1999 Saab 9-3 Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 6%of 64 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 35,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the visibility of the 1999 Saab 9-3, 6% of the 64 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 35,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“99 Saab 93 - at 60k miles..needed to defrost the windshield...turn the ventilator control and it snapped off...Saab telling me they issued dealers a bulletin on this..repair cost estimated between $600 and up to $2000.00 us dollars...will only warranty the repair for 1 year inferring that at 120k miles this might happen again...personally feel the assembly is defectively engineered . Very concerned about that the cost to repair can approach 1/5 the car's blue book value...very concerned that this will occur again after being repaired and put my safetly in jeapordy.”
NHTSA complaint #10008127, filed 2003-02, 60,000 miles“When turning the dial which controls the direction of ventilation output (windshield/dash vents/floor vents), the assembly inside the dashboard breaks, not allowing you to control ventilation output. This keeps the driver from being able to clear the windshield and side windows of fog. This is the third time it has broken, and the dealership claims this is a common problem. ***dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis***739722”
NHTSA complaint #10006384, filed 2001-01, 14,900 miles“I wanted to alert you to a potentially dangerous situation in the '99 Saab 9-3. They have a climate control system problem that can cause the ventilation system controls to become so stiff that it causes the knob to snap off rendering the system useless. Saab is fully aware of this problem and requires the consumer to pay for the repairs that in their terms may solve the problem for a short time. These include replacing the knob ($10.00), the shaft ($200.00), and the ventilation control box ($600.00). …”
NHTSA complaint #10043249, filed 2003-10, 35,000 miles“The control knob for the defroster/air direction has broken 7 times. The Saab dealer, Saab nashua north said it is a known problem for that year and model. Saab has refused to cover the repair now that the warrenty has run out.”
NHTSA complaint #10030295, filed 2003-07Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
Other parts of the 1999 Saab 9-3
22 complaintsAir bags
17 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaintsSuspension
5 complaintsSeat belts
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 29, 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