| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
Saab 9-3 repairs by problem area
Engine (32%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (4%)
Brakes and Traction Control (5%)
Suspension and Steering (16%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (28%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (9%)
Other (7%)
Select a problem area
- Engine
- Transmission and Drivetrain
- Brakes and Traction Control
- Suspension and Steering
- Electrical and Air Conditioning
- Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim
- Other
Chart based on 1973 repairs.
Saab 9-3 transmission repair cost distribution
$2500+ (10%)
$1000 - $2499 (21%)
$500 - $999 (15%)
$100 - $499 (19%)
< $100 (34%)
Chart based on 67 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2011 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 47000 mi US $1500 |
Replaced rear drive shaft, bearing was loud |
2009 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 280hp 2.8L V6 6-speed manual AWD
| 66600 mi US $1000 |
Rear Differential displayed a service light. Diff was taken apart and reassembled with new seals and gaskets and all fluids and filters replaced. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Wagon
turbocharged 280hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 157000 mi US $1200 |
replace drive shaft |
| 75000 mi US $1500 |
Routine maintenance was due on the AWD rear differential. Differential removed from vehicle and fluids and filters replaced. During this maintenance both rear CV joint boots were discovered to be ripped requiring replacement. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Wagon
turbocharged 280hp 2.8L V6 6-speed manual AWD
| 30000 mi | Replaced seal at rear of transfer case. Leaking oil onto downpipe causing burning oil smell. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Wagon
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD
| 28000 mi | Difficult to engage 2nd gear when cold. Found new TSB that said to drain trans oil and replace with 2.0L instead of 2.2L. Greatly reduced the issue. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 280hp 2.8L V6 6-speed manual AWD
| 35960 mi C $6000 |
Replaced XWD rear differential due to shavings. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD
| 16000 mi | Shift between 1st and 2nd not smooth when engine/weather cold. Car has 6spd manal transmission. |
2007 Saab 9-3 4dr Wagon
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD
| 20300 mi | broken shifter assembly and knob falling off, car did not go into reverse |
| 30000 mi | clutch slave cylinder |
2007 Saab 9-3 4dr Wagon
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 127000 mi US $2700 |
Transmission needed to be replaced. Found a junkyard used replacement to swap in. |
| 49000 mi US $1480 |
Clutch and slave cyclinder |
2007 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 250hp 2.8L V6 6-speed manual FWD
| 15000 mi | Transmission cable snapped and couldn't change gears |
2007 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD
| 36000 mi | Transmission shifting rough. |
2007 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 250hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 120000 mi US $3000 |
Transmission damaged beyond repair--issues with valve body, torque converter, 2nd and 3rd gears. Leaking fluid everywhere. However, transmission was not replaced at shop, because this model of transmission apparently wasn't available used in mechanic's parts network. Fix estimated to cost $3000 or more once transmission becomes available. |
2007 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 31000 mi | Auto Transmission hard shifts from 2nd to 3rd when accelerating slowly. Also slightly jerks forward when downshifting/dropping out of gear while coasting. Happens at 50 mph (dropping out of 5th) and 2 times between 35 and 20 mph (downshifting). |
| 88000 mi US $50 |
Transmission locked up in park. Would not move out of park in any key position. Took car to independent car repair, where they fixed solenoid. All work's well now. |
2006 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 250hp 2.8L V6 6-speed manual FWD
| 82000 mi | Clutch return spring broke -replaced |
2006 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 250hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 61500 mi US $2600 |
Rough shift third to fourth. Replace trans fluid twice |
2006 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 15000 mi | "Snapping" sound from front when turning tight circles. Diagnosed as a bad CV joint. This "problem" has been present for a while - maybe always. With the state of GM, I decided to have it looked at now rather than closer to warranty expiration. |
| 16000 mi | Vehicle was inspected in the shop in December and the necessary part for the repair was ordered. The part arrived very late in the month. A day in January was scheduled for the repair, which was performed on schedule. |
| 46000 mi US $60 |
Completely new transmission. I paid for the lube/oil change. |
2005 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 107260 mi $800 |
It was a pump that needed to be replaced |
2005 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 115100 mi US $160 |
changed driver and passenger axle shaft due to torn boots |
2005 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 150hp 1.9L I4 Diesel 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 55180 mi | Jerky engagement when car put in drive. Gearbox oil changed which has greatly improved the situation but it has not remedied the situation. Took the car to an auto trans shop who advised that this was a fault in this box and advised an... |
| 60760 mi | The transmission was still jerky. A new gearbox would have cost €5,000! |
2005 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 175hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 101000 mi US $3000 |
Transmission failed during driving. Encountered a flat tire at that time. |
2004 Saab 9-3
Engine not specified
| 55000 mi US $85 |
New front hub bearing replaced under warranty. Had the dealer perform an intermediate service while the car was there (oil change and multipoint inspection). |
| 65100 mi $2000 |
gear box failure |
2004 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD
| 48300 mi US $90 |
Clutch return spring clip broke; entire assembly had to be replaced. |
2004 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 175hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 28520 mi A $1600 |
1. Gearbox malfunction light came on. 2. Seats wouldn't slide horizontally when the handle to let the rear seat passanger in was used. |
| 63860 mi A $270 |
problem 1: gearbox clunky. Could not replicate problem. No error codes found. Oil OK. |
| 62000 mi A $4500 |
Gearbox overhaul |
2003 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD
| 76360 mi €15 |
I had to replace myself the broken reverse lock plastic piece under the gear lever. Cost 15 euro. I did it myself. |
2003 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 70000 mi US $100 |
Rough shifts (automatic transmission) going from Reverse to Drive where the whole car would rattle and a metallic noise would sound from under the hood. Also had rough shifts from first to second. Replaced transmission. |
| 166000 mi | clutch master cylinder |
| 105000 mi US $60 |
Gearbox Malfunction, Limp home. Problem resolved but reappeared 1 hr after leaving shop. |
| 37200 mi A $6300 |
Brand new automatic transmission!! Original price for transmission $14,000. Haggle haggle haggle and get the price down. Saab are trying to recover costs by charging customers on spare parts - not good Saab!! |
| 60000 mi US $661 |
Transmission cooler line came loose. |
| 90000 mi US $849 |
Car wouldn't shift right. |
| 92000 mi US $876 |
Gearbox malfunction light came on not even 24 hours after getting it back from 23 days in the shop. |
2003 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 175hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 71000 mi US $100 |
Rear Main Seal leaking. Warranty company would not validate RMS, so I drove the car for 2 weeks til RMS leaked more oil. |
| 78000 mi US $150 |
Tranny. Had to be replaced. Fitted with factory-rebuilt. Also had a vacuum hose crack during service, which had to be replaced. |
| 127000 mi | Clutch is going. Transmission needs replacing. No cost because I am not repairing it. |
| 46500 mi | "Gearbox Malfunction - Limited Performance - Contact Saab Dealer" error message displayed on SID. Cleared by dealer. |
| 104000 mi US $220 |
Transmission revving when slowing down. Flushed and replaced fluid. |
| 240000 mi | trans leak (minor), no other major problems! |
| 23000 mi | Transmission slips between 2nd and 3rd. No problem found. |
| 27600 mi | Transmission replaced under warranty |
| 71000 mi US $950 |
Replace front and rear main seals to correct an engine oil leak. |
2003 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 205hp 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 116000 mi US $333 |
CV joint or something like that. Need to repair plastic side piece on driver's seat AGAIN - #6 I think. |
| 121700 mi US $500 |
Axle and some other part on right front side, hard to get the parts. |
| 124100 mi US $600 |
right front axle finally found ordered and replaced |
| 184000 mi US $1500 |
not sure |
2002 Saab 9-3 4dr Hatch
turbocharged 205hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 78000 mi US $1170 |
Slave cylinder gave out. Slave is internal to the bellhousing requiring removal of the trans. W/ 84K miles, did the clutch disc and pressure plate as well. |
| 167000 mi US $1800 |
Replaced clutch, slave cylinder, axle seals and rear main seal. |
| 211000 mi US $400 |
Upon owner request to change/refill gearbox lubricant, dealer noticed one of the seals leaking. The seal was replaced along with the gearbox oil. |
2001 Saab 9-3
Engine not specified
| 121000 mi | transmission on the way out |
2001 Saab 9-3 4dr Hatch
turbocharged 230hp 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 121000 mi US $800 |
transaxle seals leaking |
2001 Saab 9-3 4dr Hatch
turbocharged 185hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD
| 170000 mi US $2100 |
Replaced clutch and clutch master/slave cylinders. |
2001 Saab 9-3 4dr Hatch
turbocharged 185hp 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 132000 mi US $1264 |
Front end wear. Ripped right boot. Oil change. Flush brake fluid. |
2001 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 205hp 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 149700 mi US $430 |
Gear shifter linkage tightened and sensor replaced. |
| 152000 mi US $1600 |
shifter cable |
| 178000 mi US $239 |
replaced 2 sensors |
2001 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 185hp 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| 94000 mi US $500 |
Neutral safety switch (2nd one) |
| 117000 mi US $200 |
shift cable broke |
2000 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 185hp 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD
| US $1115 | REPLACE TRANS MOUNT,TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY - Removal & Installation,(Combination) FLYWHEEL - Remove & Replace,OIL PAN GASKET - Remove & Replace |
1999 Saab 9-3 2-door
turbocharged 4-cylinder manual 2WD
| 108500 mi US $300 |
CV joint boots were ripped and grease was being thrown from the joints.I had the whole axle replaced (due to not knowing how long the boots had been ripped). |
| 129000 mi US $100 |
CV boots cracked and grease thrown out of boots. |
| 133920 mi C $800 |
part of the hydraulic clutch failed (the master cylinder). Part worth 220 $ and to replace it 7 hours labor. |
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