2002 Saab 9-3: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2002 Saab 9-3: 4 recalls, 37 owner complaints and up to 24 mpg combined.
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Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Steering Vehicle recall #01V314000 · 2001 · 1,366 vehicles
What's wrong: The tie rod end retaining nuts May not have been properly tightened at the factory.
Why it matters: The nut could loosen and fall off resulting in a sudden reduction or loss of steering control.
The fix: All vehicles will be inspected and corrected prior to customer delivery. No owner notification will be required.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #04V557000 · 2004 · 17,394 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump retaining tabs holding the fuel lines were damaged during production.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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 March 14, 2005. Owners should contact Saab at 1-800-955-9007.
Electrical Vehicle recall #05V399000 · 2005 · 103,202 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Overheating of the igbt occurs most often at engine start-up, but it May also occur while the engine is running. Engine stalling May occur, which could result in a crash.
The fix: 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. An interim letter will be mailed to owners in October 2005, informing them of the condition. Parts are now available and owners will be notified to bring…
Fuel system Vehicle recall #07V087000 · 2007 · 94,377 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pump retaining tabs holding the fuel lines were damaged during production.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 1 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (14): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (6), won't start (2).
- Engine & cooling (6): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Transmission & drivetrain (5): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Fuel system (4): the most common themes are leaks (2), fire / smoke (2).
The 2002 Saab 9-3 has 37 owner complaints, ranking #11 of 14 9-3 model years for complaints (well below the 96 average). Complaints peaked in 2006 (6 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 63,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2001 (59 complaints, 4 recalls), 2003 (212 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 30 | 24 | Premium |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 27 | 21 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2002 Saab 9-3.
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FAQ
Does the 2002 Saab 9-3 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2002 Saab 9-3. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2002 Saab 9-3 problems?
Owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (14), engine & cooling (6), transmission & drivetrain (5).
What gas mileage does the 2002 Saab 9-3 get?
EPA ratings run up to 24 mpg combined (2.0 L, Manual 5-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2002 Saab 9-3 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.