Problems · NHTSA complaints
2011 Saab 9-3 problems
Owners filed 30 complaints about the 2011 Saab 9-3 with NHTSA between Sep 2012 and Jun 2021. The most-cited component is air bags (25).
Complaints
30
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags25
- Seat belts3
- Engine1
- Suspension1
- Service brakes1
- Power train1
- Other / unknown1
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 Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
0
0
1
15
8
2
0
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
25 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.”
Seat belts
3 reports1 related recall
“driver side seat belt not retracting, there is a recall but does not include this vin number.”
Engine
1 report
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT DETECTED A STRONG ODOR OF COOLANT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT AND SCREWS WERE MISSING THAT CONNECTED THE TRANSMISSION TO THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE WARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
Suspension
1 report
“PUMP ON REAR XWD FAILURE”
Service brakes
1 report
“LARGE SECTIONS OF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE FLAKING APART. THE ROTOR SURFACE IS REDUCED TO ABOUT HALF OF NORMAL AND NO LONGER PROVIDES SAFE STOPPING ABILITY. STOPPING DISTANCE IS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED AND SAFETY IS SEVERELY COMPROMISED. VEHICLE MILEAGE AT TIME PF PROBLEM DISCOVERY 14,000 MILES.”
Power train
1 report
“THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE HYDRAULIC PUMP WENT BAD AND THERE ARE NONE AVAILABLE TO FIX CAR. THE HALDEX ALL WHEEL DRIVE IS BEING USED ON VARIOUS OTHER MAKES AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM. WHEN I CHECKED ON LINE THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF PEOPLE REPORTING THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE HYDRAULIC PUMP ON THEIR ALL WHEEL DRIVE CARS. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.