Saab 9-3 years to avoid
More than twice the 9-3's typical complaint count for a model year.
Best Saab 9-3 years
Fewest owner complaints among the last 20 model years, counting only those with at least four years on the road.
Saab 9-3 complaints by model year
Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.
Most common Saab 9-3 problems
All model years combined.
- Airbags367
- Engine220
- Electrical188
- Suspension173
- Seat belts163
- Fuel system106
- Brakes86
- Transmission71
- Steering39
- Lights30
- Acceleration29
- Seats25
Most reported problems on the Saab 9-3
Saab 9-3 problems year by year
Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.
| Year | Score | Complaints | Top problem | Typical mileage | Recalls | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 89 | 30 | Airbags | 90,000 | 3 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 2010 | 89 | 30 | Airbags | 50,000 | 3 | 0 | Fewest complaints |
| 2009 | 87 | 43 | Airbags | 70,000 | 2 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 2008 | 51 | 184 | Airbags | 77,000 | 2 | 5 | |
| 2007 | 57 | 155 | Airbags | 64,000 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2006 | 52 | 179 | Airbags | 40,000 | 2 | 11 | |
| 2005 | 72 | 95 | Suspension | 64,000 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2004 | 44 | 207 | Seat belts | 72,500 | 5 | 10 | Avoid |
| 2003 | 41 | 212 | Electrical | 49,000 | 4 | 12 | Avoid |
| 2002 | 86 | 37 | Electrical | 63,000 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 80 | 59 | Electrical | 74,000 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2000 | - | 50 | Electrical | 94,000 | 2 | 4 | |
| 1999 | - | 64 | Electrical | 79,660 | 3 | 5 | |
| 1994 | - | 1 | Engine | 0 | 0 |
Recalls 17
Questions about the Saab 9-3
What years of the Saab 9-3 should you avoid?
2003 and 2004. Each has more than twice the Saab 9-3's typical number of owner complaints for a model year; 2003 alone has 212, mostly about electrical and suspension.
What is the best year for a used Saab 9-3?
2010, 2011 and 2009 have the fewest owner complaints among model years that have been on the road for at least four years (30, 30 and 43).
What is the most common problem with the Saab 9-3?
Airbags, with 367 complaints across all years, followed by engine (220) and electrical (188).
How many recalls does the Saab 9-3 have?
17 recalls between 1994 and 2011. The 2004 model year has the most, with 5.
VIN decoder
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