1999 Saab 9-3 Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 17about this part
- Share
- 27%of 64 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 130,200miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the air bags of the 1999 Saab 9-3, 27% of the 64 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 130,200 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Today, shortly after starting the car, an airbag deployed. The car was parked in my driveway and not in motion, and there was no impact. The airbag deployed from the outboard side of the passenger seat. I was seated in the driver's seat. The passenger seat was unoccupied and its seat belt was unfastened, however a laptop and some other lightweight objects were in the passenger seat.”
NHTSA complaint #11398304, filed 2021-02, 175,000 miles“Car was sitting idling at kerbside while dropping my kids off at school. The passenger side door was open. I was talking to my child who was just outside the door. Passenger seat side airbag deployed by itself with no impacts previous impacts or any movement other than one minute previous the seat was tilted forward and then back to let kids out of backseat. This was seconds and inches away from resulting in a death.”
NHTSA complaint #10992668, filed 2017-06, 150,815 miles“Just as I parked my car, my side air bag on the driver's side of my car deployed/exploded without any warning. The left side of my face/left ear and neck were injured.”
NHTSA complaint #11104635, filed 2018-06, 180,000 miles“On thursday jan 26 2006 at aprox 12 pm I parked put car in a parking lot and went into the bank in canton, georga. On returning I got into car, put the key into the ignition ,and as I turned the key to start the car the passenger side air bag deployed, destroying the dashboard/damaging the windshield and blowing out the radio and various control knobs.”
NHTSA complaint #10148943, filed 2006-01, 122,400 miles“While parked, I put my key in the ignition and started the car. My passenger side side impact airbag deployed/exploded upon engine starting. I suffered a concussion, tinnitus, and inner ear damage from the airbag exploding. Took car to a GM dealership with a Saab technician to have car diagnosed to explain why the airbag deployed/exploded. No diagnosis made. But they did read error code saying airbag sensor communication failure after airbag deployed/exploded. No warning lights were lit prior to incident. There were no service codes prior to incident either. …”
NHTSA complaint #11022426, filed 2017-09, 158,500 milesAir bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 25 | 83% |
| 2010 | 22 | 73% |
| 2009 | 17 | 40% |
| 2008 | 71 | 39% |
| 2007 | 65 | 42% |
| 2006 | 87 | 49% |
| 2005 | 12 | 13% |
| 2004 | 20 | 10% |
| 2003 | 15 | 7% |
| 2002 | 2 | 5% |
| 2001 | 4 | 7% |
| 2000 | 10 | 20% |
| 1999 | 17 | 27% |
Other parts of the 1999 Saab 9-3
22 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaintsSuspension
5 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsSeats
3 complaintsTires
3 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
3 complaintsWheels
3 complaintsEquipment
2 complaintsSteering
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Saab 9-3
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology