General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2011 Saab 9-3 Convertible vehicles manufactured July 30, 2003, to February 15, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the driver's side front seat belt retractor may break, causing the seat belt webbing not to retract.
Safety risk
In the event of a crash, a seat belt that has not retracted may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Manufacturer remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt retractor, free of charge. The recall began on October 6, 2015. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007. GM's number for this recall is 14222. Note: Special Coverage 10086 will replace the passenger side seat belt retractor if it fails, free of charge, for the life of the vehicle.
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 SAAB 9-3 SEDANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT, OVER TIME, COULD FAIL TO RETRACT.
Safety risk
USING A SEAT BELT THAT HAS NOT RETRACTED, AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE RETRACTOR FREE OF CHARGE. IF THE FRONT PASSENGER RETRACTOR WERE TO FAIL TO RETRACT, GM WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER RETRACTOR FREE OF CHARGE UNDER A SPECIAL COVERAGE THAT WILL BE RELEASED FOR THE SAME POPULATION FOR 10 YEARS FROM NEW VEHICLE DATE OF SALE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT SAABPARTS.COM/US. Note: In June 2014, GM expanded the special coverage from 10 years to be for the lifetime of the vehicle.
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
SAAB CARS USA, INC.
Vehicles affected
68,654
Reported to NHTSA
2005-05-19
Owners notified
2006-03-17
Defect description
CERTAIN SPORT SEDAN AND CONVERTIBLE PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH A VACUUM PIPE CHECK VALVE FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER THAT MAY FAIL FROM EXPOSURE TO ELEVATED TEMPERATURES. THIS COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST, USUALLY WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING.
Safety risk
IF THIS CONDITION WERE TO OCCUR WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REDESIGNED CHECK VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 17, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
SOME SPORT SEDANS WERE BUILT WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT WERE DAMAGED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. IF DAMAGED, OVER TIME, THE AUTOMATIC TENSIONING SYSTEM (ATS) CABLE IN THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR COULD BREAK CAUSING THE BELT WEBBING TO NOT RETRACT.
Safety risk
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT MAY RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." THE BACKREST LOCKING MECHANISM ON SOME FRONT SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Safety risk
THIS COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO FOLD FORWARD IN A FRONTAL CRASH, RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND/OR FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SEATS TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED COMPONENT. IF EITHER OR BOTH OF THE SEATS HAVE THIS COMPONENT, THEY WILL BE REPLACED. THE DEALER MAY NEED TO ORDER A COMPLETE NEW SEAT OR SEATS (INCLUDING MATCHING UPHOLSTERY) AND THE PARTS MAY TAKE UP TO TWO TO FOUR WEEKS TO ARRIVE. SAAB WILL PROVIDE A RENTAL CAR FOR THE OWNER UNTIL THE NEW SEAT(S) IS (ARE) AVAILABLE AND INSTALLED BY THE DEALER. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Seat belts
67
85,000 mi
Suspension: front
29
59,800 mi
Suspension
18
80,000 mi
Air bags
16
79,000 mi
Electrical system
11
62,000 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor
11
79,037 mi
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs
10
57,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline
5
64,850 mi
Exterior lighting
4
35,000 mi
Tires
4
51,275 mi
Unknown or other
4
112,000 mi
Engine
3
117,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling
3
15,123 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine
3
2,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
3
93,000 mi
Power train
3
107,775 mi
Steering
3
104,000 mi
Air bags: frontal
2
111,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: module
2
4,000 mi
Equipment
2
65,000 mi
Seat belts: front
2
103,000 mi
Seats
2
76,100 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
2
—
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module
1
15,123 mi
Air bags: side/window
1
39,900 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system
1
55,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline
1
20,664 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor
1
4,661 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.
1
—
Exterior lighting: headlights
1
53,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
1
—
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
1
—
Latches/locks/linkages
1
116,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch
1
5,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission
1
48,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)
1
—
Seats: front assembly: head restraint
1
16,500 mi
Service brakes
1
79,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
33,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
1
766 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: fluid
1
6,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper
1
8,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
1
8,000 mi
Steering: column locking: anti-theft device
1
21,000 mi
Structure: body
1
116,000 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields
1
—
Vehicle speed control
1
2,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
1
45,000 mi
Visibility
1
107,643 mi
Wheels
1
—
The 2003 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2005 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.