CarRecallWatchThe 2009 Saab 9-3 has 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA, including 1 crash.
The most-reported problem area is Air Bags (17 reports).
2009 Saab 9-3 recalls
Driver Airbag May Rupture and Spray Metal Fragments
Certain vehicles have a driver's frontal airbag inflator that can rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash.
Most common 2009 Saab 9-3 problems
Problem areas named in the 43 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 17 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
What owners report
MY 2009 SAAB 9-3 STARTED AND RAN FINE ON THE WAY TO WORK, BUT AT LUNCH IT STARTED FOR A COUPLE SECONDS AND SHUT OFF. THE CAR CRANKS, BUT IS AUDIBLY TOO FREE SPINNING. A LOCAL SHOP SAID COMPRESSION IN THE ENGINE WAS VERY LOW, AND AFTER MULTIPLE CALLS IT SEEMS THAT MY CAR HAS THE INFAMOUS "SOFT INTAKE VALVES" PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN A WIDESPREAD PLAGUE FOR THESE CARS FOR MODEL YEARS 07-11. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 78,000 MILES ON IT, AND HAS ALWAYS HAD THE OIL CHANGED WITH THE CORRECT GM SPEC OIL. I WOULD THINK AN ENGINE SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THIS.
MISFIRES WHEN COLD, RESULTING IN ROUGH LOW IDLE SPEED AND POSSIBLE STALLING AFTER COLD START.
MY CAR HAS FALLEN VICTIM TO THE SOFT INTAKE VALVE ISSUE. MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, IT RAN PERFECTLY WELL THE NIGHT BEFORE. I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE IT ON CHRISTMAS EVE MORNING 12/24/2017 BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL SAAB MECHANIC, AUTOMOTION IN BILLERICA, MA- THE OWNER SAID THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE HE HAS SEEN ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS; HE SAID HE SAW IT SO MANY TIMES HE PURCHASED NEW EQUIPMENT TO BE PREPARED FOR THE VOLUME OF CUSTOMERS. THIS IS BEING WELL DOCUMENTED AT THE SAABCENTRAL FORUM FOUND AT WWW.SAABCENTRAL.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=329066 MY 2009 9-3 IS ABOUT TO HIT 70,000 MILES; MECHANIC IS CURRENTLY WORKING TO FIX THE INTAKE VALVE ISSUE
THE INTAKE VALVES ARE WORN ON THE ENGINE THIS STARTED AROUND 80,000 MILES AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. THE CAR WILL NOT START ON VERY COLD DAYS. IF IT DOES, IT IDLES VERY ROUGH AND HARD. DATE BELOW IS AN ESTIMATE OF WHEN THIS STARTED.
I HAVE OWNED MY 2008 SAAB 9-3 FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW AND I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING ROUGH RUNNING ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. WHEN I START MY CAR UP IN THE MORNING IT RUNS VERY ROUGH. IHAVE GOTTEN IT DIAGNOSED AND IT IS MISFIRING DRAMATICALLY LIKE 6000 ON ONE CYLINDER AND 1081 ON ANOTHER . I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAD THIS PROBLEM DIAGNOSED, SEVERAL TIMES, AS HAVING BAD INTAKE VALVES. AFTER DOING MORE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE COME TO FIND THIS IS A RATHER COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS SPECIFIC YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE I HAVE HAD THIS REPAIR QUOTED AT OVER $2500.00. I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH MANUFACTURER RECALLS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS TO SUBMI
2009 Saab 9-3 questions
Does the 2009 Saab 9-3 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for the 2009 Saab 9-3: Driver Airbag May Rupture and Spray Metal Fragments; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Saab 9-3?
Based on 43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Air Bags (17), Engine (12), Fuel/Propulsion System (4).
How do I check if a recall on my 2009 Saab 9-3 has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.