1999 Saab 9-3 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1999 Saab 9-3, and owners have filed 64 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1999 Saab 9-3
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Labels (equipment)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The brake reservoir label was omitted. This does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 135, "passenger car brake systems."
Remedy: Owners will be mailed labels and installation instructions.
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Seats
Vehicle description: passsenger vehicles. Failures of the "easy entry" cable in the front driver or passenger manual seats can cause the seat fore/aft adjustable mechanism to be unlocked.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new cable and spring assembly.
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Labels (equipment)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The air bag alert label on the driver side visor was omitted. This does not conform to the requirements of FMVSS no. 208, "occupant crash protection."
Remedy: Owners will be provided with an alert label to be installed on the visible side of the driver's sun visor. If an owner so desires, their dealer can install the label for them.
64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1999 Saab 9-3 have filed 64 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash. Reports cite 10 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 90,949 miles. Complaints peaked in 2006 with 11 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Today, shortly after starting the car, an AIRBAG deployed. The car was parked in my driveway and not in motion, and there was no impact. The AIRBAG deployed from the outboard side of the passenger sea”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 28, 2021 · Air bags
“Just as i parked my car, my side air bag on the driver's side of my car deployed/exploded without any warning. The left side of my face/left ear and neck were injured.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 29, 2018 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1999 Saab 9-3 (9-3 Convertible, 9-3 Viggen). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17–18 / 23–25 |
| Fuel | Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars, Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2/2.3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Saab 9-3 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Saab 9-3 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 Saab 9-3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 Saab 9-3 | 3 | 64 |
| 2000 Saab 9-3 | 2 | 50 |
| 2001 Saab 9-3 | 4 | 59 |
| 2002 Saab 9-3 | 4 | 37 |
| 2003 Saab 9-3 | 4 | 212 |
| 2004 Saab 9-3 | 5 | 207 |
| 2005 Saab 9-3 | 2 | 95 |
| 2006 Saab 9-3 | 2 | 179 |
| 2007 Saab 9-3 | 2 | 155 |
| 2008 Saab 9-3 | 2 | 184 |
| 2009 Saab 9-3 | 2 | 43 |
| 2010 Saab 9-3 | 3 | 30 |
| 2011 Saab 9-3 | 3 | 30 |
Checking a specific 1999 Saab 9-3
How do I know if my 1999 Saab 9-3 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1999 Saab 9-3; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Saab dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 98V139000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Saab models
- 9-5506 complaints
- 900360 complaints
- 9-7X171 complaints
- 9000136 complaints
- 9-2X121 complaints
- 9-3 Convertible61 complaints
- 9551 complaints
- Aero15 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.