2008 Saab 9-3 engine problems

Filed Dec 30, 2020 · Engine · NY

Had to have valve job done due to bad /defective/inferior intake valves, from manufacturer. Had to have all intake valves replaced, with modified/upgraded intake valves. Obtained po300 - random misfire codes, had rough idle, checked engine compression, had 45psig in cylinder number 4. Engine had 72862miles, on it, this should be covered under warranty by saab/gm.

Filed Dec 3, 2020 · Engine, Fuel system · 160,000 miles · NY

My vehicle doesn't start/idle well in the cold due to the air intake manifold bolts slowly becoming loose. **when driving and shifting** the vehicle cannot handle the extra unclean air entering the system and will stall out while going anywheres from 0-60+ MPH, once the engine shuts off all power steering also shuts down. The secondary issue is an acceleration problem because the seals on the air intake valves into the combustion chamber have become faulty resulting in cylinder misfires and a high amount of vibration intermittently while driving, the symptoms come and go with increasing frequency as time goes on. This secondary issue ties into the first issue because of shifting with a standard my vehicle today (12/3/2020) shut off while driving 7 times to and from my job.

Filed Jul 5, 2020 · Engine, Fuel system · 101,000 miles · DE

My car wouldn't start so I replaced the battery and the crankshaft sensor. It drove fine and then I parked it and went out a little later and it would jerk and try to stall while I was driving, sputtering like I was running out of gas. If I pressed the accelerator, it wouldn't accelerate and then it would surge forward. I ran some errands and it drove fine. After my final errand, the car struggled to start but did and idled really roughly. I put it into gear and it died. I couldn't get it started again. After reading other posts, this seems like an issue with these years and veey dangerous.

Filed May 6, 2020 · Engine · 157,000 miles · NH

I brought my 08 saab 9-3 to a shop for a compression test cause it kept stalling when I would go to start it, it's an automatic. I was told my intake valves were wearing down and it's due to gms faulty valves. Yesterday my car started ticking while I was driving and I lost almost all my power, come to find out my valves were about to snap. Now I'm making payments on a car I can't drive and gm refuses to fix this issue and there are multiple cases of this happening to 08-10 saab 9-3 with the gm factory valves.

Filed Apr 21, 2020 · Engine · 109,500 miles · WA

Experienced hard starting in cold weather in the pacific northwest the past few years. Did research and found a tsb regarding the intake valves for 2.0 ecotec 4 cylinder. Had a compression test following several check engine lights and multiple readings diagnose a p0300 engine code . Cold and warm compression test showed cylinder 2 compression well out of specification. Documents available upon request. Quoted $4000 for engine rebuild.

Filed Feb 20, 2020 · Engine · 80,000 miles · PA

The valves on these cars are defective and start failing around 60k miles. This is a widely know issue affecting the 2008 saab 9-3 2.0l engines. Gm needs to take responsibility for these repairs given the known manufacturing defects. Car will not start when cold and there is nothing the dealer can do other than perform a major valve job (+$2300) => https://www.saabcentral.com/threads/08-saab-cold-start-rough-idle.327778/

Filed Feb 9, 2020 · Engine, Fuel system · 109,700 miles · WA

Significant decrease in average mpg (problem from research online suggests it is from lowered compression from intake valve design/material used). 109700 miles on engine. Meticulously maintained by us navy submariner. Haven't contacted gm or saab affiliate yet. Forums used infer this problem is widespread for 2007-2009 saab 9-3 2.0t with b207 engine. Summer time mpg is around 32-33, winter mpg is 30-31 in the pacific northwest. Last 3 fill ups, average mpg has dropped steadily from 30.5 to 26 on the most recent fill up. Respectfully request to know if a recall or financial compensation by the manufacturer to consumers has been ordained?

Filed Sep 25, 2019 · Engine · 100,000 miles · TX

Rough idle and start on cold starts. This issue is well known in the saab community due to gm putting weak material in factory fuel injector valves. Engine loses compression until car is warm, but may result in stalls or limp mode

Filed Feb 7, 2019 · Engine · 150,000 miles · MI

Vehicle exhibits all signs of premature intake valve wear causing loss of compression and/or hard start/no start when ambient air temp is below 40 degrees. See all previous complaints of the same issue!

Filed Dec 10, 2018 · Engine · 129,200 miles · NY

Just purchase vehicle from a friend 2008 saab 9-3 2.0t convertible . When I first start up the vehicle (it is now cold outside) the engine is running ruff until it warms up. I understand many other saab 2008 owners have the same complaint and have read that the intake values used by gm are faulty.