Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Saab 9-3, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags25
- Seat belts3
- Engine1
- Suspension1
- Power train1
- Unknown or other1
- Service brakes1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 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 2011 Saab 9-3 failed the safety check 3.44% of the time — 38% more often than the average 2011 passenger car (2.49%). Median odometer at inspection: 107,296 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2011
9,001 new Saab 9-3 cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2011; the largest markets were the United Kingdom (3,524), Sweden (2,567), Italy (565).
- Average mass
- 1,660 kg
- Average power
- 122 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Diesel 74% · Petrol 15% · E85 ethanol 10% · Natural gas 0.7%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Engines
The most common engines in 2011 Saab 9-3 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (129 kW, 173 hp), 2.0 petrol (110 kW, 148 hp) and 2.0 petrol (154 kW, 207 hp), out of 7 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 129 kW 173 hp | 179 |
| 2.0 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 145 |
| 2.0 petrol | 154 kW 207 hp | 67 |
| 1.9 diesel | 96 kW 129 hp | 33 |
| 1.9 diesel | 118 kW 158 hp | 27 |
| 2.0 petrol | 155 kW 208 hp | 26 |
| 2.0 ethanol | 129 kW 173 hp | 22 |
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
575 first registered in 2011 are on Dutch roads; 44% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €42,838.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde305
- Band onvoldoende profiel124
- Richtingaanwijzers kleur wijkt af/niet toegestaan117
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt114
- Veer gebroken of gescheurd98
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af87
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen80
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld70
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
2,141 cars built in 2011 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 257 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, 2,596 of these cars first registered in 2011 took their annual MOT test. 67% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2011 the figure was 63%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2011 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 18.4% | 14.1% |
| Brakes | 8.5% | 8.6% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 6.8% | 16.0% |
| Tyres | 6.7% | 7.3% |
| Visibility | 4.0% | 5.4% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 3.2% | 4.4% |
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
241 of these cars first registered in 2011 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 260,000 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
3 2011 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
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 5 variants; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Saab 9-3 4 DR 4WD | — | 12.1 % |
| 2011 Saab 9-3 4 DR RWD | — | 12.1 % |
| 2011 Saab 9-3 C FWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2011 Saab 9-3 SW 4WD | — | 12.7 % |
| 2011 Saab 9-3 SW RWD | — | 12.7 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- No
- Lane departure warning
- No
- Best overall rating
- —
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2011 Saab 9-3.
| 2016052 3 Feb 2016 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the driver frontal airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the inf… |
| 2014228 12 Jun 2014 | Seats And Restraints On certain convertible model vehicles, the tensioning cable in the driver's seat belt retractor may break, causing the belt to fail to retract. If a crash were … |
| 2011029 21 Jan 2011 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, the fuel pump may seize, which would stop fuel flow to the engine and cause it to stall. Engine stalling would result in lost propulsion w… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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 driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
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.
SAAB IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 AND 2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2010 THROUGH DECEMBER 2010. CERTAIN FUEL PUMPS INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MAY HAVE INTERNAL COMPONENTS WITH INCORRECT SPECIFICATIONS.
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 2011 Saab 9-3: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11011805 | This Preliminary information communicates a GM part number forreflective high temperature heat or insulating tape when repairing wiring harnesses. |
| 11007208 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection. |
| 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. |
| 11004761 | This service 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. |
| 11000158 | This service bulletin includes information on Interior Cleaning - Instrument Panel (IP), Hard or Plastic Surfaces, Seats, Carpet, Leather, Vinyl, Fabric Cleaner, Stain Remover, Restorer - Product Availability. |
| 10254240 | Information on COAX Repair Kit Availability. |
| 10254207 | No Crank/No Start, Dead Battery Due to Parasitic Drain/Discharge. |
| 10254206 | No Crank/No Start, Dead Battery Due to Parasitic Drain/Discharge. |
| 10253632 | Rear and Side Tempered Glass Spots. |
| 10253584 | Information on Removal/Cracking of Stainless Steel Wheel Nut Caps. |
| 10252974 | This service bulletin provides information on Takata Air Bag Courtesy Transportation Reimbursement Program - Applicable to GM Recalls listed in bulletin. |
| 10252163 | XM Audio Traffic And Travel Link Availability And Operation. |
| 10251345 | This service bulletin provides information on Takata Air Bag Completion Rate Improvement Program - Applicable to GM Recalls 14491, 14735,15040, 15041, 15043,15044, 15045, 15046, 15406,15438, 15442, 15815, 15816,15817, 15818, 15826, 17009, 17476, 17477, 28810, 28811,17478, 18015, N192273760, N192278940, N212328760, N212328770, N212328780, N212328790, N212328800, N242437050, N242437060, N242437070. |
| 10250082 | Information on Driveline Clunk Noise |
| 10250013 | High Voltage Safety ? High Voltage Disabling |
| 10248444 | Vehicle Recalls |
| 10247716 | J-35616-64B Terminal Test Probe / Replacement Terminal / Terminated Lead. |
| 10247681 | Information On Requests To Add OnStar Bluetooth Option. |
| 10247063 | A/C Blows Warm Or Poor Performance. |
| 10247061 | J-35616-64B Terminal Test Probe / Replacement Terminal / Terminated Lead. |
| 10246983 | Checking Smartphone Bluetooth Software Update Status |
| 10246982 | Checking Smartphone Bluetooth Software Update Status |
| 10246963 | Changing Turn-By-Turn Voice Response To Metric Or English Units |
| 10246951 | Programming And Activation Of Replacement OnStar Modules. |
| 10246634 | Information for Engine Oils Used in 2014 Model Year Vehicles |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation