2010 Saab 9-3 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (21) · Seat Belts (2) · Engine (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Saab 9-3 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2016-02-03 · campaign 16V063000 · 113,716 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2017. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 28810.
Seat Belts:front:retractor 2014-06-12 · campaign 14V318000 · 28,789 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2011 Saab 9-3 Convertible vehicles manufactured July 30, 2003, to February 15, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the driver's side front seat belt retractor may break, causing the seat belt webbing not to retract.
Risk: In the event of a crash, a seat belt that has not retracted may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt retractor, free of charge. The recall began on October 6, 2015. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007. GM's number for this recall is 14222. Note: Special Coverage 10086 will replace the passenger side seat belt retractor if it fails, free of charge, for the life of the vehicle.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump 2011-02-28 · campaign 11E009000 · 4,887 vehicles
Defect: TI AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN FUEL PUMPS, PART NUMBERS TU456 AND TU303, SOLD UNDER VARIOUS BRAND NAMES AS AFTERMARKET AND REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MAY SEIZE, STOPPING THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE CREATING A STALLING CONDITION.
Risk: A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE IN USE.
Fix: TI AUTOMOTIVE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND WILL REPLACE ANY DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP WITH A NEW OR REWORKED FUEL PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TI AUTOMOTIVE AT 1-866-867-3759 OR LOG ON TO WWW.RECALLRESPONSE.COM.
Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump 2011-01-19 · campaign 11V015000 · 4,400 vehicles
Defect: SAAB IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 AND 2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2010 THROUGH DECEMBER 2010. CERTAIN FUEL PUMPS INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MAY HAVE INTERNAL COMPONENTS WITH INCORRECT SPECIFICATIONS.
Risk: THE SUBJECT FUEL PUMPS CAN SEIZE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: SAAB WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 3, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
Service bulletins (231)
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.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-08 · PIP4902U · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2025-11-20 · PIT5214G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of general motors technical assistance center. if va
Showing the 6 most recent of 231 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-01-17 · Fuel System, Other · 104,000 mi“the contact owns a 2010 saab 9-3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 11v015000 (fuel system, other) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact stated that the fuel gauge failed to accura…”
2019-03-10 · Fuel/Propulsion System“fuel pump deficiency. when i start the car in the morning to warm up before using it i notice and ear that it stall. after a second it accelerate to a normal rpm. it happens all the time since new (2010). i never received a fuel pump recall notice!…”
2018-03-14 · Engine“had a compression test after weak starting. all 4 cylinders read 100.need valve replacement and understand this is a known problem in 2007-2011 saab 4 cylinder cars. no warranty or recall regarding this use of flawed valves…”
2017-12-05 · Seat Belts“the nhtsa announced a recall pertaining to the drivers side seatbelt not retracting. recall #14v318000. as of 3/10/17, my 2010 saab 9.3 sedan is experiencing the same issue as the recall but, the recall only stipulates the convertible model. my question relates to how did the nhtsa determine it was only that model and not the others? right now …”
2017-10-28 · Air Bags · 52,000 mi“i have called viking saab and registered on their web site months ago to have my airbag replaced as they are the only authorized saab place in houston, texas, to replace it. they have not contacted me. i don't know what else to do. when i called there they told me to register on their web site. i did that and nothing has happened.…”
2017-10-03 · Electrical System:ignition“2010 saab 9-3. consumer writes in regards to takata airbag recall. *ld the consumer stated after having the recall completed the key would no longer turn in the ignition. the cim was replaced and two new keys were had to be programmed. two broken front coil springs were discovered. the consumer requested a reimbursement for the costs accumulated…”
2017-01-30 · Air Bags“takata recall-i received a recall notice in march 2016. i have contacted the saab service center on four different occasions to try to determine when the air bag will be replaced. i have always received the same response: "we have no idea when we will be able to replace your air bag". i have also been told that they, the manufacturer, do not belie…”
2017-01-20 · Air Bags“takata recall - i received a letter over a year ago that my saab 93 was on the recall list for airbags. looking for an update as to when the replacements will be available.…”
2016-12-14 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2010 saab 9-3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v063000 (air bags); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact had not experienced a failure. vin tool confirms parts not a…”
2016-12-10 · Air Bags“takada recall. i have been told by the service manager at the cadillac dealership in norwood, massachusetts that he does not know when or even if gm will replace the air bag. gm has not contacted delearship with any information.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.