2006 Saab 9-3 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report two kinds of trouble: air bag and seat belt concerns, and a hard or ineffective brake pedal after a cold start, especially in reverse. Many of the air bag and seat belt entries relate to recall campaigns and difficulty getting them completed at a dealer. A coolant expansion tank that cracks and leaks, and a fuel level gauge that reads empty after fill-up, also come up repeatedly.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Hard brake pedal, weak stopping after cold start

   • 21 complaints (12%)
   • median 32,500 mi at 3.8 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2013

   Owners describe a brake pedal that is rock hard or travels to the floor, usually on the first stop after the car has sat, and very often while reversing. The car may only slow down or need the pedal pushed hard to stop; some owners say the condition cleared after the engine warmed up. Complaints mention repeated dealer visits, booster and vacuum line replacement, and back-ordered parts. Mostly reported between roughly 13,000 and 60,000 miles, typically on the first stop of the day or after cold starts.

   What to check: On a cold start, try the brakes in reverse before driving off and see whether pedal effort feels normal; ask whether the brake booster or vacuum lines have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2006 Saab 9-3 aero has a series of unpredictable braking motions. I have had the braking sensor assembly replaced - however brake pressure and control are unpredictable. Letting up on the brake slowly results in a loss of all brake pressure in a non-progressive fashion. There are also times that only by pushing the brake pedal all the way down to the stop that the car can be held in place when idling.”

   NHTSA complaint #10218466, filed 2008-02, 21,200 miles

   “On july 22nd 2010 at approximately 1500 est, I started my car, a 2006 Saab 9-3 aero sport sedan and placed it into reverse to exit my garage/ driveway on my way to work. As I neared the street I depressed the brake pedal to slow down and enter the street but the brake pedal seemed to be ineffective and I ended up putting the car into neutral and entering the street at an angle. After I had stopped in the street I pumped the brakes and put the emergency brake on and shortly (2min) I was on my way without further incident. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10405979, filed 2011-06, 58,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Cracked coolant expansion tank and coolant loss

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the plastic coolant expansion tank cracking and leaking, sometimes repeatedly within months, with the low coolant light coming on and coolant spraying onto the engine. In some complaints the dealer replaced the tank under warranty; one owner said coolant leaked internally and the dealer recommended engine replacement. Reported mostly under about 50,000 miles, including several cases at very low mileage.

   What to check: Inspect the coolant tank for cracks or residue and check for a low coolant level or repeated topping-off; ask whether the tank has been replaced before.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In august 2007, we had to have our 2006 Saab 9-3 sportcombi towed to the dealership, as the coolant expansion tank ruptured while on the highway and all the coolant had leaked from the engine. The coolant expansion tank was replaced under warranty. In october 2008, we again experienced problems with the coolant expansion tank leaking and again had to have it replaced at a cost of $389.32 plus the cost of a rental car, as the parts were not immediately available. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10248987, filed 2008-11, 40,742 miles

   “Major leakage from coolant expansion tank. Saab dealer reported the tank had cracked and required replacing. Tank replaced. Service mgr stated that Saab has an issue with these tanks on the 2.8 v6 turbo engines.”

   NHTSA complaint #10250556, filed 2008-12, 25,100 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel gauge reads empty or sticks; fuel smell and stalls

   • 9 complaints (5%)
   • median 112,500 mi at 10.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2013–2025

   Owners describe the fuel gauge dropping to empty right after filling up and staying there, or a fuel sensor that gradually stopped working. Other complaints mention a fuel odor, hesitation or stalling, and a dealer diagnosis of a failed fuel pump or purge valve. Reported from very low mileage up to about 160,000 miles, with no consistent pattern.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Fill the tank and confirm the gauge reads full and drops normally, and note any fuel smell around the car after it has sat.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Fuel delivery system - my fuel sensor gradually stopped working and now my fuel gauge is not working at all. Recently my car is hesitating when I accelerate in all 5 gears and I was told it may be the fuel pump or fuel line. Last week I took it in for an oil change and was given a notification of a recall for the fuel delivery system. When researching the recall by the VIN# it is not listed but if I search by make and model it is listed. Not sure what to do at this point.”

   NHTSA complaint #10979173, filed 2017-04, 120,000 miles

   “I have a 2006 Saab 9-3 aero. My engine light has come on. I have tried to get this serviced several times. Each time the dealership/other mechanic resets the codes and tells me there is nothing wrong. Now they tell me it is a evaporator canister purge valve. They tell me that the part costs $425. No labor included. I have found this part for under $45. This is crap!!! I have even found tutorials on how to do it, 1 hour job. I have been trying to get this fixed since it was under warranty two years ago. Now they find the problem? …”

   NHTSA complaint #10496656, filed 2013-02, 78,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bag light on and air bags not deploying

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the air bag warning light staying lit, and in a few cases air bags not deploying in a front-end collision even though the information display showed an air bag message. Owners say dealers replaced switches or ignition components in some cases and had no explanation in others. Several owners mention trouble getting recall work scheduled or parts availability at the dealer. Reported across a wide mileage span, from about 32,000 to over 150,000 miles, with no clear seasonal pattern.

   Recall 16V0630001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the driver-side frontal air bag inflator recall has been completed and check that the air bag light comes on briefly at startup, then goes out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I would like to report that on tuesday, january 29, 2013, I was in an accident which destroyed the front end of my car. The car was subsequently declared a total loss by my insurance company. In spite of the significant impact, my airbags did not deploy. To confirm that this was a malfunction with the car, the car's information screen denoted an airbag malfunction. I have photos of the message on the information screen if needed. My fear is that this is an error on more cars than mine and this should be looked into for all 2006 Saab vehicles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10496254, filed 2013-02, 84,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2006 Saab 9-3. The contact stated that the air bag light remained illuminated. The air bag light switch was replaced by a Saab dealer. In addition, the steering wheel lock failed. The dealer informed the contact not to drive the vehicle. The ignition was replaced. There had been no further occurrences. The failure mileage was 32,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10226026, filed 2008-04, 32,000 miles
5. 5
   Seat belts

   Seat belts that will not retract or lock

   • 13 complaints (7%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 9.2 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2018

   Complaints describe front seat belts that fail to retract, belts that will not catch when pulled, and one rear belt that locked while extended. Owners report the dealer saying the belts needed replacement, and several mention the driver-side retractor recall was not completed due to parts delays or service refusal. Typically reported from about 65,000 miles upward, with several entries past 130,000 miles.

   Recall 14V318000

   What to check: Pull each belt out fully and let it go to confirm it retracts smoothly, and ask for proof that the driver-side retractor recall has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I went to have a recall addressed NHTSA campaign id number: 14v318000. The dealership does not have parts and stated that they may not arrive for some time. There was a very limited knowledge about the recall and I was forced to leave without having my seatbelt repaired. I believe it is very dangerous owning a convertible with a seat belt that has a manufactured defect and I would like my issue resolved immediately.”

   NHTSA complaint #10724809, filed 2015-06, 155,000 miles

   “Two items: 1. The seatbelt failed to catch when pulled forward and would unravel and not return. The seatbelt fails to stop the passenger should there be a sudden stop. 2. Both the left and right side tail light assemblies have shorted and melted at the electrical connection.”

   NHTSA complaint #10511970, filed 2013-05, 90,000 miles

Buying note. Check that the open air bag inflator and seat belt retractor recalls have been completed, and test the brakes from a cold start before buying. Also inspect the coolant tank and fuel gauge, since both are commonly mentioned in complaints.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.