2003 SAAB 9-3 Arc from UK and Ireland - Comments

Ignition failure.

Key problem.

Handbrake locked in up position.

Condensation in front fogs.

Door locking mechanism failure * 2.

Immobilizer failure * 2.

Comfort windows have minds of their own.

Software conflicts between phone and stereo system.

Very good level of comfort and cabin space.

Plenty of power when required.

I absolutely agree with this review. I have a 9-3 2.0, with less than 9,000 miles on it. I have had to call roadside assistance THREE times in the last year, twice for a jump start because of an unexplained battery drain (the first time the car had not been driven for 6 days -- it was only 7 months old, and the second time the car had not been driven for 36 hours -- it was 9 months old), and once because the key simply would not turn in the ignition at all, and the car had to be towed. I have also experienced brake slipping when hitting a pothole or a metal plate on the road. There was a stalling issue, which has now been fixed by the recall and software upgrade. But it is literally 6 days since the last time it was in the shop for the ignition problem, and now the check engine light is on. I would say this car has SIGNIFICANT teething problems!

It's nice to see that I'm not alone in these 9-3 problems, though dealerships swear that "it's only your car, all the other 2003 9-3's are doing well". I have had a litany of problems with this vehicle. It's been towed 3 times in the first year of ownership. I've been stranded at work at 10pm and in Boston, MA on the weekend (I live in NYC).

*Battery drain (car 3 months old)

*Break failure (sorry, it was JUST a software problem!)

*Traction Control failure (who needs that in 1ft of snow?)

*Key recognition failure

*6 Disc cd changer stopped working after 4 months

*Onstar failure (the 1st time I tried to call for towing)

*Defective steering wheel parts (took TWO tries to fix this one correctly!)

*Color peel off the hood emblem

*Car alarm going off while driving down highway (JUST a short in the passenger side door! Want to be beaten in NYC traffic? Sit in a jam with your car alarm activating itself every 30 seconds!!)

I owned a late-model Saab and it was wonderful. I went with this car because I believed that Saab had great cars with good reliability. As beautiful as this car looks, NEVER AGAIN.

The 2003 Saab Linear is a great performance car for the buck. The electrical system has been a bit of an annoying feature on this car. The On Star failure was the first failure followed by the sun (moon) roof not wanting to close all the way, failed electronics in the passenger side door, the alarm system randomly actuating while parked alone, and the windshield washer and wiper control stopped working.

The black outside door handles had to be replaced... paint oxidation. The front suspension is noisy and "bottoms out" on uneven roads using Saab standard tires and wheels.

I had been warned about the electrical system history on the Saab before I purchased the car, but didn't realize it would be this bad... I love the car, but am becoming uncomfortable with the electrical failures.

Well good to know the Swedish are at least consistent in exporting their "problems".

I had a brand new 2003 9-3 Arc, and have had nothing, but problems from the day I bought it;

1. Indicator stem malfunctioned & needed to be replaced.

2. Fuel pump died - needed to be replaced (I was stranded for 3 hours)

3. Steering rack problem - replaced under warranty, but took 4 weeks to do. I was told the parts needed to come from Sweden.

4. Sunroof opens for no reason - random.

5. Tires have all chopped out prematurely

6. Continued drive and main globe failures

7. Oil leaks.

Overall, not a great fan of this very average attempt of Swedish engineering.

:)

I have a 2005 93 and it is a peice of junk. I keep getting the Immobilizer Failure and SAAB has no idea of how to fix this problem and trying to deal with corporate is a major issue. If anyone has any experience or needs help with contacting corporate contact me at Lcastillo76@yahoo.com.

2004 Saab 9-3 Arc Immobilizer Failure.

My Saab is less than 2 years old and I have been getting the Immobilizer failure also. It clears within 12 hours, and leaves no error codes. Saab service hasn't been able to figure it out. Other special electrical gotchas: always "forgets" the other driver settings; windows one-touch up/down features work/don't work randomly.

I have a 2005 9-3 with immobilizer failures all the time - and the power windows keep shorting out. Any suggestions???

Just had the same problem on the immobilizer. Got to my car last night in the garage and the car wouldn't turn over and got the immobilizer failure message. Had to get it towed to the dealer last night and haven't heard from them yet today. Nightmare getting it out of the garage I was parked at. The car, a 9-3 Arc 2004 just had its 15,000 mile service last week.

I wish Saab would put something out on this issue to give us owners some sense of what may be wrong and what to do when it happens.

<b>Saab 9-3 2004</b>

My wife drove her car to the grocery store earlier today and when she got out, the car wouldn't start and had the immobilizer failure problem. It was the first time we've ever seen this. The car has only 15,000 miles on it.

She called the dealership and after having her try a couple of things like disconnecting the batter, they had to get it towed. This is very dangerous. I'm glad she was in town.

I have a 2003 Vector 2.0T. You wouldn't believe the problems I have had with this car. So now I have the Immobilizer problem. I called two dealerships and they are telling me to bring in the car because the will have to run some sort of diagnostic to find out where the problem may be. If anyone out there has information regarding this problem and how it is usually solved, any response or suggestions would be very appreciated.

2005 Saab 93 convertible. Electric mirrors and windows don't work. Main Saab dealer is clueless. Only bought it 6 weeks ago and had nothing, but problems. Tracking is off and again dealer is clueless. front right parker light is intermittent. again dealer is clueless.

Passenger door lock has mind of its own.

My advice - stay away from these cars.

Don't mind the odd problem, but when dealers are clueless and staff who appear to not understand the car makes it impossible to own one.

I like the gas mileage, but I think that my 2003 Vector is made out of soft pine. Every knob, button, handle, switch and surface is worn off, and I have never used any caustic chemicals at all to clean anything.

The windows have a mind of their own, as does the moon-roof.

I've had the key changed 3 times.

The rear seat lowering latches (in the trunk) have both broken with no major pressure being used to try and open them.

Random times the alarm won't go off with the key fob, and I have to set it off, start car and then it goes off.

A/C is out because the condenser literally cracked.

My friend has 300,000 miles on his 87, and it looks brand new. I think that GM did nothing to help Saab.

I have a saab 9-3 2004 linear what a disappointment! the tires have been replaced 3 times, the knobs are all "peeling" and the emblems are all peeling as well. this is what we get for 30,000 dollars? I almost forgot I had a computer failure which had lights going off for everything it needed a new computer chip. I still love the way it looks, but its hard to have brand loyalty for this company anymore. I had a better experience with my toyota corolla right out of high school I am going back to japanese cars.

I bought a 2001 Saab 9-3 convertible in April. Near the end of May I was parked for 20 minutes listening to the radio and had adjusted the windows with the ignition off. Then when I tried to start the car again it was completely dead and the ignition wouldn't turn over. Two hours later it restarted, thankfully. The Saab dealership charged me $846 Canadian to replace the alternator, but now at the end of August the problem has returned. My car would not start in the parking lot today so I'll be bringing it back to the dealership for another diagnosis. This is frustrating!

I have a 2003 9-3 and have had the following issues:

- Car would not start when the temp is over 94 degrees (It took the dealer 5 weeks to figure it out)

- Onstar is broken and the dealer cannot figure out how to turn off the error message each time the car starts

- The head lights kept burning out every 3 months (The dealer said there was a firmware update. The car was pushing too many amps to the lights.)

- Driver window rolled down one day and now will not roll up?

- Trunk latch to pull down the back seat broke?

The car is very fun to drive, I bought it because I wanted a sporty car that will last 350k+ miles. I better become a Saab mechanic. My car has 85k so far. I get the feeling it might last another 2k or so.