2002 Saab 9-3 Convertible Problems
- Complaints
- 9filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 29,500miles, 6 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 24 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 20 city / 30 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 Saab 9-3 Convertible (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 2002 Saab 9-3 Convertible. The part named most often is air bags, with 2 complaints (22% of the total), followed by electrical system (2) and body and structure (2). 6 of the complaints include a mileage, and 67% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 29,500 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Air bags2 22%
- Electrical system2 22%
- Body and structure2 22%
- Brakes1 11%
- Engine cooling1 11%
- Exterior lighting1 11%
Example complaints
Air bags: “On april 8, 2004 my wifes 2002 Saab convertible was struck by a vehicle that failed to yield at a stop sign. The car was severely damaged and was towed to nimnicht Saab, the only authorized Saab dealer in jacksonville, fl. Although the accident resulted in more than $8,000 to our vehicle and the impact zone was a t-bone type impact to the driver side door, the driver side airbag failed to deploy. As of this writing, our car remains at the dealership and has yet to be repaired. …”
NHTSA complaint #10088961, filed 2004-09, 8,800 milesElectrical system: “2002 Saab 9-3 CONVERTIBLE, about 13,000 miles caught on fire. Drove to office, turned off engine, & parked car. Got out of car & noted unusual smell despite that guages indicated checking ok ay. Went into my office & called zee Saab of milford where new car was originally leased from & where all services had been performed. No problems had ever been noted with the car. Told to call Saab roadside assistance, which I did. Went back outside to where car was parked to wait for roadside and noticed smoke coming from the hood area. …”
NHTSA complaint #10068218, filed 2004-05, 13,000 milesBody and structure: “On hot days, temperature in excess of 90 degrees, the outside rear door handles do not release and open doors. In the event of an accident or medical emergency, the failure to open may lead to serious death, injury, and damage to the vehicle if emergency workers have to pry open the rear doors.”
NHTSA complaint #765420, filed 2002-08Brakes: “Dt: 5/4/05, car was at dealer5 for regularly maintenance. Dealer reported rear brakes were rusted to the point of not being able to operate. Service manager said that Saab had a history of brakes deteriorating at low miles. Caller complained about Saab, dealer could not offer any help. No previous problem with vehicle, which was is regularly serviced, and records were available.”
NHTSA complaint #10120254, filed 2005-05, 40,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
67% of the 6 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 13,000 and 54,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2002 Saab 9-3 Convertible version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9-3 Convertible FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 20 | 30 | 24 | $3,400 |
| 9-3 Convertible FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 18 | 27 | 21 | $3,900 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 04V557000Nov 19, 2004Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsCovers: Saab 9-3 Convertible 2001–2002, 9-3 2001–2002
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump retaining tabs holding the fuel lines were damaged during production.
Recall details for the 2002 Saab 9-3 Convertible → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.
- 10029344Feb 1, 2009Equipment, Body and structure. Saab service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. Under certain circumstances control module's analogue inputs may produce invalid signal. This means the soft top's control module…
Other model years of the Saab 9-3 Convertible
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 9 | 29,500 | 1 | — | 24 | — | Not enough data |
| 2001 | 24 | 70,500 | 1 | — | 22 | — | Stable |
| 2000 | 12 | 95,000 | 1 | — | 22 | — | Not enough data |
| 1999 | 16 | 76,354 | 0 | — | 20 | — | Stable |
All Saab 9-3 Convertible model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 Saab 9-3 Convertible have?
NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 2002 Saab 9-3 Convertible as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2002 Saab 9-3 Convertible is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 2 complaints (22% of the total), followed by electrical system with 2.
Has the 2002 Saab 9-3 Convertible been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2002 Saab 9-3 Convertible get?
The EPA rates the 2002 Saab 9-3 Convertible (9-3 Convertible, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 20 city and 30 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2002 Saab 9-3 Convertible reported?
Among the 6 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 29,500 miles and the middle half falls between 13,000 and 54,000 miles; 67% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.