Saab 9-3 problems
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Saab 9-3 model years
Common Saab 9-3 problems
Based on the complaints from owners of the Saab 9-3, here is a detailed list of common problems associated with this car:
- Engine Coolant Loss: Many Saab 9-3s (1999 to 2010) experience engine coolant loss due to a porous engine block. Gas and contaminants present during the casting process lead to low coolant levels. Repair attempts like replacing head gaskets and water pumps have had varying success rates. Solutions may involve inspecting the engine block for repair or replacement.
- Loud Noises on Rough Roads: The front-wheel-drive design of the second-generation Saab 9-3 (2002 to 2011) puts strain on the front suspension, causing top mounts and bearings to fail between 35,000 to 185,000 miles. This issue results in loud noises when driving on rough roads and may require replacement of these components for improved driving comfort.
- ECU, Electric Windows, and Rattles: Some owners have reported problems with the engine's ECU, faults with electric windows, and various rattles and creaks in the Saab 9-3. These issues can impact the overall driving experience and comfort of the vehicle, requiring careful inspection and potential repairs to address them.
- Uneven Tyre Wear and Clutch/Gearbox Troubles: Watch out for uneven tyre wear, which could indicate misaligned suspension or worn tyres, especially in hotter versions that can wear out fronts quickly. Additionally, be cautious of clutch slip and gearbox troubles, as these can affect the performance and drivability of the Saab 9-3. Ensuring a full service history and checking for specific features like leather trim and a good stereo system can enhance the resale value of the car.
These common problems highlight areas where Saab 9-3 owners may encounter issues, emphasizing the importance of thorough inspections and regular maintenance to address these concerns effectively.
Is a Saab 9-3 reliable?
The 9-3 is one of the most reliable and cost-efficient vehicles in the market. Some of its issues can be tedious to deal with, but most of them are preventable and repairable. If you're thinking of buying the Saab 9-3, keep in mind the importance of proper maintenance and repair.
What is the problem with the Saab 9 3x?
There is a well-known issue with Saab 9-3s where leaks can occur between the lubrication and cooling systems due to the chain powered design of the water pump. This issue is one of the more expensive on our list to fix and is definitely one that should make you think twice about parting with your money.
Are Saabs expensive to fix?
The annual maintenance cost of a Saab is $908. Repair and maintenance costs vary depending on age, mileage, location and shop.
What is the transmission problem on a Saab 9-3?
Most Common Saab 9-3 Problems
- Transmission Pressure Control Solenoid Failure May Cause Erratic Shifting.
- Nissan Crankshaft and Camshaft Sensor Recall.
- Harsh or Delayed Shifting of Automatic Transmission.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Saab 9-3 years
We have researched Saab problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Saab 9-3 cars and compiled the top 5 most problematic Saab 9-3 model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Saab 9-3 model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Saab 9-3 years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Saab 9-3 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Saab 9-3 , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Air bags problems
- Electrical system problems
- Suspension problems
- Seat belts problems
- Engine problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Saab 9-3 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints where the accident occurred by 9-3 model years
A total of 56 complaints were registered in which the accident occurred. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with fire by 9-3 model years
There were a total of 22 complaints that resulted in a fire. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with injuries by 9-3 model years
There were a total of 71 complaints that resulted in a injuries. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with deaths by 9-3 model years
There were a total of 2 complaints that resulted in a death. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 1347 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Saab 9-3 . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Saab 9-3 vehicles.
Latest 25 complaints
Saab 9-3 2008
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-30
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-30
- VIN: YS3FB79Y086
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: The contact owns a 2008 Saab 9-3. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 14V318000 (Seat Belts) and 16V063000 (Air Bags); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted; however, the dealer declined to service the vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Saab 9-3 2000
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-22
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-01
- VIN: YS3DD58H7Y2
- Components: AIR BAGS,SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: 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 will consult an authorized repair shop, insurance agent, and a dealer service center for more info. A Saab dealer service center told me a new replacement air bag would be available from Sweden at a cost of $700. That would be in addition to the cost of repairing the seat, door frame panel, and other items. There were no prior dash board or related fault code messages. The car has never been in an accident or impacted in any way to the best of my knowledge (I saw a Carfax report at purchase).
Saab 9-3 2004
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-10
- Date Complaint: 2024-07-15
- VIN: YS3FD45YX41
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: Retractor won't pull driver side seat belt back in
Saab 9-3 2010
- Date Of Incident: 2023-10-17
- Date Complaint: 2024-01-17
- VIN: YS3FC4BY2A1
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
- Summary: The contact owns a 2010 Saab 9-3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V015000 (Fuel System, Other) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the fuel gauge failed to accurately provide fuel level in the vehicle. The contact stated that while the tank was a half tank full, the fuel gauge would drop to 0 gallons. The failure occurred intermittently. The check engine warning light was illuminated with a message indicating a fuel pump failure. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer confirmed that the remedy was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 104,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Saab 9-3 2002
- Date Of Incident: 2023-09-01
- Date Complaint: 2023-11-14
- VIN: YS3DF78K027
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
- Summary: The radiator exploded, spewing fluids everywhere, overheating my vehicle without warning when I was driving 45 mph, almost causing a multi-car crash.
Saab 9-3 2005
- Date Of Incident: 2021-01-15
- Date Complaint: 2023-08-03
- VIN: YS3FB79N156
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: The contact owns a 2005 Saab 9-3. The contact stated that the front passenger's side seat belt failed to latch. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V318000 (Seat Belts). The vehicle was not repaired. There was no further information provided. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Saab 9-3 2008
- Date Of Incident: 2023-02-18
- Date Complaint: 2023-02-18
- VIN: YS3FB79Y786
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: at about 98,000 miles the starts to fail transmission fails Also when the car gets too cold in the winter it refuses to start and it is not a battery issue. the cylinders get to cold to start. When the warm weather comes back around it starts again.
Saab 9-3 2002
- Date Of Incident: 2023-02-11
- Date Complaint: 2023-02-16
- VIN: YS3DF78K027
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: The soft top is faulty and the rear lights are as well.
Saab 9-3 2004
- Date Of Incident: 2022-06-04
- Date Complaint: 2022-06-04
- VIN: YS3FH46Y041
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: Constant random recurrence of error codes P2122 and P2138 (either together or on their own) which results in the car switching to low power mode, with very low acceleration which makes it very dangerous to merge into traffic, pull out of stops, red lights, etc. Technically supposed to require changing the throttle pedal sensor, but changing it does not solve the issue, which is electrical. This is a known issue for GM cars.
Saab 9-3 2004
- Date Of Incident: 2021-03-29
- Date Complaint: 2022-03-29
- VIN: YS3FH49Y641
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: ******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE THE CONSUMER PLACED THE REQUEST*DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******
Saab 9-3 2001
- Date Of Incident: 2021-10-11
- Date Complaint: 2021-10-11
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- VIN: YS3DF78K717
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: unexpected and unrequested deployment of driver side seat air bag. i was driving the vehicle at a speed of 0-5mph attempting to back the vehicle into a parking spot when the driver seat air bag deployed. a report was made with the local police department. no indicator or failure lights were present, the vehicle is able to be inspected at this time for further information. It is unknown about any other inspections by anyone other than the local police department.
Saab 9-3 2006
- Date Of Incident: 2021-09-26
- Date Complaint: 2021-10-01
- VIN: YS3FH71U366
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: Warning message that airbag is not working. Loud hissing sound immediately in front of dashboard, as if air is escaping. We cannot drive the car for fear of the airbag inflating. We are going to have to towed to a repair shop to be fixed and will keep all paperwork.
Saab 9-3 2008
- Date Of Incident: 2015-12-31
- Date Complaint: 2021-07-28
- VIN: YS3FB46Y581
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: Driver seat belt fails to retract. When retraction failure occurs, it is obvious to the seat occupant immediately. If a crash were to occur with a seat belt in this condition, the result could increase the risk of injury to the driver. The seat belt retraction failure has been reproduced and confirmed. No warning lamps but, the seat belt showed earlier symptoms of not working properly, by not engaging when hard braking occurred. I will have the tensioner replaced.
Saab 9-3 2011
- Date Of Incident: 2021-05-29
- Date Complaint: 2021-06-01
- VIN: ys3fa4cy4b1
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: driver side seat belt not retracting, there is a recall but does not include this vin number.
Saab 9-3 2001
- Date Of Incident: 2021-05-10
- Date Complaint: 2021-05-17
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- VIN: ys3df55k112
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: I left my home with my daughter in the afternoon to go to the bank and hardware store. I drove to the bank to make a deposit. We had to wait for quite awhile in the drive-through line at the bank, so I turned off my engine a couple of times rather than having the car idle. After making the deposit at the bank, I pulled out of the bank lot and began driving to the hardware store. I had driven for about two minutes and was driving along at approximately 25-30 miles an hour, and suddenly there was a terrible explosion at my left ear and massive pain in my left arm. I thought the car had been shot at and my arm hit. I was terrified we were still being shot at and looked at my daughter whose hands were over her ears. I could tell by that time that I was not bleeding and so was worried that the bullet had hit her. I could hear only faintly out of my left ear. There was smoke and the smell of an explosion. I could see by this time that an airbag had come out of my driver's seat and thought that it had been hit too. My daughter told me she was o.k. and to pull the car over so that we could see what had happened. I was shaking with fear and pain in my arm but finally calmed down enough to park the car and get out to see what had happened. It became clear that the car had not been shot at and that the driver's side seat airbag had simply spontaneously exploded without any warning whatsoever. The driver's seat side seam was completely ripped, multiple pieces of seat foam were lying about, and the air bag in the seat was out and ripped. The seat was still smoking. Luckily I had had my window completely down, or the explosion would have been louder in the car, and my arm and left side could have been more badly injured. I called my longtime Saab repairman who told me that what happened to me was extremely rare. He said I would need a new seat and that the computer system would need to be reset for the airbag system to work again. Insurance will examine soon. I may try GM too.
Latest 5 recalls Saab 9-3
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 47 recalls for different components of the Saab 9-3.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Saab 9-3 2007
- Report Received Date: 2016-02-03
- Manufacturer: General Motors LLC
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2017. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 28810.
- Model: Saab 9-3 2009
- Report Received Date: 2016-02-03
- Manufacturer: General Motors LLC
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2017. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 28810.
- Model: Saab 9-3 2008
- Report Received Date: 2016-02-03
- Manufacturer: General Motors LLC
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2017. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 28810.
- Model: Saab 9-3 2010
- Report Received Date: 2016-02-03
- Manufacturer: General Motors LLC
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2017. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 28810.
- Model: Saab 9-3 2006
- Report Received Date: 2016-02-03
- Manufacturer: General Motors LLC
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2017. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 28810.
Latest negative Saab 9-3 car reviews
Latest positive Saab 9-3 car reviews
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Vehicle year: 2008
I have been a SAAB enthusiast for 6 years now and I absolutely adore these machines. Recently, I purchased the SAAB Turbo X, one of only 600 that made it to the States, and it is truly an amazing car. The only thing GM helped SAAB with was their electrical systems, which are much better now. The dealer was kind enough to offer me more than $12,000.00 off the sticker price, and I got the car for $32,000.00 out the door, with tinted windows and front clear rock chip protection at no extra cost. They were very accommodating and eager to make a deal. Now is definitely the time to buy, as they are offering great deals. The XWD system is rock solid, and I couldn't even break it off the road. Overall, this is a fantastic car!
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Vehicle year: 2010
I love my Saab convertible! It's such a fun car to drive. I used to have a Mercedes C-class, but I switched to a 9-3 Bumblebee Yellow 2.0T convertible and I don't regret it one bit. While I do miss the acceleration of the MB, the Saab 2.0T is not far behind. The handling is actually improved from the 2006 C-class, possibly due to the shorter wheelbase and ReAxis feature (passive turning rear wheels). I get a lot of looks in this car, which is always a good time, and the subtle design bells and whistles are everywhere. For example, with the top down, the climate control seems to magically adjust all of the settings for a comfortable ride - including the automated heated seats. You can really tell that this is a car designed by people who live in the snow!
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Vehicle year: 2001
Great car across the board! Excellent performance on acceleration, handling, braking, and gas mileage. It's a great deal for a high-performance, classy car with distinction. There aren't many Viggen owners, so not many people are familiar with them, which offers exclusivity.
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Vehicle year: 2001
We've had our 2001 Saab 9-3 for 10 years now and have recently considered saying goodbye. Although it's only worth about $1500 to a private party, it's worth so much more to us! The truth is, if you have a mechanic who knows Saabs, owns the right equipment, and understands how to fix them, you're good-to-go. Luckily, we have Ray and Rich at Auto Works of Knoxville in our area. Ray bought all the right equipment to service Saabs years ago, and customers come from as far as St. Louis, MO to have their Saabs worked on here. Ray and Rich know these cars inside and out and keep us up and running. Saabs are quirky and sometimes frustrating to own, but we love our Sadie. She may suddenly decide to turn on the check engine light and stay in second gear, but the fix is a reset with a code reader. It works great for six months, then she does it again. Then about every two years, she'll just stop running at a stop sign. Suddenly starts idling rough and shuts down. Solution? Rich cleans the throttle body and resets the computer.
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Vehicle year: 2003
I was looking for an extended warranty and something different from the usual sedans. I didn't know much about Saab, so my expectations were not too high. However, I was pleasantly surprised. This car is attractive and comes with many standard features that would be options on other vehicles. Despite being a 4-cylinder, the Turbo gives it plenty of power. I have owned this car for over a year now without any cosmetic or mechanical issues. It's also fun to drive with very little road noise.
Are you having problems with your Saab 9-3?
Denis Schuppe 2025-08-23
Vehicle year: 2002
I purchased this convertible as my first used car for college due to its attractive appearance and reasonable price. Although I receive many compliments while driving it around town and for work, I have noticed that it requires frequent repairs. Unfortunately, the cost of these repairs can be quite high, ranging from $500 to $1500 for special ordered parts and labor. If you have the financial means to maintain it, I would recommend this car, but if not, it may be best to avoid it.
Cory Wilkinson 2025-08-14
Vehicle year: 1999
We were thrilled to purchase our 1999 9-3 Saab after conducting extensive research. At the time of purchase, it had only 29,000 miles and we were able to get a great deal. Unfortunately, we have had to spend a significant amount of money on repairs for this car. While we initially believed Saabs to be high-quality vehicles, our experience with this particular model has been disappointing. We would caution others to carefully consider their options before purchasing a 1999 Saab 9-3.
Brice Hills 2025-08-13
Vehicle year: 2005
The employee discount for all promotions in 2005 made our 2005 Arc w/driver's package affordable. However, we should have stayed away. Within the warranty period, the car was taken into the dealer 3 or 4 times. Once, all of the radio and interior electronics freaked out and they had to replace the radio and command module. Luckily, this was under warranty. However, just out of warranty, after 3 years and 55,000 miles, the car quit on the highway during rush hour, forcing my wife to make some risky emergency moves. The car would not start again! It turns out that the engine computer failed, and it cost us $900. Now, 5k miles later, the stability system is giving critical errors. It could cost us $1000 to fix this time.
Cesar Johnson 2025-07-29
Vehicle year: 2011
I read a comment in a review forum about the future of Saab, suggesting that the brand should position itself as the $25K European sports sedan. Regardless of whether this is where Saab is headed or not, I believe it would be a great way to position this model. While it may not have the best interior compared to, say, an Audi A4 (which was my previous car), the engine may not be sublime, and the handling may only be okay (although the AWD version helps considerably, I bought the FWD version), I have no major complaints after driving over 2,000 miles. It's a good all-around performer and, while it may not excel in any particular automotive review category, it does enough to satisfy and bring the occasional smile.
Kelley Walsh 2025-07-24
Vehicle year: 2001
I bought this cute little car 5 years ago. Although I had to replace the engine twice, which was very costly, I still love how it looks, how it handles, the size, and the interior. I just wish it was better built. Also, expect to have at least $250 - $500 in mechanic bills quarterly.