Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Saab 9-3 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Saab 9-3 rear ended a Dodge sprinter van at ~5mph and passenger ab deployed. Passenger seat was completely empty. Vehicle normally displays seat belt warning when seat has a heavy bag (or passenger) in it and warning was not displayed. Only exterior damage was to front fascia. No damage to hood or either quarter panel. Accident occurred at a 3 way intersection with a yield sign. Vehicle in front of Saab started to proceed and then abruptly stopped. Driver of the Saab was looking behind them to insure traffic was clear, looked up to notice vehicle in front had stopped, and slammed on brakes. The vehicle in front (Dodge sprinter van) did have a large tow hitch with a small aluminum diamond plate step.
On July 25 2008, my daughter was driving my 2004 Saab 9-3 sport sedan. She went off the road, side swiping 2 trees before slamming into a drainage pipe/embankment. The left side curtain airbags were the only ones that deployed. The car is a total loss with extensive front-end damage. If not for her wearing her seat belt, I would likely be making funeral arrangements. This is the second front-end collision with this vehicle without the airbags deploying. I questioned Saab in 2004 about the first incident which their reply was that the car performed as it was designed. That accident was significant enough to trigger all the seat belt sensors and fry the main computer.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Saab 9-3 convertible. The contact was involved in a crash with another vehicle while driving 30 MPH; however, his air bags failed to deploy. There were no serious injuries, but the driver and his spouse complained of aches and pains. A police report was filed. The manufacturer has not been notified. The dealer was informed of the air bag failure. The current and failure mileages were approximately 42,000. Updated 5/27/09
Owner was driving at approximately 65 MPH the check engine light came on and the vehicle stalled. Vehicle "b" rear ended owner's vehicle while being driven at 70 MPH. Upon impact, the frontal air bags failed to deploy. Owner sustained injuries, was taken to the emergency room and released.
Takata inflators: I recently received my safety recall notice for the driver airbag defect in my 2004 Saab 9-3. I understand the circumstances and that the repair parts for this defect are currently not available. I also understand the severe implications to this defect in case of an accident. I have talked to my certified service center and they suggested I reach out to you because I would like you to issue me a written approval to authorize them to disconnect the air bag to remove the risks. The dealership told me that in the past they have received requests to disconnect passenger airbags when someone needed to use a car seat and they did not want the airbag to explode on impact. This is a similar situation, where I do not want the airbag to explode on impact due to a defective part. …
Complaint received via e-mail." I had an accident with my car. The air bag on the driver's side did not deploy yet the passenger side did. It was a total front collision in which I hit a Ford econoline van in the rear end and was driving at the speed of approx 50 kph. No one was in the passenger seat and the air bag deployed. I was driving and belted yet my air bag did not deploy. I hit the steering wheel. All the mechanics that saw the car and heard of the accident could not believe that the driver's air bag did not to off. There was over $17,000 in damage to the car and I was taken to the hospital. A GM engineer came out and checked out the black box on the my car, it was also faulty and was unable to communicate with his computer." please send copy of the pictures you e-mailed back with your complaint form.
Takata recall: I contacted my dealer as instructed and was informed that there are no parts and no information as to when the parts will be available. I asked them to disconnect my seemingly murderous airbag and they said it was illegal. Why is it not illegal to have to wait for an indefinite period of time to repair something that is potentially very dangerous or even fatal? I believe Takata should offer rental cars to those waiting and if they had to assume that financial responsibility they May come up with the repair parts faster. Is there another way to address this situation? Is any action being taken to motivate Takata to deal with this in a more efficient manner? Even if I were to sell the car, the recall would make it unwanted by any customer. Please let me know how to resolve this.
Saab recall. I received both seat belt retractor and airbag inflate defect safety recall notice. However, in my car the seat belt retractor malfunction is in the driver side. I have called the Saab official service center and the dealer for both problems several days up today and I have not had an answer or solution to those problems. Besides, I have tried to repair the seat belt, but I can't find the part. As you can see in the attached photos to drive with a seat belt in that conditions is extremely dangerous. However, I feel that I am not safe driving my car, and that the hazard has increased with this car's airbag malfunction. I am a 79 years old man who has this car as the only mean of transportation that I have.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Saab 9-3. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 16V063000 (air bags) in March of 2016. The contact called Saab to determine when the parts would be available. The contact was advised that the notification was sent by mistake and the VIN was no longer included in the recall. The manufacturer informed the contact that he would receive a second notice. The contact did not feel safe driving the vehicle because the air bags could potentially deploy without warning. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The side seam of the front driver seat tore with out warning. The driver's side airbag is located here and May become exposed in a dangerous manor. Car has only 39,000 miles is very well maintained. Driver is not overweight/fat. This is unsafe. I have owned many other cars and seats should not tear where air bag is located. This is defect. GM will not repair, "car out of warranty". Independent shop will not stitch "liability concern due to airbag". Help.
Airbag complaints in other 9-3 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Saab 9-3?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Saab 9-3, 10% of the model year's 207 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Saab 9-3 airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2004 Saab 9-3, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Saab 9-3 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 79,000 miles, and 22% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 0 fires and 6 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.