2007 Saab 9-3 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about two things: the Takata air bag inflator recall and parts not being available to complete it, and front coil springs that rust through and break. A separate recurring theme in cold weather is rough running and hard or no starting traced to engine intake valve compression loss, which owners describe as appearing gradually before the car eventually will not start.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front coil spring breaks after rusting through

   • 22 complaints (14%)
   • median 69,250 mi at 7.2 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2017

   Owners report a clunking or banging from the front end over bumps and, on inspection, find the front coil spring rusted through and broken, usually at the bottom or top coil. Several say the broken piece was protruding near the tire, and repairs ran from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars. A recurring point in the complaints is that an extended warranty program for this symptom covered earlier model years but not 2007, and several owners say dealers confirmed seeing the same failure on this year. A service bulletin describes diagnosis and replacement of struts and shock absorbers for fluid leaks, which is a different concern. Mostly reported between roughly 50,000 and 120,000 miles, on ordinary roads and sometimes without a major impact.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the front springs inspected on a lift for rust and cracks near the top and bottom coils, and listen for clunking over bumps on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving my Saab 9-3 2007 I started hearing some rattling noise from the front left suspension. I stopped the vehicle but could not see anything unusual. When I reached my garage I was able to remove the front wheel and noticed about 6 inches of the bottom spring coil was broken off from the rest of the spring. I contacted Saab exchange dealer in lake bluff, illinois and was told the 2007 Saab does not have any recalls related to the springs and the replacement cost would be about $1250. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10452398, filed 2012-03, 49,408 miles

   “Front coil spring on car has rusted through which is a common issue for 2003-2006 saabs, and GM has provided a extended warranty to cover this issue. However, for 2007 they have not. (I have never had a vehicle where the springs have broken.) while I did not have an accident, when the spring broke, it caused a drivability issue. After searching Saab forums for answers, it is apparent I am not the only one affected by this issue. Please review for possible action. This seems to me a just a accident waiting to happen. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10461198, filed 2012-06, 98,100 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Cold-start rough running and misfires (intake valve

   • 16 complaints (10%)
   • median 80,250 mi at 7.5 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2019

   Owners describe rough idle, sputtering, extended cranking, misfires and occasional stalling shortly after a cold start, clearing once the engine warms. Several say a compression test showed low or uneven cylinder pressure and that the cause was worn intake valves, with repair estimates commonly quoted in the low thousands. Some report the car eventually would not start at all. Complaints describe diagnosis as difficult, with fuel system and other parts replaced first, and one owner notes the car stalled in traffic with loss of brake assist and power steering. A service bulletin covers injector cleaning for rough idle and misfire, and another addresses engine oil consumption. Reported from about 60,000 to 150,000 miles, almost always in cold weather or after a cold overnight soak.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the car from cold during the test drive and watch for rough idle or a long crank; ask whether a compression or leak-down test has been done and whether injector cleaning was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2007 Saab 9-3 the vehicle stalls during hot and cold weather. Sometimes the vehicle runs rough the vehicle has then stalled in the middle of an intersection. The vehicle has been to the dealer six times for this problem. Saab USA has been made aware of this problem and I advised them I want them to buy the vehicle back. The vehicle is still under it's factory warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10406188, filed 2011-06, 39,000 miles

   “It appears I too have been struck with the misfortune of having what I have termed morning sickness in cooler weather. I currently have one - hundred and forty- eight thousand miles on this vehicle. I just had it diagnosed low compression in two of the cylinder's, one cylinder has 150 PSI?, the other has 175. I believe they should be 200 PSI? Usually it does not last long ( of rough running) of course depending on outside temperature. I have recorded a temp . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10852705, filed 2016-03, 125,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes hard or to the floor after startup

   • 12 complaints (8%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 2.9 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2007–2017

   Owners report that right after starting the car and selecting drive or reverse the brake pedal becomes very hard or sinks to the floor, with little braking effect until the engine idles for a short time or the car is restarted. Some describe using the parking brake or shifting to neutral to stop. Repairs reported include the brake booster check valve and the power assist unit, in one case replaced more than once. A few complaints also describe unintended acceleration or a speedometer and stability-control message appearing together with the brake warning in cold weather. Mostly reported under about 50,000 miles, often on the first stop after the car has sat for several hours.

   What to check: On a cold start, apply the brakes before moving off and confirm the pedal feels normal; ask for service records showing any brake booster or check valve work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2007-Saab 9-3 aero v-6 engine. On 7-4-09 and 7-6-09 started car and backed out of garage and had no brakes. Used e-brake to prevent car from going into street. Brakes seemed to work fine after that. However, based on past complaints that I have seen on this web site I feel that it is time to address this issue before someone gets injured.”

   NHTSA complaint #10275821, filed 2009-07, 51,000 miles

   “The brakes on my 2007 Saab 9-3 aero sport combi failed while I was driving. In the first incident I was backing out of my driveway and attempted to apply the brake only to have no brake pressure at all. With the pedal pushed all the way to the floor the car failed to stop and I was forced to use the emergency brake and put the transmission in park to stop the vehicle. The dealership claimed the issue was a faulty brake booster check valve and repaired that part. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10198567, filed 2007-08, 7,500 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bag inflator recall with parts unavailable

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe receiving notice of the driver-side air bag inflator recall but being told the replacement parts are not yet available, sometimes waiting months. Some ask whether the car is safe to drive in the meantime or whether the air bag can be disconnected, and at least one owner reports the dealer refused to disable it. A complaint also describes a moderate-speed collision in which the air bag did not deploy. Recall 16V063000 covers the driver-side inflator on this model year; the complaints concern the timing of the remedy rather than the repair itself. Reports cluster from about 50,000 to 130,000 miles, largely filed in 2016 and 2017 after the recall was announced.

   Recall 16V0630002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the driver-side inflator recall has actually been performed and get it in writing; if the car is still open on the recall, confirm current parts availability with a dealer before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Air bag failure 2007 Saab aero convertible I was in a 4 car pile up in which I hit the car in front of me at approximately 25 MPH. Air bag sensors were hit but airbag failed to deploy. I was seatbelted but did hit the steering wheel face first and was taken to the hospital by ambulance from the scene. I did suffer a concussion and facial bruising and a full set of cuts in my mouth.”

   NHTSA complaint #10255978, filed 2009-01, 61,125 miles

   “Takata recall: why does the airbag recall not include the passenger side airbag for my car? The driver side airbag was replaced yesterday in my car pursuant to the recall, but not the passenger side airbag. Doesn't the passenger side airbag present a danger to the passenger if it spontaneously deploys?”

   NHTSA complaint #10980828, filed 2017-04, 112,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Driver seat heater overheating and burning the seat

   • 11 complaints (7%)
   • median 73,708 mi at 7.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2017

   Owners describe the driver's seat heater element getting extremely hot, burning through the leather and in some cases causing a burn to the leg. One report notes a burning smell suggesting an electrical fire starting. Complaints say the dealer was unwilling to cover the repair. Separately, owners report key-in-ignition messages such as a steering wheel lock malfunction and instances where the ignition switch turns off while driving, and one complaint describes an engine-compartment fire while parked. Reported from about 25,000 to 140,000 miles, typically while the seat heater is in use.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the seat heaters briefly on a low setting and look for discolored or hardened leather on the driver's cushion; ask whether the ignition switch or steering lock has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving my car through town and the left side of the driver's seat got so hot it burned my upper left thigh and I was trying to pull my leg out of the way and almost crashed, and when I stopped the car I saw that it had also burnt the leather seat leaving about a four and a half inch burn mark on the seat above the heater coil.”

   NHTSA complaint #10676325, filed 2015-01, 73,708 miles

   “On august 27, 2012, while shopping in the mall, I came out side to the fire department putting a fire out that looks to have occurred while I was in the store. I don't understand how the care caught fire while it was parked. When I got out of the car it seemed to be fine. The fire marshall report side that it was an electrical fire that started because a defect from the manufacturer.”

   NHTSA complaint #10479339, filed 2012-10, 33,000 miles

Buying note. Check the front springs for rust and breakage and confirm in writing whether the air bag inflator recall has been completed, since owners report long waits for parts. A cold start before buying will show whether the engine idles smoothly and the brake pedal feels normal.

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.