Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Saab 9-3 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Noticed a clunking noise coming from the front left side of the car when going over bumps. Took car to mechanic and discovered that the front left coil spring was corroded and broken. The corrosion occurred at the bottom of the spring and the broken piece was sticking out of the strut assrmbly and was possibly a tire puncture hazzard. The mechanic stated that this was a common occurrence on this model Saab but is not covered by GM special coverage #15917 because that extended warranty only applies to 2003-2006 models. Why not GM??
First issue was front suspension coils. Replaced both. Biggest issue was once the weather became very cold, car would not start. Ended up being a victim of the bad intake valves provided by GM. Now, after a complete valve job and having the car run great from March 2017 to dec 2017..it appears it May have a cracked block. Car never overheated. Fluids were always maintained. Looked into that and apparently there were some casting issues as well. Thanks GM.
Driver side (left) suspension coil spring broke. It has rusted through approx. 2 inches from the top. It broke going through moderately uneven roads, without hitting any major potholes. Broken spring could have sliced the front tire open and caused a high speed accident. Was barely holding together at the time of replacement. Found out when started to hear clunking sounds, but could have happened at higher speed with worse consequences.
Please refer to complaint number 10691989 which pertains to driver side broken suspension coil spring. This complaint (which I'm submitting now) pertains to passenger side (right) suspension coil spring. The top of the coil spring was heavily rusted approx. 1-2 inches from the top of the spring and was at risk of breaking/snapping. Broken spring could have sliced the front tire open and caused a high speed accident.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Saab 9-3. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the contact heard a popping and metal grinding sound. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front driver side coil spring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.
Well known problem with Saab - suspension springs breaking. They warranty it for '03 to '06 cars only. Mine is an '07. My front right spring broke. Dealers say they see a ton of them in '07's and see the posts online from '07 owners with broken springs. Saab/GM needs to get behind this and do the right thing.
The front coil springs and strut bearings need to be replaced because both coil springs cracked/broke. There is a similar issue with other Saab model years recall 15917 and this should be expanded to cover model year 2007 as well since same problem occurring.
Drivers side front coil spring rusted and broken causing loud clunking when driving. I am looking for an explanation on why safety recall 15917 only includes the years 2003-2006 when clearly the issue from reading online surpasses those years by far.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Saab 9-3. The contact stated that the engine valves failed prematurely. The service engine indicator illuminated and the vehicle performed roughly each time the failure occurred. In addition, the springs that connected to the front struts had premature rust and corrosion, which caused it to fracture without warning. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the front coils springs and eight valves needed to be replaced. The vehicle was also inspected by a dealer (conntech Saab specialists, 180 jefferson blvd, warwick, ri 02888, [phone]). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were not available.
Front coil spring on car has rusted through which is a common issue for 2003-2006 saabs, and GM has provided a extended warranty to cover this issue. However, for 2007 they have not. (I have never had a vehicle where the springs have broken.) while I did not have an accident, when the spring broke, it caused a drivability issue. After searching Saab forums for answers, it is apparent I am not the only one affected by this issue. Please review for possible action. This seems to me a just a accident waiting to happen. As the suspension loses 1-2" in height effecting braking distance, and if on a rough road when this could happen damage to car and the people inside.
Suspension complaints in other 9-3 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2007 Saab 9-3?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the suspension of the 2007 Saab 9-3, 15% of the model year's 155 complaints. The component named most often is front (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Saab 9-3 suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 2007 Saab 9-3, though it has 2 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 2007 Saab 9-3 suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 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.