Electrical complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I have been trying to get this recall done for many years and with no luck. Most recently June 26th 2026 I was informed my recall was not fixable again and I hope for the last time. Enough is enough! Van Bortel Chevrolet in Macedon Ny tried again today which is there 2nd attempt. I had to buy a software card to give them the tool they didn't have to fit in there tech 2 scanner and even with the card they were unable to fix. It's a major safety issue I have been more than patient with and can't even begin to tell you over the years how much time and money spent trying to fix. I think at this point they need to replace car with similar or purchase from me.
Recently, while starting the car it started up very rough. A few weeks ago the check engine light also came on and the mechanic told me there was an issue in cylinder 2. We replaced all spark plugs and coils, and the issue did not go away. In addition, the car has also started stalling randomly. Luckily, I haven't been driving at high speeds when this has happened but it's now shut off about 7 or 8 times in the last month. Been wondering if its intake valves, fuel pump, powertrain control module, camshaft timing... Sounds like lots of other people have experienced similar issues and hoping mines not because of the intake valves. Please email [redacted]@hotmail.com if you have experienced similar issues and know the fix. Car is a manual transmission.
While driving the ignition switch turns to the off position suddenly. This happens when there are any vibrations in the car such as when I reach into and shut the center counsel, shut the glovebox, when anything even lightly grazes the key fob, when a balloon popped in my car and even when I sneeze in the car! When this happens the car completely looses power such as lights (interior and exterior), power steering, speed and basically all controls of the car are lost. The car ignition has moved to off at many speeds including 65 MPH on the freeway, 50 MPH, 35 MPH, 25 MPH and even while backing out of the driveway. This is extremely dangerous! I can't drive on the freeway because I am deathly scared my car will shut down when I hit a bump in the road. If that was to happen I would be dead in a second! …
On August 27, 2012, while shopping in the mall, I came out side to the fire department putting a fire out that looks to have occurred while I was in the store. I don't understand how the care caught fire while it was parked. When I got out of the car it seemed to be fine. The fire marshall report side that it was an electrical fire that started because a defect from the manufacturer.
Takata recall, I took my 06 Saab 93 aero into bellevue washington Cadillac dealership to get my air bag recall fixed, after I hot the recalled airbag replaced they reset my ECM and now my airbag light is on intermittently and drains my battery dead over night! I have called bellevue Cadillac and they refuse to do anything about the damage they did to my car by replacing the recalled airbag with another bad airbag! They listed in their computers that they fixed my car and never did so now I am stuck with another bad faulty airbag and now a battery drain issue from it. My car has been literally undriveable since the day they replaced the recalled airbag. …
While driving at 11:30 pm on a small (paved) country road with my high beams on, my warning system indicated "left high beam failure. I continued driving and about a minute later I noticed sparks along the left side of the car. I pulled over to see what was wrong and the left head light was in flames. Within 15 minutes the entire front half/engine of the car was in flames and the entire front half of the car essentially burned to the ground.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Saab 9-3. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced several electrical failures. The air conditionaer, headlights and the motor on the front passenger door all failed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that a burn out occurred in the electrical sockets for each component. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 37,440.
My car won't start and no mechanic can figure out exactly why due to there not being any Saab dealers near the area I'm stuck in... I have been living out of my car for 3 months cuz I don't want anyone to steal my car
Related recalls (1)
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.
NHTSA investigations
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…
ENGINE STALL
The subject vehicles are equipped with automatic transmissions and turbocharged engines with two different power outputs, 175 hp and 210 hp.Saab has modified the electonic control module (ECM) software in the subject vehicles to correct problems that could result in engine stall in both engines.
ENGINE STALL
On December 30, 2003, odi opened a preliminary evaluation (pe03-059) to investigate 16 complaints alleging engine stall while driving in model year 2003 Saab 9-3 sport sedans with 2.0l turbocharged engines.on January 15, 2004, general motors (GM) advised odi that GM and Saab had decided to conduct a global customer satisfaction campaign to correct two distinct engine management software conditions that could result…
Engine compartment fire
The office of defects investigation (odi) is aware of 7 subject vehicles that have allegedly experienced engine compartment fires originating at the coil-on-plug (cop) ignition coil assembly and 28 alleged non-fire thermal events resulting in damage limited to the subject component and associated wiring.
Frequently asked questions
Which Saab 9-3 years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (46), 2001 (31), 1999 (26), 2000 (25) and 2002 (16) model years. Electrical complaints make up 22% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Saab 9-3 electrical problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 05V-399 (module, Sep 14, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Saab 9-3 electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 64,000 miles; 35% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the ignition › module (48 mentions), followed by the ignition (29).
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.