2001 Saab 9-3 Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 7%of 59 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 92,800miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Saab 9-3, 7% of the 59 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 92,800 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
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.
“Tl * the contact owned a 2001 Saab 9-3. The contact was involved in a crash and the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. The driver died and a police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified. The speed was 40-45 MPH. The failure mileage was 98,000. Updated 09/11/14 the consumer stated the 7 year old passenger was rushed to the hospital. The a pillar as well as the roof caved in. Police determined vehicle speed was not a factor. Updated 1/13/2015”
NHTSA complaint #10619311, filed 2014-08, 92,800 miles“I left my home with my daughter in the afternoon to go to the bank and hardware store. I drove to the bank to make a deposit. We had to wait for quite awhile in the drive-through line at the bank, so I turned off my engine a couple of times rather than having the car idle. After making the deposit at the bank, I pulled out of the bank lot and began driving to the hardware store. I had driven for about two minutes and was driving along at approximately 25-30 miles an hour, and suddenly there was a terrible explosion at my left ear and massive pain in my left arm. …”
NHTSA complaint #11417447, filed 2021-05“unexpected and unrequested deployment of driver side seat air bag. i was driving the vehicle at a speed of 0-5mph attempting to back the vehicle into a parking spot when the driver seat air bag deployed. a report was made with the local police department. no indicator or failure lights were present, the vehicle is able to be inspected at this time for further information. It is unknown about any other inspections by anyone other than the local police department.”
NHTSA complaint #11436277, filed 2021-10Related recalls
- 01V168000May 18, 2001Vehicle description: certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with requirements of fmvss no. 208, "occupant crash protection." the air bag alert labels may…Covers: Saab 9-3 2000–2001, 9-5 2000–2001
Air 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 2001 Saab 9-3
23 complaintsFuel system
16 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsBrakes
2 complaintsSeats
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsEngine
1 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
1 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Saab 9-3
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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