2003 SAAB 9-3 Linear from North America - Comments

I have a Saab 93 04 vector model and it's the nicest car I have ever driven. The leather interior is very comfortable and the cockpit feel of the controls are far better laid out than a BMW. The 175bhp feels very smooth also although I do get a little turbo lag in second gear.

My only gripe with the car is the retraction coil on the drivers seat belt has given up the ghost. I will have to get that checked, but for 3 years that is the only issue I have had with the car. I'd recommend it to anyone although you have to be prepared to take the hit on the depreciation.

I have a 2003 Saab 9-3 Vector and so far it's been great. I should say however that I've only owned it for a short while and have already noticed a couple of minor annoyances. One in particular is the sticky parking brake. I'm afraid I'll get stuck with it "up" and will be unable to disengage it.

Has this happened to anyone? Is it a big deal to get fixed?

I had a 97' 900, a 2000' 9-3, and now a 2003' 9-3. I loved the first two, but I can't wait to get rid of this one. I have had nothing, but problems. The car now has 50,000 miles. As I write this the car has a "gearbox malfunction" (fourth time) and will probably need to be towed in. The CD player is broken (second time, first one replaced under warranty) the power seat is broken (second time) the back doors no longer lock (fixed once already). I can't lock the car because the alarm goes of at random (the alarm sensor was replaced once).

I have had to replace the alternator, brakes, rotors, struts, headlamps (at $130 each). The dealership where I bought my 97' dropped SAAB. The dealer where I bought the other 2 has dropped SAAB. I was just notified the SAAB dealer where I go for repairs is closing (after two years).The resale value of these is some of the lowest in the industry. I think SAAB's days are numbered and I know why.

Where can I purchase a front hood emblem? Everywhere online is $39+, is this really the cost? Can they be replaced w/out the help of your dealership?

I was considering getting a used 2004 or 2003 Linear, but after just as a commuter car. I really enjoyed a test drive and found it very comfortable; however the reviews are just plain horrible. It just seems like anything prior to the American takeover was quality, and now it is just plain crap. I was ready to buy, but instead I will take heed of the red flags posted about this car.

I have not had any problems whatsoever with my '03 Saab 9-3

Convertible. In fact, it has been one of the best cars I've ever owned.

My Saab 9-3 linear, 2003 has been the best and worst car I have ever owned. When it works, it's like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders, but I know that won't last long. My biggest concern now, with 78000 miles on it is that the cruise control shuts off spontaneously, and then the car will not accelerate normally until about 30 mph from a stop, and the cruise will not work either. It creeps along like a cement truck up to that speed. But by the next time I get in the car, everything works fine, which means I can't even get it to the dealer to have them look at the problem. This has been going on since right after the warranty ended.

I have had numerous "gearbox malfunction" indicators. I have had on-star failure, light leveling failure, driver window motor gave out, driver seat heater started on fire and burned my behind, computer needed reprogramming numerous times, driver door won't close/latch at times, (I've had to drive while holding the door semi-closed), front badge peeled off, squeaking noise in front wheel/suspension, volume control on steering wheel and on stereo often works opposite of what you need (push up and volume decreases), trunk release on trunk never worked, check engine light comes on intermittently, car used to stall at times (3-5 times when I first got it)...

The dealership has been terrific. I just can't get there at the drop of a hat when the problem occurs and before it goes away again. I would love to get rid of this car, but would hate to sell it to someone and have them sue me for selling crap. I will likely have to drive this car for the rest of it's life, which is hopefully at least another two years.

The drive of it, the seats (when not burning), the brakes, the acceleration (when functional) provides a great ride. I do have fun with it and it looks great.

I will not purchase another SAAB despite all the enjoyment I've gotten with this car and other 900 turbos I've owned. I would be a fool to go back to that company after this experience. And knowing I am not the only one just cements that feeling.

I bought a 2003 9-3 Arc Aug. 31 2007. It has been in the shop more than I have been able to drive it. It is the biggest piece of crap I've ever owned. I wish I could get rid of this damn thing, but I'm stuck paying for it every month.

It is at the dealership right now because I ran out of money to get it out after all the repairs that I have had to do. I don't think anyone should ever buy a Saab, and I know that I will never again.

I've purchased a 2003 9-3 arc with 59000 miles on it as certified vehicle, car is beautiful, not a problem, and hope to keep it that way...

Good to read all the comments, most useful. So what is a good Saab station car? Or isn't there one!!?

I am in the process to buy a 2003 9-3 Linear. After reading for most part, I am not sure if it's the right move. I located the vehicle online in VA beach, it has 53,000 miles, I have CarFax; 3 owners and most of the all the work was recalls. The car looks great, but that means what? I am going to travel Monday to take the car to a Saab dealer to check it out. I will keep you posted.

I bought a Saab 9-3 six months ago that had 46K miles on it.

I loved it for about two weeks. Then the computer started telling me, "time for maintenance", "traction control failure", "stability control failure", "engine failure", etc, etc. It would tell me a door was open when there was no door open. It would tell me a light was out when there was no light out. It would tell me the radiator fluid needs to be filled even though it was full. It tells me "time for maintenance" first thing in the morning when I start it but never again throughout the day. I've brought it in for maintenance over and over but it still tells me "time for maintenance" every morning. They fix the computer so it stops saying that, but a few days later it starts doing it again.

About a month into owning this car two things happened on the same day: the weather proofing on one of the rear windows fell off (now it's noisy as can be at high speeds) and a metal grinding sound started coming from under the hood every time I started it up. It would cause the lights to flicker.

I was bringing this thing into the shop over and over. About four months in, I knew I had to sell this money-pit as fast as possible but I had too much difficulty because of all the warnings about "failure" this and that, which would scare away potential buyers. I kept bringing it into the shop to get the warning lights to stop but then as soon as I put up an ad in craigslist, there goes the warning lights again.

Despite my desperate attempts to get rid of this thing, I couldn't get it done in time. The transmission just failed. The car wouldn't allow me to take it out of park. It said, "gear box failure... limited performance...contact saab dealer". I had to take part of the dash apart to switch this little gear thingy so I could get it to roll onto the tow truck and get it towed to the dealer where they tell me the transmission needs to be replaced.

This is the most unreliable car I have ever seen or heard of. It has just about ruined me financially. I HATE this car.

DON'T BUY A SAAB! Whatever you do, DON'T BUY A SAAB!