Most common 2000 Saab 9-3 problems
Share of the 62 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Saab 9-3 complaints by model year
Best 9-3 years: 2011, 2010, 2002. Years to avoid: 2003, 2008, 2004, 2007. Compare all years →
2000 Saab 9-3 recalls (3)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump retaining tabs holding the fuel lines were damaged during production.
Remedy: Dealers will develop a securing bracket that will secure the fuel lines to the fuel pump even if the plastic retaining tabs should break. The recall began on June 13, 2007.
Electrical system › Ignition › Module
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect to see what version idm is in the vehicle and replace the idm if it is a version built prior to the introduction of qp3.
Air bags
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.
Remedy: Dealers will clean the sunvisor surface and apply a new air bag alert label on both sunvisors. Owner notification began July 30, 2001.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2000 Saab 9-3:
Engine stall/ engine compartment fires
Odi opened pe05-017 based on 35 reports of alleged engine stalling due to the failure of the idm cassette on the subject vehicles.all complainants reported that the engine shut down suddenly without warning and most reported that the vehicle would not restart.in 3 incidents, the complainants reported smoke and/or fire resulted from the idm failure.during pe05-017, additional failure data was identified as noted in…
What 2000 Saab 9-3 owners say
Electrical system all 25 →
The ignition switch is located in the center console of the vehicle. A child, kneeling in the pasenger seat (no one else was invehicle) turned the ignition switch on, the car started in reverse and jerk backwords trowing the child from the vehicle, hitting him with the passenger door, hitting the garage in which it was housed, and proceeded down the driveway and into across the yard hitting a tree and ending up in the brush. The ignition switch is located in the center console, which is accessible from all front and rear seats. We have been informed by the dealer the car has no safety device preventing the car from starting in gear. There is evidently no saftey switch requireing the clutch to be depressed or any other means of stopping the car from starting in gear and taking off causing unthinkable damage to people and property. …
Di cassette failure I was driving in the i80 during rush hour (5:30 pm near san francisco-richmond) at about 50 miles per hour when the engine died on me. I had to cut across 3 lanes of traffic with a dead engine to get to the side. I am surprised that I could even do this given the volume of traffic. It could have been very nasty since I was just coming around a corner when it occurred. I had to have the car towed to a Saab dealer. Apparently the di cassette has failed and it needs to be replaced plus spark plugs ($725) and possibly the catalytic converter ($1,100). According to the dealer there is absolutely no warnings given on this nor would it be detectable in a normal service. Doing some research it appears that this is a common failure with Saab's around the world. …
Engine & cooling
Consumer's 2002 Saab 9-3's engine caught on fire while it was being driven. The manufacturer was contacted but they refused to provide any assistance because the vehicle was no longer under warranty.
My car stopped on mass turnpike around midnight. I had vehicle towed to the nearest Saab dealer. Their diagnosis was the oil sludge. Even at that time the dealer did not mention anything about special warranty the Saab announced in 2005. I have never received any information from the Saab as well. After I search the internet I found out about the special warranty. I filed a claim and submitted all oil change receipts I had ( it is their requirement to qualify for the special warranty). The car is almost 8years old. The only three receipts I did not submit were when the car had 10,000, 20,000, and 30,000 miles. My claim was rejected based on these 3 missing oilchange receipts. I am a second owner therefore I do not have these records and Saab refused to provide me with the previous owner's name ( privacy act) and they also refused to contact the previous owner on my behalf. …
Air bags
The driver's side, side air bag deployed spontaneously. There was no apparent reason or cause, ie no side impact of any kind, no door slamming or other provocation. The car was parked in a garage for six hours before I sat in the car, closed the door, then BLAM! Temperature was moderate, where as the car is often parked on a city street in direct sun. Air bag deployment was a loud bang followed by smoke from an explosive, and a sting on my neck and shoulder where the bag hit me. Bits of foam from the seat interior, where the air bag was located, blew around the car interior. I suffered temporary hearing loss in my left ear due to the loud bang. I was also quite startled. No other people were at risk. No other air bags have deployed since I've owned the car, approx. 20 yrs., purchased used. …
I got into my parked vehicle as normal, closed the door and fastened my seatbelt. I then depressed the clutch pedal and inserted the key into the ignition. As I turned the key to start the car, the drivers seat side impact airbag deployed spontaneously causing temporary loss of hearing, a ringing sound in the ears, and injury to my left arm. I removed the key from the ignition and exited the vehicle. The vehicle was parked, and off/not running, in a parking lot at a local shopping mall. The vehicle was not hit, damaged, or used in any other way out of ordinary operation. There were no warning lights, sounds, or signs of disturbance in the airbag system. I went to the hospital shorter after to be treated for my injuries. The vehicle was then towed to its primary place of rest, my home.
2000 Saab 9-3 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2000 Saab 9-3 a good car?
Based on 62 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2000 9-3 rates average: 35% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 9-3 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2000 Saab 9-3?
The electrical system — 25 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition › module. Next are the engine & cooling (14) and air bags (13).
How many recalls does the 2000 Saab 9-3 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2000 Saab 9-3, the most recent from March 7, 2007 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Saab 9-3?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2010 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003, 2008, 2004 and 2007. See the full Saab 9-3 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2000 Saab 9-3 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 94,000 miles; 14% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.