. BIGGEST ISSUE WAS ONCE THE WEATHER BECAME VERY COLD, CAR WOULD NOT START. ENDED UP BEING A VICTIM OF THE BAD INTAKE VALVES PROVIDED BY GM. NOW, AFTER A COMPLETE VALVE JOB AND HAVING THE CAR RUN GREAT FROM MARCH 2017 TO DEC 2017..IT APPEARS IT MAY HAVE A CRACKED BLOCK. CAR NEVER OVERHEATED. FLUIDS WERE ALWAYS MAINTAINED. LOOKED INTO THAT AND APPARENTLY THERE WERE SOME CASTING ISSUES AS WELL. THANKS GM.”
“I WAS HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY ENGINE IDLING ROUGH WHEN STARTING UP AND WHILE DRIVING COLD. AFTER THE CAR WARMS, THE ISSUE GET A BIT BETTER. BUT WHILE COLD, THE CAR RUNS TERRIBLY ROUGH. AFTER SPENDING OVER $3000 TRYING TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE ISSUE, INCLUDING REPLACING THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM, SEVERAL ENGINE PARTS, AND HOURS OF LABOR AND WASTED TIME, THE SAAB DEALER NARROWS IT DOWN TO A COMPRESSION ISSUE INVOLVING ONE OF THE INTAKE VALVES, WHICH IT SEEMS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 2007 MODEL 9-3S. THEY ESTIMATE AN ADDITIONAL $2,500 OF WORK TO FIX IT! I'VE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINS ON THIS ISSUE. IF THIS IS SUCH A COMMON ISSUE, GM SHOULD RECALL THESE FAULTY PARTS AND REPLACE THEM.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9-3 Sport Sedan Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,500 | 404 |
| 9-3 Sport Sedan Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,500 | 404 |
| 9-3 SportCombi Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,500 | 404 |
| 9-3 Convertible Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 27 | 21 | $3,700 | 423 |
| 9-3 Convertible Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 27 | 21 | $3,700 | 423 |
| 9-3 SportCombi Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 27 | 21 | $3,700 | 423 |
| 9-3 Convertible Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 2.8 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 26 | 19 | $3,300 | 468 |
| 9-3 Sport Sedan Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 2.8 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 26 | 19 | $3,300 | 468 |
| 9-3 SportCombi Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 2.8 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 26 | 19 | $3,300 | 468 |
| 9-3 Convertible Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 2.8 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 15 | 26 | 18 | $3,450 | 494 |
| 9-3 Sport Sedan Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 2.8 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 15 | 26 | 18 | $3,450 | 494 |
| 9-3 SportCombi Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 2.8 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 15 | 26 | 18 | $3,450 | 494 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
3 safety recalls as of Nov 8, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 155 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (65), suspension (24), engine (18). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2007 Saab 9-3 at 18–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (12 versions rated).