2003 Saab 9-3: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2003 Saab 9-3. The newest campaign is 07V087000. NHTSA received the report on 7 Mar 2007. The NHTSA record gives the component Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings. NHTSA has 209 complaints on file for this model year. 4 NHTSA investigations name this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 07V087000, in the NHTSA record

Dealers will develop a securing bracket that will secure the fuel lines to the fuel pump even if the plastic retaining tabs should break. The recall began on june 13, 2007. This is an expansion of previous recall campaigns - see 04v557 and 06v126. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 15 May 2019. Recall file through 29 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

4 campaigns, newest first. 206,615 units in total.

07V0870007 Mar 2007Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
05V23600019 May 2005Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Power Assist / Vacuum / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
04V54000020 Oct 2004Engine and Engine Cooling
04V22600011 May 2004Seat Belts / Front / Retractor

07V087000Received 7 Mar 2007. 94,377 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Defect, in the NHTSA record
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump retaining tabs holding the fuel lines were damaged during production.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Over time, this could cause the fuel lines to loosen from the pump resulting in fuel leakage. If an ignition source were present, the fuel may ignite resulting in a vehicle fire.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will develop a securing bracket that will secure the fuel lines to the fuel pump even if the plastic retaining tabs should break. The recall began on june 13, 2007. This is an expansion of previous recall campaigns - see 04v557 and 06v126. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Report filed by SAAB CARS USA, INC.. Manufacturer campaign number 07052. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 13 Jun 2007.
05V236000Received 19 May 2005. 68,654 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Power Assist / Vacuum / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Certain sport sedan and convertible passenger vehicles were produced with a vacuum pipe check valve for the brake booster that may fail from exposure to elevated temperatures. This could result in sudden loss of power brake assist, usually with little or no warning.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
If this condition were to occur when minimum stopping distance is required, a crash could occur.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install a new redesigned check valve. The recall began on march 17, 2006. Owners should contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Report filed by SAAB CARS USA, INC.. Manufacturer campaign number 15019 / 05057. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 17 Mar 2006.
04V540000Received 20 Oct 2004. 12,249 units.
Engine and Engine Cooling
Defect, in the NHTSA record
On certain passenger vehicles, the engine management system software may cause engine hesitation or stalling.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
If the vehicle stalls as a result of this condition, it can be restarted immediately.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will update the engine management system. Owners may contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Report filed by SAAB CARS USA, INC.. Manufacturer campaign number CSC15419.
04V226000Received 11 May 2004. 31,335 units.
Seat Belts / Front / Retractor
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Some sport sedans were built with seat belt retractors that were damaged during the manufacturing process. If damaged, over time, the automatic tensioning system (ats) cable in the seat belt retractor could break causing the belt webbing to not retract.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
In the event of a crash, a front seat occupant may receive more severe injuries.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the seat belt retractor assemblies. The recall began on january 24, 2005. Owners should contact saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Report filed by SAAB CARS USA, INC.. Manufacturer campaign number 15017. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 24 Jan 2005.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

209 complaints, 320 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.

2003 Saab 9-3
All 2003 vehicles

2003 Saab 9-3: complaints by component, per 1,000 component mentions
Component	2003 9-3	All 2003 vehicles	9-3, all years	Mentions
Electrical System	159.4	123.7	123.9	51
Suspension	140.6	57.2	115.3	45
Engine and Engine Cooling	100	77.7	64.7	32
Power Train	100	121	42.5	32
Steering	59.4	47.3	24	19
Fuel System, Gasoline	50	36.5	33.3	16
Air Bags	43.8	82.2	217.6	14
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	43.8	58.7	40.7	14
Exterior Lighting	40.6	34.7	18.5	13
Seat Belts	37.5	12.9	96.2	12

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 25.

Complaints that report a crash: 12
Complaints that report a fire: 6
Injuries in the complaints: 17
Deaths in the complaints: 0
Date of the newest complaint: 7 Dec 2018

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 2003 Saab 9-3, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 2003, with 34 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 2003 Saab 9-3
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed
EA08026	Engineering analysis	Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture	Suspension / Front / Springs / Coil Springs	22 Dec 2008	4 Jun 2010
PE08051	Preliminary evaluation	FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE	Suspension / Front / Springs / Coil Springs	28 Aug 2008	23 Dec 2008
EA04008	Engineering analysis	ENGINE STALL	Electrical System / Ignition / Module	19 Mar 2004	27 Oct 2004
PE03059	Preliminary evaluation	ENGINE STALL	Electrical System / Ignition / Module	30 Dec 2003	19 Mar 2004

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 2003 Saab 9-3The recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 2003 Saab 9-3: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/saab/9-3/2003/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 29 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 29 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 15 May 2019
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: SAAB CARS USA, INC.

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 2003 Saab 9-3?: 206,615 units in 4 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Saab 9-3 have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 17 recall campaigns for the Saab 9-3, model years 1994 to 2011. 4 of them name the 2003 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 2003 Saab 9-3 name most often?: Electrical System: 51 of 320 component mentions, or 159.4 per 1,000. For all 2003 vehicles the figure is 123.7 per 1,000.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 2003 Saab 9-3 open?: No. Each of the 4 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.