9-3 Reliability?

2002 2.2 TiD 125 bhpBought Dec 2006 with 67k, now at 85k. Mostly charging up and down Ireland, swerving boatlike around potholes. Michelins have lasted the year, were not new, will need replacing soon. No breakdowns so far.Serviced once by Saab dealer in Waterford. Returned to dealer on a vibration issue that feels like unbalanced wheels when braking long, front discs replaced foc. The problem is still there to some extent, may be tyres?SID has increasingly fewer pixels. It can be quite interesting on a long trip to know that the time is thirty something past something, adds a sense of timelessness to life.Starting in temperatures around freezing can be often at second attempt.The only design gripe (apart from the SID and that's grown on me, will probably screw it up soon with a DIY fix attempt), is that the seat belt sockets in the back are a devil when trying to belt the kids up in their off-the-shelf booster seats.My wife hated this "big old tractor" to begin with and now, after a few goes, she wants to take my spacious, comfortable turbo cruiser off my hands! No chance, I'm keeping it. Better than the '04 new 9-3 1.8 petrol that I had for 3 years, that had a few problems include wobbly wheels (maybe it's me or the Irish roads).2002 2.2 TiD 125 bhpBought Dec 2006 with 67k, now at 85k. Mostly charging up and down Ireland, swerving boatlike around potholes. Michelins have lasted the year, were not new, will need replacing soon. No breakdowns so far.Serviced once by Saab dealer in Waterford. Returned to dealer on a vibration issue that feels like unbalanced wheels when braking long, front discs replaced foc. The problem is still there to some extent, may be tyres?SID has increasingly fewer pixels. It can be quite interesting on a long trip to know that the time is thirty something past something, adds a sense of timelessness to life.Starting in temperatures around freezing can be often at second attempt.The only design gripe (apart from the SID and that's grown on me, will probably screw it up soon with a DIY fix attempt), is that the seat belt sockets in the back are a devil when trying to belt the kids up in their off-the-shelf booster seats.My wife hated this "big old tractor" to begin with and now, after a few goes, she wants to take my spacious, comfortable turbo cruiser off my hands! No chance, I'm keeping it. Better than the '04 new 9-3 1.8 petrol that I had for 3 years, that had a few problems include wobbly wheels (maybe it's me or the Irish roads).

2001 saab 2.2 TiD SE, 103000 mls
Bought for £2900 at 91000 mls

Rear nearside window not working....loose wire in connector block for switch in centre console
Aerial not working....just needed greased.
SID pixels missing....fixed using a bit of cardboard.
Nearside headlamp wiper motor seized ... got replacement from breaker
Rear engine mount torn, replacement from Elkparts
Passenger door needed realigned...was sitting too high
Clutch squeal when pulling away...requires thrust bearing replacement (still not done, doesnt affect driving of car)


very very pleased with the car..very well put together and easy to work on

I average 42 mpg, which is great for a 7 year old car.

1 bad point....engine noise.....get used to it after a while though

2001 9-3 Base 5-door
88,000 miles
Appleton, Wisconsin, USA

Purchased 15-12-07 from local used car dealer who included 5 year/50,000 mile powertrain warranty

Replaced coolant temp sensor (warranty)
Transmission mount (warranty)
Thermostat (not covered by warranty, but dealer covered it as goodwill as it was needed 1 month after purchase)

New tires (or tyres) - the ones on the vehicle were mismatched and down to 4/32"
PCV rev. #6
Need to replace rear spoiler - waiting for parts

Otherwise, car is in great shape. Extremely comfortable, fast and 34-37 miles per gallon on the highway.

93 2.0 1998

Bought it 9 months ago with 50k miles

Got a 3 month waranty which covered

Front driver's washer blocked
Fan direction control broke inside dashboard

other bits

slight wind noise from driver's door above about 90 mph
headlight wipers often don't return properly
lots of sid pixels disappear when it's a warm day (made the car nice and cheap)

i'm not particularly bothered by those

i don't do many miles in the car but drive it often (it goes across town to work twice a day and gets used at weekends)
it's been a good car so far, behaves itself when the road is icy or greasy and has reasonable power when i want to overtake

i love how comfy the seats are, the massive boot and the fact hardly anyone has one - no bother picking it out in a carpark[/b]

Click to expand...

2 years on, still really like the car

Now commuting 50 odd miles a day so at 67,000 miles
Only had to replace an exhaust flex, an engine hose and 2 tires


Offside headlight wiper spends most of the time pointing up
Heater control is jammed but is set to the windscreen so that's ok
Driver's windscreen washer has blocked again, sticking a pin down it hasn't helped much
Check engine light comes on when it's cold (outside , not engine) and not being pushed hard (motorway usually). Local garage can't find out what's wrong, temp sensor suspected but they're not sure.
Hardly any SID pixels left, makes reading messages a bit of a challenge. I'll get it fixed on eBay when I can go without the car for a few days

An excellent motorway cruiser, I still love the seats and the huge boot
Only real gripe is the poor mpg, 29-30 when it's cold 32-33 when it's warm

If nothing major breaks by the next mot (August) I'll get the 66k major service done at a saab indie and hopefully keep it until 100k

obdii reader won't talk to the car which is a bit annoying too

9-3tSE (154 bhp)
year 2000
T5 engine
157,000 miles

So far:

Aircon unit failed. Never worked from buying never been fixed.
New shocks all round.
Clutch.
Gearbox.
Driveshaft seals.

Usual service items otherwise.

Clutch release bearing to be sorted next week.

Still gets the odd bang / knock from the suspension when cold over harsher bumps.

I also get the slight wind noise from the driver's door mentioned below. Worsens with a cross wind. I always assumed it was just the hang of my door. Is this a more common problem I wonder.

Hi,

9-3 SEt Convertible
year 2000
175BHP (Hirsch engine upgrade)
42,000 miles
Full SAAB service history
England

So far I have owned the car for 5 weeks, but it has been in the garage for 4 with the following problems:-

Bulkhead separation
electric mirrors not working
Aircon not working (new compressor orderred)
Engine management light
Service security system SID warning

For MOT
New Brake pads

Other things not coverred,

Slight wear marks on hood
SID pixels not working

So far I;ve not been impressed and my enthusiasm is failing...hoping it will recover when I eventually get the car back!!

Considerring steering rack bracket and brace and 6 point sub frame brace (don't know in which order), if I decide to keep the car. Also clean of engine sump

9-3 SE 2.0t Convertible 154Bhp
78,000 miles
2002

A/C unit seems to have a mind of its own, but will live with it for now
N/S spring replaced
N/S door handle loose
Front discs - shortly, slightly warped
Clutch is staring to make a discouraging noise - intermittently


Full service history, bought Oct '08. Although 62k service should have been the "big one" and previous owner had an oil service carried out!

Big service carried out after purchase, nothing untoward to report. Passed MOT 2 weeks ago.

Happy with the purchase so far, although am getting worried about the bulkhead issue, small crack near O/S pillar, will have to keep an eye on it

2000 9-3 vert, LPT.

Had it a month and only faults are:

VERY slight weep from power steering system.
VERY slight oil weep from distributor blanking plug
Mirror switch not working (Fixed by replacing membrane from breakers yard switch)
Centre section exhaust badly corroded by join with end can - thinking Jetex replacement.
Rear off-side electric window is a bit clunky. Think it needs greasing.
Hood is badly marked. Most of it came off with Turtlewax hood cleaner so will have another bash! :thumbsup:


Other than that, I'm hoping the next 93K miles she does will be trouble free!