Warning message that airbag is not working. Loud hissing sound immediately in front of dashboard, as if air is escaping. We cannot drive the car for fear of the airbag inflating. We are going to have to towed to a repair shop to be fixed and will keep all paperwork.
2006 Saab 9-3 airbags problems
87 complaints (49% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 93,000. 5 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 87
- of this car's complaints
- 49%
- typical mileage
- 93,000
- crashes
- 5
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- Frontal: sensor/control module1
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 airbags problems in other years
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2017. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1‑800‑955‑9007 or Saturn customer service at 1‑800‑553‑6000. GM's number for this recall is 28810.
Recall number 16V063000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
EA21002
What 2006 Saab 9-3 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I have been trying to find a dealership to fix my recall but general motors stated they do not fix it. I am receiving calls and letters every other week. Who will fix this issue ??? I am located in the wilkes barre pa 18705 area. Please advise thank you
Takata recall, I took my 06 saab 93 aero into bellevue washington cadillac dealership to get my air bag recall fixed, after I hot the recalled airbag replaced they reset my ECM and now my airbag light is on intermittently and drains my battery dead over night! I have called bellevue cadillac and they refuse to do anything about the damage they did to my car by replacing the recalled airbag with another bad airbag! They listed in their computers that they fixed my car and never did so now I am stuck with another bad faulty airbag and now a battery drain issue from it. My car has been literally undriveable since the day they replaced the recalled airbag. The car also has a failed gas gauge due to electrical issues from the factory which was never recalled, the fuel sending units are bad and never worked properly since the car was purchased which alot if people with the same saabs have experienced all over the world!
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 saab 9-3. The contact received recall notifications for the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 14v318000 (seat belts) and 16v063000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The dealer (royal cadillac of tucson, 520‑777‑1708) was called and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedies. The manufacturer was notified. The contact experienced a failure with the driver's seat belt seizing when being applied. She stated that the seat belt had to be maneuvered back and forth to get it secured comfortably. The failure mileage was not available. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 saab 9-3. The contact stated that the federal safety agency campaign number: 16v063000 (air bags) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact received the recall notification in march of 2018. The dealer (jim falk motors, 1201 n 2nd st, clinton, mo 64735) stated that the parts were unavailable for the recall repair at their location, but referred the contact to an unknown saab dealer over 100 miles away. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Takata inflator -- took car in to dealer to have the airbag replaced but dealer said that this car has a different model airbag that was only used on a few cars for a month a so by saab, so it doesn't need to be replaced. However, we keep getting recall notices all the time and I'm afraid this will affect resale of car. Can this be confirmed?
2006 saab 93 base. Consumer writes in regards to safety recall. *ld the consumer stated the dealer advised there was no such contract with saab owners or warranty service offer for the vehicle.
I have tried to have the gm airbag recall for my 2006 saab 9-3 serviced by all paso robles and san luis obispo chevrolet, gm, and cadillac dealers. All have refused to do the work because the claim not to have a saab certified mechanic. The closest dealer with saab certified mechanic is bunnin cadillac in santa barbara, a 240 mile round trim from our house. Despite three phone calls to bunnin we have still been unable to schedule an appointment for the repair or even confirm that they are willing and able to do the work. The challenge and burden of getting this recall work performed has proven impossible so far. When will gm take responsibility and made the recall fix to my saab reasonably available?
Takata recall - I contacted alberic colon auto sales at 787 793 2222 in puerto rico as mentioned in the letter sent to me and I was told that they can not performed the recall in my car because they wont get paid since they dont worked in saab
Takata recall contacted three cadillac dealers before finding one that would handle the recall. Contacted bush auto place in wilmington, oh and was told we do not work on saabs and they would not do the recall. Very rude and short. Also contacted gusweiller cadillac in washington court house, oh and told the same, but they were very cordial about it. Finally, I contacted camargo cadillac in cincinnati, oh and they were over the top nice and on top of things. They were more than happy to assist with the recall and it has now been completed.
Questions about the 2006 Saab 9-3 airbags
Does the 2006 Saab 9-3 have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 87 complaints about the airbags of the 2006 Saab 9-3, 49% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2006 Saab 9-3 airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 93,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2006 Saab 9-3 airbags?
Yes, 1 recall: 16V063000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Saab 9-3 have bad airbags?
The Saab 9-3 model years with the most airbags complaints are 2006 (87 complaints), 2008 (71 complaints) and 2007 (65 complaints).
Other 2006 Saab 9-3 problems
Brakes 31Engine 16Seat belts 15Fuel system 14Electrical 13Steering 8Suspension 7Transmission 7Acceleration 6Driver assistance 5Lights 2Tires 2Visibility 2Body 1Locks 1Wheels 1
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