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Saab 9-3Model year report

2009 Saab 9-3 Problems

Compared with other Saab 9-3 years

Typical for this model

55/100 1.1× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2011

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
43filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
66,250miles, 26 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 19 city / 27 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Saab 9-3 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 43 consumer complaints for the 2009 Saab 9-3. The part named most often is air bags, with 17 complaints (40% of the total), followed by engine (12) and fuel system (4). 26 of the complaints include a mileage, and 35% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 66,250 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 449 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the inflator module and 10 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 31 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 3 Saab 9-3 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 55 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Suspension (1), Tires (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall. I was notified of the recall in may 2016. There has been no follow-up or fix available to this date. This is a driver-side airbag recall. I cannot safely drive my car until this is fixed. I live in austin, texas where it is hot and humid much of the year. This is an important factor that increases the danger related to this recall.”

NHTSA complaint #10946509, filed 2017-01

Engine: “My car has fallen victim to the soft intake valve issue. My car was parked in my driveway, it ran perfectly well the night before. I attempted to move it on christmas eve morning 12/24/2017 but it would not start. I then had it towed to my local Saab mechanic, automotion in billerica, ma- the owner said this is a well known issue he has seen on a number of occasions; he said he saw it so many times he purchased new equipment to be prepared for the volume of customers. …”

NHTSA complaint #11060779, filed 2018-01, 70,000 miles

Fuel system: “The cylinder valves are all having to be replaced though the car only has 77k miles. I have now researched and learned that this was a problem on the 2007,2008, and 2009 saabs and nothing has been done to recall the cars. The resulting problem is that the car will not start when cold and the compression during a cold start is half of what it should be. The valves are faulty and the repair is $4000 at my local dealer, who is authorized to work on Saab. This is a manufacturing issue and is not being recognized as such.”

NHTSA complaint #10807509, filed 2015-11, 77,000 miles

Brakes: “After starting car and adjusting seat I backed out of parking space and applied the brakes which did not seem to work properly. The car eventually stopped as I was not going very fast. I put the car in drive and began to accelerate to move to another parking spot and as I turned the corner going approximately 10 MPH I applied the brakes and they did not work; I accelerated again to test the brakes again and they did not work; I again accelerated to test the brakes again and they still did not work. …”

NHTSA complaint #10403429, filed 2011-05, 12,800 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

35% of the 26 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 33,000 and 78,000 miles.

8%0–1012%10–2515%25–5027%50–7531%75–1008%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (26 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 66,250 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

20102011201320142015201615201720182019
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Saab 9-3. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
9-3 · sedan FWD/AWDnot rated4 / 4——4 · 12.1% risk
9-3 Wagon · sedan FWD/AWDnot rated4 / 4——4 · 12.7% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Saab 9-3 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
9-3 Aero Sedan AWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed manual182621$3,200
9-3 Aero Sedan AWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed automatic172721$3,200
9-3 Aero Sedan AWD2.8L 6-cyl6-speed manual152418$3,700
9-3 Aero Sedan AWD2.8L 6-cyl6-speed automatic152418$3,700
9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed manual182621$3,200
9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed automatic172721$3,200
9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD2.8L 6-cyl6-speed manual152418$3,700
9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD2.8L 6-cyl6-speed automatic152418$3,700
9-3 Convertible FWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed manual192722$3,050
9-3 Convertible FWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed automatic192722$3,050
9-3 Convertible FWD2.8L 6-cyl6-speed manual162619$3,550
9-3 Convertible FWD2.8L 6-cyl6-speed automatic152418$3,700
9-3 Sport Sedan FWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed manual192923$2,900
9-3 Sport Sedan FWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed automatic192822$3,050

6 more EPA-rated versions are not shown.

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2009 Saab 9-3 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 449 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 449 bulletins →

Other model years of the Saab 9-3

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20113090,0003—2327 · FewerFalling
20103050,0003—2345 · TypicalRising
20094366,2502—2255 · TypicalStable
200818476,0002—2088 · MoreFalling
200715564,0002—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200617940,0002—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20059560,0002—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200420772,0005—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200321249,0004—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20023763,0004—21Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20015972,0004—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20005093,5592—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19996479,5703—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Saab 9-3 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Saab 9-3 have?

NHTSA recorded 43 consumer complaints for the 2009 Saab 9-3 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Saab 9-3 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 17 complaints (40% of the total), followed by engine with 12.

Has the 2009 Saab 9-3 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Saab 9-3 get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Saab 9-3 (9-3 Convertible, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,050 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Saab 9-3 reported?

Among the 26 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 66,250 miles and the middle half falls between 33,000 and 78,000 miles; 35% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.