2000 Saab 9-3 convertible problems
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Common 2000 Saab 9-3 convertible problems
The Saab 9-3 convertible, particularly the 2000 model, is known for several common issues that owners frequently report. One of the most prevalent problems is related to the convertible top. The top is designed to unlatch from the body of the car at the back, and this action should be audible and palpable. However, some owners have reported problems with the motor or other components associated with the top's control unit. This issue can make it difficult or even impossible to raise or lower the top, causing inconvenience and potentially damaging the car if the top is left down in inclement weather.
Another issue that affects the Saab 9-3, particularly the second generation models from 2002 to 2011, is related to the anti-lock brake system (ABS) and traction control. Both of these safety features share the same module in the Saab 9-3, and many owners have reported persistent problems with the ABS and traction control lights. The source of this problem is often corroded wire harness connectors in the front wheel sensors, which can prevent the traction control module from accurately detecting wheel speed. If left unaddressed, this issue can lead to a complete loss of control on slippery or uneven roads, requiring replacement of both the ABS and traction control components.
Additionally, the timing chain in the Saab 9-3's engine can be a potential source of problems. After 200,000 to 300,000 kilometers, the tensioner or chain damper may fail due to the shrinking and breaking down of the plastic damper shoe. This issue can cause valve clearance problems, which are hydraulically controlled in these engines. Regular oil changes are crucial to prevent this issue, and mechanics recommend using SAE 0w-40 oils
The Saab 9-3's electronics, including the electronic key with a plastic case, can also be problematic. The key's body may break over time, and if there is no response to pressing the remote control buttons, the receiver in the car may have failed. Ignition problems can also be caused by a malfunctioning Sim module, which may warrant a message on the multi-functional display. The electronics may also indicate a low battery in the key
Lastly, the Saab 9-3's suspension system, known as re-axis, slightly turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front ones, depending on the turning radius and load. This feature eliminates understeer, but if the suspension is not properly maintained, it can lead to handling issues and potentially dangerous driving conditions. Regular maintenance and inspection of the suspension system are crucial to ensure safe and reliable performance
What is the problem with the 2000 Saab 9 3?
Here are some of the most widely reported problems for the Saab 9-3.
- ABS or Traction Control Light Illuminate Due to Corroded Wiring. ...
- Engine Coolant Loss. ...
- Loud Noises When Driving on Rough Road. ...
- Engine Dies While Driving. ...
- Excessive Exhaust Noise.
How reliable are Saab convertible?
Overall, if these issues are taken care of, there's no reason why the Saab 9-3 Convertible can't continue to provide reliable transportation for its owner. With proper care and maintenance, this car could last for several more years.
What year of Saab is the most reliable?
The Saab 900 (1994-1998) is a mid-size luxury car produced by the Swedish automaker Saab. It is the fourth generation of the Saab 900 series. Known for its Scandinavian design, innovative features, and solid build quality, the Saab 900 (1994-1998) is considered one of the most reliable Saabs in its lineup.
Is A Saab 9-3 A Good car?
Saab 9.3 Vector Sport TiD. No longer in production does not impact the reliability and value for money which a later model Saab provides. It delivers a high level of comfort, reliability and performance for a car that is now nearly eight years old.
2000 Saab 9-3 convertible car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Saab 9-3 convertible problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Air bags problems
- Seat belts problems
- Electrical system problems
- Structure problems
- Interior lighting problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2000 Saab 9-3 convertible vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2000 Saab 9-3 convertible complaints
The NHTSA has received 12 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2000 Saab 9-3 convertible.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-05-08
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- VIN: YS3DD78H8Y7
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: DRIVING ALONG, MAYBE 20-30 MPH AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYS FOR NO REASON (SIDE, NOT STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG). . NO CRASH, NO IMPACT, JUST DRIVING STRAIGHT AND, BOOM! MY LEFT EAR IS RINGING AND MY LEFT ARM IS PROBABLY BRUISED. *TR
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-03-31
- VIN: YS3FD79Y276
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH 2016. THE SAAB CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER CONTINUES TO TELL ME THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE AND "I SHOULD NOT WORRY BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS WITH SAAB VEHICLES." HOWEVER, I OWN OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME RECALL, AND THOSE MANUFACTURERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN THE REPLACEMENT.
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-10-01
- VIN: YS3DF78K4Y7
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING MY CAR I HAD TO PUSH ON THE BRAKES FAIRLY HARD. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTED AND THEN STAYED RETRACTED. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A PROPER REPLACEMENT FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT AND HAVE YET TO FIND ONE FOR LESS THAN $200.00 FOR A USED ONE AND OVER $300.00 FOR A REFURBISHED ONE. GM JUST HAPPENS TO HAVE NEW ONES BUT THEY ARE ALMOST $500.00 ACCORDING TO THE REP FROM GM.THESE SEAT BELTS HAVE A CHARGING CYLINDER ON THEM THAT SETS OFF THE AIR BAG. THAT ALONE CAUSES YOU TO HAVE TO SHIP IT AS A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL.IF YOU CAN FIND SOMEONE TO SHIP IT AT A REASONABLE COST. (NOT HAPPENING)IF YOU GO WITH THE "UNIVERSAL" SEAT BELT SOLD BY SOME COMPANIES THEY DON'T EVEN WORK AND YOU ARE TOLD TO JUST CUT THE SEAT BELT TO MAKE IT FIT. KIND OF DESTROYS THE INTEGRITY OF THE SEAT BELT BY DOING THAT I WOULD THINK. I HAVE MADE TWO COMPLAINTS WITH GM ABOUT THIS AND CONSIDERING THEY HAD JUST RECALLED THE 2004-2009 SAAB'S FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE I THOUGHT THEY MIGHT WORK WITH ME TO SOME EXTENT. I KNOW NOW THAT IT IS NOT THE CASE. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 3/13/2015 *JS
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-01-27
- VIN: YS3DD75H0Y7
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT AND BECAME TIGHT AROUND THE CONTACT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT BEGAN CHOKING FROM THE PRESSURE OF THE SEAT BELT BECOMING TIGHTER. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 112,334.
STRUCTURE,INTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2010-11-12
- Fire: 1
- VIN: YS3DF78K7Y7
- Components: STRUCTURE,INTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: I HAVE A 2000 SAAB 9-3 CONVERTIBLE. I WAS CLEANING THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE DRIVER DOOR OPEN. I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE AREA BETWEEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE RIGHT DOOR. I OPENED THE RIGHT DOOR TO FIND THE LIGHT FIXTURE IN THE RIGHT QUARTER PANEL HAD FALLEN OUT AND WAS BURNING THE SEAT COVER BY THE AIR BAG. THE LAMP REFLECTOR IS METAL AND BURNED THE SEAT COVER. *TR
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2009-03-09
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: MY CAR WAS DAMAGED ON THE WAY TO WK BECAUSE I HIT A POT HOLE ON NEW CONSTRUCTION. WHO WOULD I TALK TO ABOUT THIS. I ALMOST HAD A BLOW OUT & IT WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE NEW TARRED ROAD HAS A DEEP HOLE & IT'S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2009-02-16
- VIN: YS3DD78H5Y7
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: ENGINE BLEW DO TO EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILD UP, SAAB HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE 1999 AND OFFERED A EXTENDED WARRANTY TO ORIGINAL BUYERS TILL 8 YEARS AND UNLIMITED MILEAGE. TO FIX, ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. CAR ONLY HAS 100,000 MILES. THE OIL PORTHOLES THAT SQUIRT INTO THE PISTONS ARE CLOGGED BURNING OUT THE CYLINDERS. TO FIX THE CONCERN $4-5,000, IF WE CAN USE THE ENGINE THAT CAME WITH THE CAR, USED ENGINES ARE GOING FOR $2-3000 AND YOU CANNOT BUY A NEW OR REBUILT ONE. *TR
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2006-07-31
- VIN: YS3DF78K2Y7
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: 2000 SAAB 9-3 SE CONVERTIBLE. ON COMMUTE HOME, WAS PULLED OVER BECAUSE OF A DETECTED GASOLINE LEAK. GASOLINE WAS POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE AUTO BY THE GAS TANK. POLICE HAD CAR FLAT BEDDED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE CAUSE WAS FROM A "BROKEN CLIP THAT ATTACHED THE FUEL LINE TO THE FUEL PUMP". COSTS FOR REPAIR AND TO REFILL TANK TOTALED $1057.58. 2001 VEHICLES OF THIS SAME MODEL WERE ALREADY RECALLED FOR THIS SAME REASON (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V557000). *NM
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-02-04
- VIN: YS3DD75H4Y7
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: VEHICLE BEGAN SHIFTING POORLY AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE UNLESS TURNED OFF (5 SPEED MANUAL TRANS). SAAB DEALERSHIP OPENED TARNSMISSION AND FOUND IT NEEDED FULL REPLACEMENT (60,000 MILES) AND ALSO NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH. SINCE THAT TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AND GO OFF ERRATICLY. SAAB CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENTS AND DIAGNOSTICS!*AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-06-06
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, AUTO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY, NO POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. BURNT ELECTRICAL SMELL FROM ENGINE. CAR WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, WHERE A FAILED IGNITION CASSETTE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY SINCE DAY ONE, IN SOME CASES FOR DAYS AT A TIME. I HAVE ASKED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT SEVERAL DEALERS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT COULD BE BECAUSE OF A LOOSE GAS CAP AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT (SAAB USA CLAIMS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM). THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT, BUT BECAUSE IT COMES ON SO OFTEN, I IGNORED IT. $900 REPAIR BILL!*AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-08-15
- VIN: YS3DF78K2Y7
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: MY 2000 SAAB 9-3 STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY...THE DEALER REPACED THE DIRECT IGNITION MODULE AND CAR WAS OKAY. *AK
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-08-19
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: YS3DD75H0Y7
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: I'VE GOT A 2000 SAAB 9-3 AND I WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. INSTEAD MY HEAD GOT KNOCKED AGAINST THE SIDE WINDOW, DRIVING MY GLASSES INTO MY FOREHEAD. NOW I'VE GOT A SCAR ACROSS MY FOREHEAD THAT WILL REQUIRE PLASTIC SURGERY. DAMAGE TO THE DOOR WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO WARRANT REPLACEMENT--YET THE AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF. I BELIEVE EITHER THE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE OR THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW.*AK
2000 Saab 9-3 convertible recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2000 Saab 9-3 convertible.
- Manufacturer: SAAB CARS USA, INC.
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
- Summary: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP RETAINING TABS HOLDING THE FUEL LINES WERE DAMAGED DURING PRODUCTION.
- Consequence: OVER TIME, THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL LINES TO LOOSEN FROM THE PUMP RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL MAY IGNITE RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
- Remedy: DEALERS WILL DEVELOP A SECURING BRACKET THAT WILL SECURE THE FUEL LINES TO THE FUEL PUMP EVEN IF THE PLASTIC RETAINING TABS SHOULD BREAK. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 13, 2007. THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGNS - SEE 04V557 AND 06V126. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2000 Saab 9-3 convertible problems:
2000 Saab 9-3 Convertible: Troubleshooting Common Issues ...
Nov 8, 2008 ... You will locate a universal joint which on your car should be silver. While watching the universal joint swing the tonneau up and down (although ...
Issues raising/lowering top 2000 9-3 | Saab Link Forums
May 16, 2012 ... I just purchased this 2000 9-3 convertible a little over a week ago and have yet to take the top down. This is my first Saab. Apparently ...
Soft top problems - 2000 9-3 Turbo | SaabCentral Forums
Oct 11, 2011 ... convertible top failure problems soft top ... I recently obtained a 2000 Saab 9-3 Turbo Convertible. ... Before you get into troubleshooting the ...
Convertible hood not going down all the way
Feb 19, 2016 ... Well, I'm sure this subject has been posted many times before as it seems to be a very common problem on a year 2000 9-3 convertible. In ...
Any major concerns with Saab 9-3 convertible? - MX-5 Miata Forum
I have a friend who just put a deposit on a 2006 Saab 9-3 convertible. I stopped by the dealer last night, drove the car and didn't like it.
Other years of Saab 9-3 convertible
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