AI Damage2001 Saab 9-3 Convertible: common problems
Owners of the 2001 Saab 9-3 Convertible filed 24 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 24
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 25% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 13% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 6 Tires 8% of all complaints
- 7 Wheels 8% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 4% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 8 complaints (33% of all).
- Fuel system: 6 complaints (25% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (13% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (8% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (8% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 24 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I was knocked unconscious. Vehicle continued on at hit head first into concrete wall in excess of 40 mph. Air bag did not deploy. I was taken to hospital and suffered broken collarbone.
The contact was traveling 65 mph when the transmission failed; the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle lost power. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The vin was unavailable.
While driving on expressway, motor failed due to lack of oil circulation brought on by plugging of oil pump intake screen from degradation of oil, due to design of saab 9/3 that cooks oil in turbocharger and catalytic converter directly beneath oil pan.
In 2007, the vehicle failed to start intermittently. The contact did not feel the need to file a complaint at that time. Since the beginning of 2009, the vehicle has frequently been stalling and is a major inconvenience.
After doing some research, I have found that I have spent $494.97 on what was a recall previously, I have a saab 93 convertible and was driving on the freeway when the engine light came on and started losing power. Took to the dealership and need the di-cassette replaced.
The seat belt on my 2001 saab 93 will not work. I am unable to pull the strap out from the side of the car. I took it to my local saab dealer they told me it would cost $700.00 to fix. My car is only 6 years old, not only did the seat belt stop working but the abs system needs to be replaced at a cost of $3200.00.
Dt*: the contact stated gasoline leaked onto the engine due to loosened fuel lines on the fuel pump. There was an nhtsa recall, # 06v126000 regarding the fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings. The vehicle was not included in the recall due to the vin. Updated 9/15/2006 -
Had just had an update friday of another incident with gasoline / fuel pump rupture and failure leading to excessive gas being pumped out . Then on sunday, it happened to me, a very strong gas smell, especially noticeable when stopped for any period of time.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 7,585 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 21% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 9-3 Convertible has 12 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 24, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Saab 9-3 Convertible?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, fuel system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 24. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (21%), warning lights, check engine (21%), fuel system, fuel smell (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2001 Saab 9-3 Convertible?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2001 Saab 9-3 Convertible from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2001 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.