2000 Saab 9-3

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).

IN NEUTRAL PARKED IN TRAFFIC AT A RED LIGHT / INTERSECTION WAITING FOR GREEN, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG IN MY SEAT DEPLOYED/ EXPLODED CAUSING INJURY AND BRUISING TO LEFT ARM.

I GOT INTO MY PARKED VEHICLE AS NORMAL, CLOSED THE DOOR AND FASTENED MY SEATBELT. I THEN DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. AS I TURNED THE KEY TO START THE CAR, THE DRIVERS SEAT SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF HEARING, A RINGING SOUND IN THE EARS, AND INJURY TO MY LEFT ARM. I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND OFF/NOT RUNNING, IN A PARKING LOT AT A LOCAL SHOPPING MALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT, DAMAGED, OR USED IN ANY OTHER WAY OUT OF ORDINARY OPERATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, SOUNDS, OR SIGNS OF DISTURBANCE IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL SHORTER AFTER TO BE TREATED FOR MY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO ITS PRIMARY PLACE OF REST, MY HOME.

WHILE PARKED AND WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING THE DRIVER'S SEAT AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY REAR IMPACT OR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

I WAS RETURNING FROM THREE DAYS OF AIR TRAVEL AND REACHED MY CAR WHICH WAS PARKED IN A SECURE CORPORATE AIRPORT PARKING LOT WITH NO OTHER CARS AROUND IT. I PLACED MY LUGGAGE IN THE TRUNK, ENTERED THE CAR AND PUT ON MY SEAT BELT. I STARTED THE CAR; IT STARTED NORMALLY WITH NO WARNINGS OR ANYTHING ABNORMAL. I PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE, ROLLED APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET, AND THE SEAT-BACK SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED EXPLOSIVELY. IT SHATTERED THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, STRUCK ME VERY HARD ON THE LEFT SHOULDER AND UPPER ARM, AND SHOVED ME VIOLENTLY TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR AND TRIED TO RECOVER MY SENSES. I THOUGHT INITIALLY THAT I HAD BEEN SHOT OR SHOT AT WITH A GUN. THE EXPLOSION WAS VERY LOUD, AND LEFT RINGING IN MY LEFT EAR. I SHUT THE CAR OFF, GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE DAMAGE BOTH TO MY CAR AND MYSELF. MY UPPER ARM WAS SEVERELY BRUISED; INITIALLY THAT WAS THE ONLY PAIN THAT I FELT. THERE WAS GLASS EVERYWHERE, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I NOTIFIED THE LOCAL SECURITY BOTH TO RECORD THE EVENT AND HOPEFULLY CLEAN UP THE GLASS. I TOOK SEVERAL PICTURES WITH MY PHONE, THEN DROVE HOME AFTERWARD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE NEXT MORNING I HAD NECK, BACK, AND SHOULDER PAIN. I NOTIFIED AND FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE AGENCY, CALLED MY DEALERSHIP, AS WELL AS UPDATING MY FAMILY OF THE OCCURRENCE AND WENT TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE FOR CHECK-OUT. HAD THIS EVENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, AND ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I AM CONFIDENT THIS EVENT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE GIVEN THE VIOLENCE OF THE DEPLOYMENT. I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT THIS EVENT OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT IN TRAFFIC, AND THAT I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS WAS A COMPLETELY UNCOMMANDED AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO PREVENT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT FROM OCCURRING IF THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ELSE.

SIDE AIRBAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE (LOCATED IN OUTSIDE EDGE OF DRIVER'S SEAT) DEPLOYED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED AND RUNNING. THIS WAS CLEARLY A MALFUNCTION -- THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL EVENT OR DAMAGE THAT WOULD CAUSE AN AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. SIGNIFICANT BRUISING TO DRIVER'S LEFT ARM, TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS; DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE FROM REVERSING, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT WAS NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM BEING PROPERLY SECURED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO WEAR THE SEAT BELT SINCE IT WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH TO CONNECT TO THE LATCH BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY NEIGHBORHOOD STREET GOING APPROXIMATELY 15MPH WHEN MY PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED CAUSING A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND AND MY PASSENGERS SIDE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS EJECTED FROM THE DOOR. I HAD NOT HIT ANYONE OR ANYTHING. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO THE STORE WHEN I HEARD BOOM AND SEEN SMOKE AND I REALISE THE SIDE AIRBAG OPEN. I DID NOT COME IN CONTACT WITH ANYTHING . THE DRIVER SEATBELT WENT ABOUT A YEAR AGO, IT BEGAN JAM MEACHICAN SAIDED THAT PULLEY JAM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHEN SHE EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY PULLING THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT OUT OF ITS PRETENSIONER. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE SEAT BELT WAS OPERATED. APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS LATER, THE PRETENSIONER FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SAAB 9-3. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS HE WAS TAKING THE VEHICLE FOR EMISSIONS TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS REJECTED DUE TO THE CODES THAT SHOWED ON THE EMISSION TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE IDM CODE, WHICH IS THE IGNITION DISCHARGE MODULE, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL, OVER HEAT AND FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO INFORMED HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN BECAUSE IT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V399000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: MODULE). HE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY LATER INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $700 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS MILEAGE 106,871.

GAS STARTED LEAKING AT A STEADY STREAM FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK WHENEVER THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. FROM THE DEALER REPAIR STATEMENT: "CUSTOMER STATES CHECK RAW GAS LEAKING FROM ABOVE THE FUEL TANK, ONLY WITH CAR RUNNING. FUEL TANK RETAINER CLIP BROKEN. REPLACED FUEL TANK RETAINER CLIP." MY CONCERN: THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM (FUEL TANK RETAINER CLIP FAILURE AND LEAKING GAS) WAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR 2001 AND NEWER SAAB 9-3S. SAAB SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED 2000 MODELS AS WELL SINCE THEY HAVE THE SAME DESIGN (ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND COMMENTS ON THE WEB). OVERALL, THIS IS A GOOD CAR, BUT SAFETY MATTERS!

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-3. IN 2006, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V399000. THE FAILURE WAS NOT PRESENT AT THE TIME, BUT THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED AS A PRECAUTIONARY REMEDY. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND OFTEN STALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY FURTHER LIABILITY. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED CORRECTLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

SAAB 2000 9-3 TURBO CONTINUED TO BE PLAGUED WITH NO START PROBLEMS (RECALLED ITEM REPAIRED BY SAAB DEALERSHIP. OIL SLUDGE AS A RESULT OF PROBLEMS RELATED TO RECALL CAUSED ENGINE/TURBO TO FAIL AT 94,000 ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO MECHANIC. SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP IS DOCUMENTED AND SHOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS TYPE OF ENGINE. TURBO FAILURE. *TR

THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS STARTING FOR MANY YEARS AND I HAVE TAKEN IT TO VARIOUS SAAB SERVICE CENTERS WITHOUT MUCH LUCK. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE YEARS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR ISSUED ON THE PART WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN WHEN THE RECALL WAS ISSUED THEY SAID THAT MY DI CASSETTE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I HAVE JUST HAD TO PAY AND REPLACE THIS PART AND I FEAR THAT THIS DAMAGED PART HAS COMPROMISED OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SAAB 9-3. THE IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED IN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. TWO MONTHS LATER, HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V399000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE) AND HE IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE A NEW IGNITION MODULE WAS ALREADY INSTALLED. DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CLOGGED DUE TO IGNITION MODULE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 64,000.

2000 9-3 HAD THE IGNITION MODULE RECALL DONE A FEW YEARS AGO. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE MOTOR STOPPED. LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE CATALYTIC BECAUSE IT WAS PLUGGED. THEY SAID IT COULD BE CAUSED BY THE IGNITION MODULE. *TR

I BOUGHT A USED 2.0L 2000 SAAB 9-3 A YEAR AGO. SINCE THEN, THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SIMILAR MAKE/MODEL/YEAR HAVE HAD. I'VE REPLACED THE THROTTLE HOUSING, SERPENTINE BELT, BELT TENSIONER, CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, AND MOST RECENTLY THE WATER PUMP. NOW, I'M GETTING A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FAULT CODE P1312 AND P1334, WHICH POINTS TO THE DIRECTION IGNITION MODULE. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE DIRECT IGNITION MODULE IN CERTAIN SAABS FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR, BUT IT'S ODD THAT MY CAR COINCIDENTALLY HAPPENS TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M THINKING THAT THE PROBLEM IS LARGER THAN INITIALLY ANTICIPATED WITH THE ORIGINAL RECALL. *TR