Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Saab 9-3 problems

Owners filed 184 complaints about the 2008 Saab 9-3 with NHTSA between Sep 2008 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (71).

Complaints
184
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags71
  2. Engine66
  3. Fuel/propulsion system13
  4. Electrical system11
  5. Seat belts10
  6. Power train10
  7. Suspension10
  8. Vehicle speed control4
  9. Exterior lighting3
  10. Structure3
  11. Latches/locks/linkages2
  12. Fuel system, gasoline2
  13. Engine and engine cooling2
  14. Seats1

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20083
20090
20103
20111
20125
20139
201429
201521
201665
201725
20188
20192
20207
20212
20220
20231
20241
20251
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

71 reports1 related recall
“I have been trying to get this recall done for many years and with no luck. Most recently June 26th 2026 I was informed my recall was not fixable again and I hope for the last time. Enough is enough! Van Bortel Chevrolet in Macedon Ny tried again today which is there 2nd attempt. I had to buy a software card to give them the tool they didn’t have to fit in there tech 2 scanner and even with the card they were unable to fix. It’s a major safety issue I have been more than patient with and can’t even begin to tell you over the years how much time and money spent trying to fix. I think at this point they need to replace car with similar or purchase from me.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 26, 2026Electrical system, Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11746834

Engine

66 reports1 crash
“HAD TO HAVE VALVE JOB DONE DUE TO BAD /DEFECTIVE/INFERIOR INTAKE VALVES, FROM MANUFACTURER. HAD TO HAVE ALL INTAKE VALVES REPLACED, WITH MODIFIED/UPGRADED INTAKE VALVES. OBTAINED PO300 - RANDOM MISFIRE CODES, HAD ROUGH IDLE, CHECKED ENGINE COMPRESSION, HAD 45PSIG IN CYLINDER NUMBER 4. ENGINE HAD 72862MILES, ON IT, THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BY SAAB/GM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 30, 2020EngineODI 11385659

Fuel/propulsion system

13 reports
“MY VEHICLE DOESN'T START/IDLE WELL IN THE COLD DUE TO THE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD BOLTS SLOWLY BECOMING LOOSE. **WHEN DRIVING AND SHIFTING** THE VEHICLE CANNOT HANDLE THE EXTRA UNCLEAN AIR ENTERING THE SYSTEM AND WILL STALL OUT WHILE GOING ANYWHERES FROM 0-60+ MPH, ONCE THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF ALL POWER STEERING ALSO SHUTS DOWN. THE SECONDARY ISSUE IS AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM BECAUSE THE SEALS ON THE AIR INTAKE VALVES INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER HAVE BECOME FAULTY RESULTING IN CYLINDER MISFIRES AND A HIGH AMOUNT OF VIBRATION INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, THE SYMPTOMS COME AND GO WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY AS TIME GOES ON. THIS SECONDARY ISSUE TIES INTO THE FIRST ISSUE BECAUSE OF SHIFTING WITH A STANDARD MY VEHICLE TODAY (12/3/2020) SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING 7 TIMES TO AND FROM MY JOB.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 3, 2020Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11377764

Electrical system

11 reports1 crash
“ACCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER HEADLIGHT LOW-BEAM FAILED.WAS TOLD AND SHOWN A MELTED HEADLIGHT MODULE THAT OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT. THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. AS WERE OTHER CRASH INVOLVED PARTS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 3, 2018Electrical systemODI 11099428

Seat belts

10 reports1 crash1 related recall
“Driver seat belt fails to retract. When retraction failure occurs, it is obvious to the seat occupant immediately. If a crash were to occur with a seat belt in this condition, the result could increase the risk of injury to the driver. The seat belt retraction failure has been reproduced and confirmed. No warning lamps but, the seat belt showed earlier symptoms of not working properly, by not engaging when hard braking occurred. I will have the tensioner replaced.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 28, 2021Seat beltsODI 11426755

Power train

10 reports1 crash1 fire
“at about 98,000 miles the starts to fail transmission fails Also when the car gets too cold in the winter it refuses to start and it is not a battery issue. the cylinders get to cold to start. When the warm weather comes back around it starts again.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 18, 2023Power trainODI 11508009
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

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