2005 Saab 9-3: broken coil spring

Filed Nov 11, 2014 · Suspension · 167,000 miles · MO

Just put 2005 saab 9-3 into shop for new breaks and was informed that the front passenger coil spring was broken. Parts are unavailable. I have no recollection as to when this might have happened. Thankfully it was not on freeway.

Filed Aug 20, 2014 · Suspension · 52,892 miles · MI

I went to put new tires on the car because of a flat tire and the service garage indicated the front coil springs were broken. I called a saab dealearship and that indicated that the previous owner replaced the springs but the replacement springs were not covered.

Filed Apr 10, 2012 · Suspension · 66,489 miles · MN

Front coil springs broke. Service station had to remove front strut assemblies to replace "broken" front coil springs- install struts-clean affected surfaces and two new tires.

Filed Apr 2, 2012 · Suspension · 78,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 saab 9-3. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the front passenger side suspension coil spring fractured and punctured the front passenger tire. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to a local mechanic shop where the failure was confirmed. The dealer was contacted and advised that the parts needed for the repair were on a national back order and the dealer was unaware of when the parts would become available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure who stated they were not sure when the parts would become available and offered no further assistance. The failure mileage was 78,000.

Filed Mar 22, 2012 · Suspension · 78,000 miles · IL

The front-right coil spring has broken (when turning 180 degree, at 3 or 5 MPH);

Filed Mar 9, 2012 · Suspension · 42,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 saab 9-3. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, she heard a loud noise and the vehicle started to drive differently. The vehicle was taken straight to the dealer where they advised her that the front passenger side coil springs were fractured and needed to be repaired. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised her that they had issued an extended warranty but her vehicle was not one of the affected units that the warranty would cover. The failure and the current mileages were approximately 42,000.

Filed Feb 24, 2012 · Suspension · 77,000 miles · MI

A few weeks ago, I began to notice a clunking sound near front driver's side tire when going over bumps in the road. Upon investigation this week, I could see that the coil spring was broken right through the metal. I had never hears of anything like that. Mileage is approximately 77,000. Drove it to the mechanic, who confirmed that there is a broken spring. They informed me that, although the part is not expensive, there are none available, that this is a known defect, and the part is on a national backorder! I never rec'd any sort of notification from saab about this. The mechanic also said that I was incredibly lucky that the break didn't happen on the freeway, that it could have taken out the brand new front tire. I have a young daughter and I volunteer to drive other school kids on a weekly basis--this could have been catastrophic. Until a new spring is found, I was told not to drive the car, that it could blow out the tire at any time. There is no eta on the new part. Even though saab is bankrupt, there's a local dealer still in business, so I'm the wait list for the part with them as well. In the meantime, I'm stuck.

Filed Jan 27, 2012 · Suspension · 101,250 miles · OH

While backing out of my driveway, I heard a loud noise that sounded like a spring. After taking the car to the dealer, I was informed that the passenger strut spring required replacement. Several hours later, I was informed that the part was only available from saab in sweden and the eta was unknown due to saab bankruptcy status. A day later the dealer was able to locate a used part with a 30-day warranty but I was responsible for all repair costs. Fortunately, no damage was done to my tires, as I had just replaced the set only two weeks prior. Also, I appreciate the dealer telling me of the risk in continuing to drive the car with the broken spring. They also provided a loaner car for the period of the repair. Still, if this is a known defect for this model and year, the repair cost should have been covered and/or consumers should have received some type of notification of the potential problem.

Filed Aug 2, 2011 · Suspension · 82,000 miles · ME

Approximately 4 months ago my right front coil spring broke on my 2005 saab 9-3 at around 75,000 miles. I was pulling out of my garage when it snapped, but could not determine the source of the sound as nothing appeared broken to my untrained eye and the vehicle still operated fine. Over the next couple weeks I brought it in to the dealership for front end noise and the broken spring was discovered. Not a big deal as the repair was covered under a service bulletin and no damage occurred to the vehicle. However, a few days ago my right rear coil spring snapped as I was traveling down the highway. There was no apparent change in how the vehicle handled, but after my experience with the front spring the sound was familiar and therefore I had my husband inspect it. Apparently, there is no service bulletin for the rear springs, just the front springs and I'm wondering why both front and rear are not covered by this service bulletin.

Filed Apr 5, 2011 · Suspension · 53,000 miles · NY

Since I bought my car (new) in june '05 I have complained of a "crunching noise" in the front suspension every time the weather turned cold. I was told the problems varied from ball bearings to the sway bar, to just dirt build up. Each time the dealer made some "repair" to get me out the door. The problem continued. Now, april '11 I have a broken spring in the front passenger side. I have been told that I have to pay the dealer to diagnose the problem before they will consider fixing it under any special circumstance free of charge. I have sourced some parts for it and am considering having it fixed by myself, rather than go to the dealer who brushed me off for 5 years. Thankfully I was just pulling out of my parking spot when I heard the grinding noise from the front passenger side and I was not traveling at a high rate of speed when this happened. The spring broke downward and was very near the tire. There could have been a serious tire blowout on the highway had I not been so lucky.

Filed Mar 6, 2011 · Suspension · 55,662 miles · NH

2005 saab 9-3 driver's side front strut spring just broke. No warning, drove yesterday and car was fine, went to back out of garage and a terrible grinding, scraping noise occurred. Discovered the spring broke and rubbing against tire. Luckily this did not occur while driving at normal speeds. Seems like it could have caused tire blow out and possibly an accident.

Filed Jan 24, 2010 · Suspension · 49,700 miles · MN

The problem apparently occurred while driving down the freeway. I heard a loud "clunk" that sounded like I had hit something but there was nothing in the road. Following that, every time I would drive over an irregularity in the road I would hear a "clunk" in the front passenger side. I took it to a local shop to find out what was making the noise and they discovered the broken right front coil spring. The sharp broken end was very close to rotating into the side of the tire which would have been catastrophic. I have the broken piece of the spring. I have also learned that this is a disturbingly common problem with this model of saab as I ran across a web site with many saab 9-3 owners that have experienced the same thing at roughly the same mileage I have which is 49700. My four year, 50,000 mile warranty recently expired. I just found out about the broken spring yesterday and have not yet had it repaired. I intend to contact the dealer tomorrow morning but I want your organization to be aware of this dangerous defect.