The 2008 Saab 9-3 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 142,505 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 218 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS16V0630002016-02-03113,716 affected
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…
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…
SEAT BELTS14V3180002014-06-1228,789 affected
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…
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
71
ENGINE
66
1crashes
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
11
1crashes1injuries
SEAT BELTS
10
1crashes1injuries
SUSPENSION
10
1crashes
POWER TRAIN
9
1crashes1fires4injuries1deaths
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
1crashes1fires4injuries1deaths
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
3
Total complaints218
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I have been trying to get this recall done for many years and with no luck. Most recently june 26th 2026 I was informed my recall was not fixable again and I hope for the last time. Enough is enough! Van bortel chevrolet in macedon ny tried again today which is there 2nd attempt. I had to buy a…”
“I have been trying to get this recall done for many years and with no luck. Most recently june 26th 2026 I was informed my recall was not fixable again and I hope for the last time. Enough is enough! Van bortel chevrolet in macedon ny tried again today which is there 2nd attempt. I had to buy a…”
“I have been trying to get this recall done for many years and with no luck. Most recently june 26th 2026 I was informed my recall was not fixable again and I hope for the last time. Enough is enough! Van bortel chevrolet in macedon ny tried again today which is there 2nd attempt. I had to buy a…”
“Hello, I know the takata airbag has to be replaced on my car. However now I do live abroad, in gothenburg sweden in europe. How do I get the replacement done? Should I go to gm here in europe? Thanks”
“The contact owns a 2008 saab 9-3. The contact received notifications of nhtsa campaign numbers: 14v318000 (seat belts) and 16v063000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted; however, the dealer declined to service the vehicle.…”
“At about 98,000 miles the starts to fail transmission fails also when the car gets too cold in the winter it refuses to start and it is not a battery issue. The cylinders get to cold to start. When the warm weather comes back around it starts again.”
“Had to have valve job done due to bad /defective/inferior intake valves, from manufacturer. Had to have all intake valves replaced, with modified/upgraded intake valves. Obtained po300 - random misfire codes, had rough idle, checked engine compression, had 45psig in cylinder number 4. Engine had…”
“My vehicle doesn't start/idle well in the cold due to the air intake manifold bolts slowly becoming loose. **when driving and shifting** the vehicle cannot handle the extra unclean air entering the system and will stall out while going anywheres from 0-60+ mph, once the engine shuts off all power…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant…
InvestigationEA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant…
InvestigationPE08005 Opened 2008-01-28 · closed 2008-06-03
REDUCED BRAKE POWER-ASSIST
SAAB AUTOMOBILE AB, A SUBSIDIARY OF GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM), MANUFACTURED 12,317 SUBJECT VEHICLES THROUGH FEBRUARY 15, 2008, EQUIPPED WITH THE HIGH FEATURE V6 TURBOCHARGED ENGINE IDENTIFIED BY REGULAR PRODUCTION OPTION LP9.A TANDEM VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY PROVIDES BRAKE POWER-ASSIST.THE ENGINE IS THE PRIMARY…
InvestigationPE08005 Opened 2008-01-28 · closed 2008-06-03
REDUCED BRAKE POWER-ASSIST
SAAB AUTOMOBILE AB, A SUBSIDIARY OF GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM), MANUFACTURED 12,317 SUBJECT VEHICLES THROUGH FEBRUARY 15, 2008, EQUIPPED WITH THE HIGH FEATURE V6 TURBOCHARGED ENGINE IDENTIFIED BY REGULAR PRODUCTION OPTION LP9.A TANDEM VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY PROVIDES BRAKE POWER-ASSIST.THE ENGINE IS THE PRIMARY…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2008 Saab 9-3 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.