2003 Saab 9-3 suspension problems

42 complaints (20% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 70,000. 2 crashes reported.

owner complaints: 42
of this car's complaints: 20%
typical mileage: 70,000
crashes: 2
recalls: 0

Which part fails

Front
27
Front: springs: coil springs
8
Rear
3
Rear: shock absorber
1
Front: stabilizer bar
1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k

25k-50k

50k-75k

75k-100k

100k-125k

125k-150k

150k-175k

175k-200k

200k+

Saab 9-3 suspension problems in other years

Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Saab 9-3 suspension

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Coil spring 30

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Related investigations

Front Suspension Coil Spring FractureOpened December 22, 2008, closed June 4, 2010

To date, ODI is aware of 142 non-duplicative complaints related to the alleged defect.In addition, ODI is aware of 2,626 subject vehicles with one or more warranty claims related to the alleged defect.In total, ODI is aware of 2,714 unique subject vehicles that have experienced one or more front suspension coil spring fractures.ODI is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the alleged defect.The engineering design and testing data supplied by GM, along with the frequency of consumer complaints and warranty claims related to the alleged defect, tends to support the position that, in general, the coil springs that fractured on many subject vehicles did not achieve the expected service life.However, in regard to the subject vehicles, a front suspension coil spring fracture itself has little safety consequence, as evidenced by the minimal impact on vehicle ride and handling and by the number of drivers who were unaware of the failure condition for some time until alerted by service personnel.The ratio of tire punctures to coil spring fractures appears low and there are no reports of crashes, deaths or injuries related to the alleged defect. A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will continue to monitor this issue and will take further action if warranted by the circumstances.See the EA08-026 Engineering Analysis Closing Report for more details.

EA08026

Front suspension coil spring fractureOpened August 28, 2008, closed December 23, 2008

On august 28, 2008, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe08-051) to investigate alleged front suspension coil spring fractures in certain model year (my) 2003-2004 saab 9-3 vehicles sold or registered in salt belt states.(note: for purposes of this investigation, the salt belt includes connecticut, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia and wisconsin).subsequent analysis of data provided by general motors corp. (gm) has LED the agency to expand the scope of this investigation to include all my 2003-2006 saab 9-3 vehicles sold or registered in salt belt states. To date, odi is aware of 53 non-duplicative complaints and/or field reports that allege coil spring fracture in the subject vehicles, including 23 alleging the fractured spring damaged a tire, with 16 of those involving a tire puncture.analysis of warranty data provided by gm identified 1,218 claims paid to repair subject vehicles that experienced the alleged defect, of which 138 vehicles also suffered damage to the adjacent tire and of those, 79 vehicles experienced a tire puncture.odi is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the alleged defect. Gm made several design changes to the coil springs and/or mcpherson strut assemblies used in the subject vehicles in an apparent effort to address the alleged defect condition.however, gm maintains that the subject vehicles remain well controlled in the event of tire puncture, that the rate of tire puncture incidents related to coil spring fractures is low, and that the alleged defect does not pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.accordingly, this investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea08-026) to further study the safety consequences of the alleged defect.

PE08051

What 2003 Saab 9-3 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Aug 16, 2016 · Steering, Suspension · 71,810 miles · TX · crash · 2 injuries

Hit concrete wall

Filed Apr 27, 2016 · Steering, Suspension · 70,000 miles · TX · crash · 2 injuries

Coil spring brok caused tire to come off turnded sideways under firewall causing us to crash into concrete barrier

Filed Jun 11, 2014 · Suspension · 60,000 miles · CO

I have also been having issues with the front passenger side suspension. I would have to check my records, but I believe it started when the car had about 25k miles on it. The springs are still in tact, but I would notice a very loud creaking noise going over speed bumps in parking lots, especially in cold temperatures. I brought it to the attention of the dealership while it was still under warranty and they did not offer any resolution. After reading the large number of complaints of broken springs, I now know why I am afraid to drive this car on the freeway. I would really like to get this fixed under a recall before it causes an accident and someone gets seriously injured or killed.

Filed Mar 6, 2014 · Suspension, Tires · 94,304 miles · VA

Driving down street at 30 MPH. Left side front spring broke. Spring stuck out and shredded tire. Left side of car dropped, which then caused right side spring to come off and cut right side tire. Had to replace both front spring / strut assemblies, and replace 2 tires. Researched problem, found that gm manufactured these cars in 2003 - 2006 and was offering a warranty to fix this problem. My saab is several months past the warranty dates but not the mileage limit. However, my understanding is that the original parts were faulty or defective. Very dangerous, as if car were traveling faster it could have been a serious accident. I would hope gm would correct or pay for a true safety issue.

Filed Mar 4, 2010 · Suspension · 76,000 miles · KY

This is on a 2003 saab 9-3 2.0t linear model. There were no injuries this time but the potential is very much there. My wife was pulling out from a stop light and hear a loud pop followed by a loud grinding noise. She pulled off immediately. When I arrived on scene, I found that the drivers front wheel was pushed up into the wheel well. When I removed the tire I found that the spring had broken in two (the bottom last ring broke off) and had dropped down to where the jagged end (still attached/wrapped around the shock) was poking into the tire. It had left a relatively deep gouge all the way around the tire. I am sure I don't have to explain to you what could happen if the spring were to break on the interstate at 70mph and puncture the tire. I am quite certain that if my wife would have kept driving any distance that the spring would have dug its way through the side wall and punctured it. Remember, we cant always just pull off the interstate or stop at the drop of a hat. If you have ever driven through atlanta you will know this to be true ;) anyway, went digging on the internet trying to purchase replacement springs and found out that saab had issued a special warranty for spring failures on some of the 9-3's (including mine). Apparently,saab is aware that road debris can get jammed in the spring mount and eat at the coating away on the bottom coil and allow corrosion to work its magic resulting in the springs breaking/failing. So, I call saab. They tell me that I am not covered because I do not live in what they consider to be the snow belt. Which is the upper/more northern states. They tell me that the failure has been reported more in these states and it is due to road salting. Furthermore, I am told that they are only replacing the springs after they have failed. As these cars start to get some age on them, I think we are going to start seeing more and more of these failures. Will it take someone dying for them to issue a recall campaign?

Filed Feb 12, 2010 · Suspension · 71,000 miles · OH

No events leading to failure. Passenger front spring broke at 71,000 miles. Broke previously at 35,000 miles. Current brake at 71,000, broken spring dug into passenger front tire and prevent the car from steering to the left. Springs were replaced by the dealer after the 35,000 mile failure. Springs and struts were replaced with aftermarket parts after the 71,000 file failure.

Filed Dec 31, 2009 · Suspension · 83,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 saab 9-3. While driving approximately 40 MPH she heard a loud grinding noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician stated that the sway bar failed because of the right front coil spring. The manufacturer took a report. The manufacturer wanted to offer $100.00 towards the cost for repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 83,000.

Filed Oct 30, 2009 · Suspension · 75,000 miles · KY

Passenger side front spring broke about 4" up from the bottom. Car mileage apprx. 75k. Problem was indicated by clunking noise and oddness in the steering.

Filed Oct 24, 2009 · Suspension · 47,843 miles · NJ

Returned from 2 week vacation where car was parked in an outdoor airport parking lot. When car was put into reverse to back out of parking space, extra gas was required to start movement, then loud bang / pop and the car started to move. (sometimes after a rain, the disk brakes seem to rust / weld to the rotors and require extra effort to brake loose. But this bang / pop was louder than normal.) started to drive out of parking lot, then onto street to get onto interstate. Smelled rubber burning odor. Other drivers indicated white smoke coming from right wheel well area. Stopped to investigate and found right front suspension spring broken and cutting a groove in the side wall of tire. Car handled normally, so we were glad we hadn't entered interstate and gotten up to highway speed. Car towed to mechanic. He said only right side had physically broken, but felt the left side was about to break also. He replaced both left / right struts, springs, bracket, support struts, sway bar links and right front tire.

Filed Sep 9, 2009 · Suspension · 200,000 miles · 00

2003 saab 9-3 linear. Oem front spring broken (passenger side). Noticed when doing brakes one day. No damage to vehicle or any property, but still a huge problem.

Questions about the 2003 Saab 9-3 suspension

Does the 2003 Saab 9-3 have suspension problems?

Owners have filed 42 complaints about the suspension of the 2003 Saab 9-3, 20% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2003 Saab 9-3 suspension problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 70,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2003 Saab 9-3 suspension?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Saab 9-3 have bad suspension?

The Saab 9-3 model years with the most suspension complaints are 2004 (52 complaints), 2003 (42 complaints) and 2005 (29 complaints).