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1999 Saab 9-3 Recalls & Complaints

3

open safety recalls on record

Serious

80 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.90 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious99V362000

Equipment:Other:Labels

WITHOUT THIS LABEL, SOMEONE MAY USE THE INCORRECT SPECIFICATION BRAKE FLUID, GET DIRT INTO THE RESERVOIR, OR ALLOW MOISTURE INTO THE BRAKE FLUID, RESULTING IN LESS EFFECTIVE BRAKING AND POSSIBLY A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

OWNERS WILL BE MAILED LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE RESERVOIR LABEL WAS OMITTED. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS."

Serious99V246000

Seats

SINCE THE ANCHOR POINTS FOR THE LAP PORTION OF THE FRONT SAFETY BELTS ARE ATTACHED TO THE SEAT ASSEMBLY, RELEASE OF THE FORE/AFT LOCKING MECHANISM REDUCES THE RESTRAINT CAPABILITY OF THE SAFETY BELTS IN A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW CABLE AND SPRING ASSEMBLY.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSSENGER VEHICLES. FAILURES OF THE "EASY ENTRY" CABLE IN THE FRONT DRIVER OR PASSENGER MANUAL SEATS CAN CAUSE THE SEAT FORE/AFT ADJUSTABLE MECHANISM TO BE UNLOCKED.

Serious98V139000

Equipment:Other:Labels

THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT MAY NOT PROPERLY UNDERSTAND THE OPERATION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND THE NEED TO USE SEAT BELTS.

Remedy & full details

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ALERT LABEL TO BE INSTALLED ON THE VISIBLE SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SUN VISOR. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG ALERT LABEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR WAS OMITTED. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Complaint volume

80 this model-year 7 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

8Crashes
0Fires
14Injuries
0Deaths

Across 80 complaints. Severity Index 0.90.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Air Bags10 · 13%Electrical System · Ignit…10 · 13%Air Bags · Frontal7 · 9%Electrical System5 · 6%Suspension4 · 5%Electrical System · Ignit…4 · 5%Engine And Engine Cooling4 · 5%Tires3 · 4%
  1. Air Bags — 10 reports
  2. Electrical System:Ignition:Module — 10 reports
  3. Air Bags:Frontal — 7 reports
  4. Electrical System — 5 reports
  5. Suspension — 4 reports
  6. Electrical System:Ignition — 4 reports
  7. Engine And Engine Cooling — 4 reports
  8. Tires — 3 reports
  9. Wheels:Rim — 3 reports
  10. Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Windshield:Electrical Heating Element — 3 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1999 · 2000 (2) · 2001 (4) · 2002 (4) · 2003 (5) · 2004 (6) · 2005 (3) · 2006 (3) · 2007 (3) · 2008 (3) · 2009 (3) · 2010 (4) · 2011 (4)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

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