2004 Saab 9-3
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 98 of 207 complaints (47%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 212 in 2003 to 207 in 2004.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | vs. 2004 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,250–3,900 | 2,700–3,700 | 2,600–3,900 | 2,850–4,100 | 3,350–4,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 20–24 | 21–23 | 20–24 | 19–23 | 19–23 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–20 / 26–30 | 18–20 / 27–29 | 17–20 / 25–30 | 17–19 / 25–29 | 15–20 / 25–29 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 370–444 | 386–423 | 370–444 | 386–468 | 386–468 | |
| Complaints filed | 46 | 212 | 207 | 95 | 179 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 1 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 11 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 2 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 4 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2004 Saab 9-3 have?
6 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2004 Saab 9-3?
Airbags & Restraints: 98 of 207 NHTSA complaints (47%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2004 Saab 9-3 get?
EPA rates it 20–24 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2004 Saab 9-3?
EPA estimates $2,600–$3,900 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (8)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 19 mpg | 27 mpg | 22 mpg | $3,500 | 404 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 18 mpg | 28 mpg | 22 mpg | $3,500 | 404 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S5) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 17 mpg (low) | 26 mpg | 20 mpg (low) | $3,900 (high) | 444 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 20 mpg (high) | 30 mpg (high) | 24 mpg (high) | $2,600 (low) | 370 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 5 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 19 mpg | 28 mpg | 22 mpg | $3,500 | 404 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 18 mpg | 25 mpg (low) | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S5) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 19 mpg | 27 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 404 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic (S5) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 18 mpg | 27 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 423 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 98 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (6)
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR · Campaign 14V318000 · Jun 12, 2014
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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 · Campaign 11E009000 · Feb 28, 2011
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.
Consequence: A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE IN USE.
Remedy: 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.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR · Campaign 10V043000 · Feb 18, 2010
Defect: GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 SAAB 9-3 SEDANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT, OVER TIME, COULD FAIL TO RETRACT.
Consequence: USING A SEAT BELT THAT HAS NOT RETRACTED, AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE RETRACTOR FREE OF CHARGE. IF THE FRONT PASSENGER RETRACTOR WERE TO FAIL TO RETRACT, GM WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER RETRACTOR FREE OF CHARGE UNDER A SPECIAL COVERAGE THAT WILL BE RELEASED FOR THE SAME POPULATION FOR 10 YEARS FROM NEW VEHICLE DATE OF SALE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT SAABPARTS.COM/US. Note: In June 2014, GM expanded the special coverage from 10 years to be for the lifetime of the vehicle.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · Campaign 05V236000 · May 25, 2005
Defect: CERTAIN SPORT SEDAN AND CONVERTIBLE PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH A VACUUM PIPE CHECK VALVE FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER THAT MAY FAIL FROM EXPOSURE TO ELEVATED TEMPERATURES. THIS COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST, USUALLY WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING.
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION WERE TO OCCUR WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REDESIGNED CHECK VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 17, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR · Campaign 04V226000 · May 12, 2004
Defect: SOME SPORT SEDANS WERE BUILT WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT WERE DAMAGED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. IF DAMAGED, OVER TIME, THE AUTOMATIC TENSIONING SYSTEM (ATS) CABLE IN THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR COULD BREAK CAUSING THE BELT WEBBING TO NOT RETRACT.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT MAY RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER · Campaign 03V514000 · Dec 11, 2003
Defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." THE BACKREST LOCKING MECHANISM ON SOME FRONT SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO FOLD FORWARD IN A FRONTAL CRASH, RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND/OR FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SEATS TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED COMPONENT. IF EITHER OR BOTH OF THE SEATS HAVE THIS COMPONENT, THEY WILL BE REPLACED. THE DEALER MAY NEED TO ORDER A COMPLETE NEW SEAT OR SEATS (INCLUDING MATCHING UPHOLSTERY) AND THE PARTS MAY TAKE UP TO TWO TO FOUR WEEKS TO ARRIVE. SAAB WILL PROVIDE A RENTAL CAR FOR THE OWNER UNTIL THE NEW SEAT(S) IS (ARE) AVAILABLE AND INSTALLED BY THE DEALER. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.