2002 Saab 9-3 Convertible problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Visibility (1) · Structure:body:hood (1) · Structure:body:door (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Saab 9-3 Convertible model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (1)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body:roof And Pillars 2009-02-01 · MI-811-2716 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
saab service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. under certain circumstances control module's analogue inputs may produce invalid signal. this means the soft top's control module does not function as intended. difficulties in opening/closing soft top in extremely hot weather. func
What owners report
2011-06-06 · Air Bags“slowly approaching stoplight, and drivers side, side airbag goes off for no apparent reason. driver was struck in side of head, and upper body, some hearing loss suffered also.…”
2010-04-13 · Exterior Lighting · 55,000 mi“use of high beams causes quick failure of headlamps. *tr…”
2006-10-31 · Power Train:manual Transmission · 54,000 mi · 🔥 fire“on august 13, 2006, my wife was driving our 2002 saab 9-3 convertible when the engine caught fire. she was able to get out of the car safely, but the car was destroyed. investigations by international motors (falls church, va) after the event showed that the transmission had disintegrated and transmission fluid has sprayed throughout the engine c…”
2006-08-24 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood · 🔥 fire“2002 saab 9-3 with 54k miles caught fire while my wife was driving it on sunday, august 13, 2006. *jb…”
2005-05-09 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper · 40,000 mi“dt: 5/4/05, car was at dealer5 for regularly maintenance. dealer reported rear brakes were rusted to the point of not being able to operate. service manager said that saab had a history of brakes deteriorating at low miles. caller complained about saab, dealer could not offer any help. no previous problem with vehicle, which was is regularl…”
2004-09-01 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module · 8,800 mi · 💥 crash“on april 8, 2004 my wife s 2002 saab convertible was struck by a vehicle that failed to yield at a stop sign. the car was severely damaged and was towed to nimnicht saab, the only authorized saab dealer in jacksonville, fl. although the accident resulted in more than $8,000 to our vehicle and the impact zone was a t-bone type impact to the driver…”
2004-06-26 · Visibility · 19,000 mi“a crack formed on the inside layer of the glass right where the driver's side convertible top latch in the frame is located. the dealer declared that this occurred as a result of an impact as opposed to stress from the frame and refused to correct it under the warranty. there was no sign of an exterior impact and the crack originated on the inter…”
2004-05-03 · Structure:body:hood · 13,000 mi · 🔥 fire“2002 saab 9-3 convertible, about 13,000 miles caught on fire. drove to office, turned off engine, & parked car. got out of car & noted unusual smell despite that guages indicated "checking ok"ay. *ak went into my office & called zee saab of milford where new car was originally leased from & where all services had been performed. no pro…”
2002-08-09 · Structure:body:door“on hot days, temperature in excess of 90 degrees, the outside rear door handles do not release and open doors. in the event of an accident or medical emergency, the failure to open may lead to serious death, injury, and damage to the vehicle if emergency workers have to pry open the rear doors.*ak…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.