Saab 9-3 Reliability by Model Generation

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Year and Model	% of Average Repair Frequency
2003 - 2011 Saab 9-3	Best 106% Worst	See problems for this generation Share on Facebook
2003 - 2011 Saab 9-3		Best 106% Worst

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What Our Members Are Saying about the Reliability And Durability of the Saab 9-3

Saab 9-3 Reliability And Durability: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2010	4dr Wagon turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Almost a year of ownership and only had a fuel pump recall. No other issues. full 2010 Saab 9-3 review
2008	2dr Convertible turbocharged 255hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Everything works full 2008 Saab 9-3 review
2008	4dr Wagon turbocharged 255hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Had several Saabs and family had lots more, never a serious problem. full 2008 Saab 9-3 review
2008	4dr Sedan turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD	Based on the fact that it's pretty much almost all GM material, the engine, platform, electronics should prove to be as reliable as the typical GM vehicle. full 2008 Saab 9-3 review
2008	4dr Wagon turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD	I like this car very much, first the engine is surprising for a 4 cyl. Having 6 speed helps a lot. Never mind the 0-60mph times from the reviews and magazines, this car is NOT a dragster, get used to it. But to accelerate, like merging into traffic, absolutely no problems. The combination of ride quality and engine power can put you in problem speed$$$, watch that dial! If a coil pack or a spark plug goes bad, you feel it right away and are easy to change. -Not cheap to buy, and since SAAB is out of production it's not a bad idea to have some spares "just in case". Parts are available, but not fast enough to get out of a garage in a few hours. Owning a SAAB is a lot easier if you can fix stuff yourself, if you rely on a dealer to change tailight bulbs, it's not a car for you. Saad but true! I use mine as a daily driver, so far 2.5 years of reliability. full 2008 Saab 9-3 review
2008	4dr Sedan turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD	In three years I have had only one warranty repair - replacement of the dreaded and woeful GM fuel tank sending unit. Other than this, I have performed the scheduled maintenance myself with no issues. These cars have traditionally been trouble free for me and they have been easy to wrench on when the need did arise. Under full GM ownership the easy-to-wrench-on aspect has been somewhat lessened, but the fact that I prefer 4 cylinders at least ensures that there is more room in the engine bay than that provided by cars with larger powerplants. full 2008 Saab 9-3 review
2008	4dr Wagon turbocharged 255hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	everytime I went to a eurpoean part store people there will tell me how much more frequent BMW owners will have to visit them. I don't know. I have it for about a year and it has been reliable, only one problem occured with an ignition coil. full 2008 Saab 9-3 review
2006	4dr Sedan turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	39 month lease period - had the gas tank cap check engine issue - a later recall. Had the passenger window refuse to go all the way up - a known safety sensor issue. The battery went dead in the key fob. Thats it! Very dependable and high quality vehicle! full 2006 Saab 9-3 review
2006	4dr Sedan turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	The car has been completely trouble free and has had no problems after 4.5 years and 62,000 miles. full 2006 Saab 9-3 review
Saab 9-3 Reliability And Durability: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2008	4dr Wagon turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD	I have no real negative points, just stuff to get used to. -Fueling whitout stopping the engine will not register on the gauge, until you shut it down and restart. (Like, when it's 20 below!) -It's really touchy on the battery, the car's electonics goes mad real fast if the battery starts to go bad. Well, it's easy to change. -The rest is typical used car worries, rust,(nothing so far) eventual driveline parts change, and the coming problem on ALL modern computer cars, electrical connectors/wiring aging = intermittent bad connections. full 2008 Saab 9-3 review
2006	4dr Sedan turbocharged 250hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Creeky interrior parts, I have picked my car apart before the warranty ended. Without that warranty I would have regreted buying the car. full 2006 Saab 9-3 review
2005	4dr Sedan turbocharged 175hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	There have been quite a few nagging issues that have popped up while I have owned this car. The dealership has been great in repairing all the issues with no fuss, but it has taken some getting use to given I came from an Accord. full 2005 Saab 9-3 review
2003	4dr Sedan turbocharged 175hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	varous recalls. body hardware failures full 2003 Saab 9-3 review
2003	4dr Sedan turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	This probably has more to do with reputation, however there are a lot of reports of problems with these cars. full 2003 Saab 9-3 review
2002	4dr Hatch turbocharged 205hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	It is not that my 9-3 has been unreliable, it is just that you need a very good independent mechanic. Thank god there is one in my hometown. This car needs attention. For example, you MUST stay on top of the synthetic oil changes that cost more. full 2002 Saab 9-3 review
2002	4dr Hatch turbocharged 205hp 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD	It is expensive to keep up. The car eats brakes, suffers at least two to three major repairs a year and parts are expensive full 2002 Saab 9-3 review