2006 Saab 9-3
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 98 of 179 complaints (55%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 95 in 2005 to 179 in 2006.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | vs. 2006 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,600–3,900 | 2,850–4,100 | 3,350–4,100 | 3,300–3,700 | 3,350–4,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 20–24 | 19–23 | 19–23 | 18–22 | 18–23 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–20 / 25–30 | 17–19 / 25–29 | 15–20 / 25–29 | 15–19 / 26–28 | 15–19 / 24–29 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 370–444 | 386–468 | 386–468 | 404–494 | 386–494 | |
| Complaints filed | 207 | 95 | 179 | 155 | 184 | |
| Recalls issued | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 10 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 5 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 8 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 6 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Configurations compared | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
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 2006 Saab 9-3 have?
3 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 2006 Saab 9-3?
Airbags & Restraints: 98 of 179 NHTSA complaints (55%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Saab 9-3 get?
EPA rates it 19–23 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2006 Saab 9-3?
EPA estimates $3,350–$4,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (12)
| 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 | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S5) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 17 mpg | 25 mpg (low) | 20 mpg | $3,900 | 444 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 2.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 16 mpg | 26 mpg | 19 mpg (low) | $4,100 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 2.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 15 mpg (low) | 26 mpg | 19 mpg (low) | $4,100 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 5 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 20 mpg (high) | 28 mpg | 23 mpg (high) | $3,350 (low) | 386 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S5) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 19 mpg | 29 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $3,350 (low) | 386 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 7 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 2.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 16 mpg | 26 mpg | 19 mpg (low) | $4,100 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 2.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 15 mpg (low) | 26 mpg | 19 mpg (low) | $4,100 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 9 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 20 mpg (high) | 28 mpg | 23 mpg (high) | $3,350 (low) | 386 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 10 | Automatic (S5) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 19 mpg | 29 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $3,350 (low) | 386 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 11 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 2.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 16 mpg | 26 mpg | 19 mpg (low) | $4,100 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 12 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 2.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 15 mpg (low) | 26 mpg | 19 mpg (low) | $4,100 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 16 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 13 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 34 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 98 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 5 | 2 | 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 (3)
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 16V063000 · Feb 3, 2016
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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 · 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.