13.5% of complaints about the 2002 Saab 9-3 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2002 vehicle — around the middle of the 230 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (16 complaints), typically at 5.9 yr or about 71,000 miles.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINES WERE DAMAGED DURING PRODUCTION.
OVER TIME, THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL LINES TO LOOSEN FROM THE PUMP RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL MAY IGNITE RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH B205/B235 4-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES AND B308 6-CYLINDER GASOLINE ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE OVERHEATING AND BURNOUT OF THE ISOLATED GATED BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR (IGBT) WITHIN THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE (IDM) DUE TO INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ELECTRICAL LOADS.
OVERHEATING OF THE IGBT OCCURS MOST OFTEN AT ENGINE START-UP, BUT IT MAY ALSO OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. ENGINE STALLING MAY OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINES WERE DAMAGED DURING PRODUCTION.
OVER TIME, THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL LINES TO LOOSEN FROM THE PUMP RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL MAY IGNITE RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE ROD END RETAINING NUTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED AT THE FACTORY.
THE NUT COULD LOOSEN AND FALL OFF RESULTING IN A SUDDEN REDUCTION OR LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
MY 2002 SAAB 9-3 STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND COULD NOT BE STARTED AGAIN. THE DIRECT IGNITION MODULE HAD BURNT OUT SUDDENLY, AND SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING OUT OF THE CONNECTOR WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR. THE MODULE FAILED WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, AND I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN IN HEAVY, BUT SLOW TRAFFIC. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR IS RUNNING. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT, SO THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT IS SURPRISING AND DISCONCERTING. I HAVE LITTLE FAITH THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING.*AK
MY 2002 SAAB 9-3 STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND COULD NOT BE STARTED AGAIN. THE DIRECT IGNITION MODULE HAD BURNT OUT SUDDENLY, AND SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING OUT OF THE CONNECTOR WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR. THE MODULE FAILED WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, AND I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN IN HEAVY, BUT SLOW TRAFFIC. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR IS RUNNING. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT, SO THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT IS SURPRISING AND DISCONCERTING. I HAVE LITTLE FAITH THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING.*AK
MY 2002 SAAB 9-3 STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND COULD NOT BE STARTED AGAIN. THE DIRECT IGNITION MODULE HAD BURNT OUT SUDDENLY, AND SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING OUT OF THE CONNECTOR WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR. THE MODULE FAILED WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, AND I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN IN HEAVY, BUT SLOW TRAFFIC. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR IS RUNNING. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT, SO THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT IS SURPRISING AND DISCONCERTING. I HAVE LITTLE FAITH THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING.*AK