Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2000 Saab 9-3, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system23
- Engine and engine cooling13
- Air bags10
- Seat belts3
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Equipment2
- Tires1
- Exterior lighting1
- Wheels1
- Unknown or other1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 9 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2000 Saab 9-3 failed the safety check 2.43% of the time — 30% more often than the average 2000 passenger car (1.86%). Median odometer at inspection: 123,916 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2000 Saab 9-3 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (113 kW, 152 hp), 2.0 petrol (151 kW, 202 hp) and 2.0 petrol (96 kW, 129 hp), out of 6 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 113 kW 152 hp | 610 |
| 2.0 petrol | 151 kW 202 hp | 227 |
| 2.0 petrol | 96 kW 129 hp | 169 |
| 2.0 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 146 |
| 2.3 petrol | 169 kW 227 hp | 38 |
| 2.0 petrol | 136 kW 182 hp | 34 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
1,269 first registered in 2000 are on Dutch roads; 39% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €45,846.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde805
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen577
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld280
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse260
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt236
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)230
- Band onvoldoende profiel172
- Band beschadigd170
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
454 cars built in 2000 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,037 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 806 of these cars first registered in 2000 took their annual MOT test. 65% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2000 the figure was 61%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2000 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12.2% | 17.7% |
| Suspension | 11.9% | 14.3% |
| Brakes | 10.4% | 12.8% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 7.8% | 9.6% |
| Tyres | 5.8% | 4.9% |
| Visibility | 5.0% | 7.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
504 of these cars first registered in 2000 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 270,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
17 2000 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 11.1–11.9 L/100 km (about 20–21 mpg US), CO₂ 255–274 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9-3 Turbo · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 12.9 | 8.9 | 11.1 |
| 9-3 Turbo · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 8.8 | 11.2 |
| 9-3 Turbo · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.4 | 10.1 | 11.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2000 Saab 9-3.
| 2007059 7 Mar 2007 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, the fuel pump retaining tabs holding the fuel lines were damaged during production. Over time, this could cause the fuel lines to loosen f… |
| 2005271 20 Sept 2005 | Electrical Certain 2000-2002 Saab 9-3 and 9-5 model vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder gasoline engines, and 2001-2003 9-5 models equipped with 6-cylinder gasoline engines … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE AIR BAG ALERT LABELS MAY NOT BE PERMANENTLY AFFIXED AS REQUIRED BY THIS STANDARD.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Saab told its dealers about the 2000 Saab 9-3: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 625454 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN 15402 REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF ONSTAR VEHICLE INTERFACE UNIT (VIU). *TT |
| 621490 | SUBJECT REGARDING CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS OF TEST BRAKE LIGHTS MESSAGE DELETED FROM SID REPLACEMENT UNITS. *TT |
| 621485 | ON SOME VIGGEN MODELS FROM M99 TO M01 VIN 17016680, THE OUTER BRACKETS OF THE REAR SPOILER CAN WARP, CAUSING THE SPOILER TO VIBRATE AND RATTLE. *TT |
| 621482 | SOME CONVERTIBLE MODELS UP TO AND INCLUDING VIN 17004113 MAY EXHIBIT A SOFT TOP THAT MAY STOP HALFWAY DURING CLOSING OR OPENING AND THE SID UNIT SHOWS A CHECK SOFT TOP MESSAGE. *TT |
| 619554 | SUBJECT REGARDING NEW UPDATE KIT FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. *TT |
| 618671 | SUBJECT REGARDING CAMPAIGN INSTRUCTIONS FOR RECALL 724 ON REPLACING THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM). *TT |
| 618666 | CUSTOMER MAY COMMENT ON A RATTLE FROM THE ENGINE AREA, HEARD ON ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, AND SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. *TT |
| 615707 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A TRUNK THAT DOES NOT LOCK WHEN THE ALARM IS SET. *TT |
| 614914 | SOME VEHICLES WITHIN CERTAIN VIN RANGES MAY EXHIBIT A STICKING CHECK VALVE FOR THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION, PRESSURIZING THE CRANKCASE, AND FORCING ENGINE OIL INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND / OR THE FLOW OF COOLANT THROUGH THE TURBO UNIT MAY BE REDUCED RESULTING IN THE TEMPERATURE BECOMING SO HIGH THAT THE ENGINE OIL CRYSTALLIZES (BUILDS CARBON DEPOSITS) AROUND THE TURBINE-SIDE BEARING. *TT |
| 610150 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN THAT THEY DETECT A VIBRATION DURING ACCELERATION AT 40 - 55 MPH ON MODELS UP TO VIN 72018748, Y7006294. *TT |
| 610139 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE INTERVALS FOR ELECTRICAL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TT |
| 610136 | INFORMATION ON PRE-DELIVERY INSPECTION TIMES FOR 2000 MODELS. *TT |
| 610134 | 2000 MODEL CODE INFORMATION INSTITUTED BY SAAB CARS USA, INC. AS AN INTERNAL SHORT-HAND IDENTIFIER SYSTEM FOR CAR INVENTORY CONTROL, ORDERING AND TECHNICAL FOLLOW-UP. *TT |
| 610133 | SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING THE 2000 VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *TT |
| 11006621 | Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers. |
| 11004557 | This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is formerly known as a Product Allegation Resolution (PAR) claim. |
| 11002312 | This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS) Error Codes E4398, E4399, E4401, E4403, M4404, M4413, M6954, M6955, E4414, E4423, E4491, E4492, or E6961 and resolution information. |
| 10251890 | This technical bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up. |
| 10250775 | This service bulletin provides service information to technicians on guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system. |
| 10249579 | This PI bulletin advises the technician on the proper way to install the pistons in an engine. |
| 10248444 | Vehicle Recalls |
| 10246952 | Programming And Activation Of Replacement OnStar Modules. |
| 10246951 | Programming And Activation Of Replacement OnStar Modules. |
| 10245951 | Canadian Customers Unable To Place Calls And Turn By Turn Inoperative In The United States. |
| 10245950 | Canadian Customers Unable To Place Calls In The United States |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE STALL/ ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation