2005 Saab 9-3 Saab 9-3 2005

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2005 Saab 9-3 repairs by problem area

Engine (19%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (4%)

Brakes and Traction Control (7%)

Suspension and Steering (25%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (30%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (11%)

Other (4%)

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Chart based on 168 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2005 Saab 9-3.

2005 Saab 9-3 electrical repair cost distribution

$2500+ (0%)

$1000 - $2499 (9%)

$500 - $999 (4%)

$100 - $499 (31%)

< $100 (56%)

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Chart based on 45 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2005 Saab 9-3

Engine not specified

105000 mi

US $375
replaced blower motor 
86500 mi window regulator 
95000 mi

US $450
amplifier under driver seat. replaced with refurb. 

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2005 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

91140 mi

$80
Annual test / car was perfect but that was after a 400 euro service. Mostly bulbs. the AC is not 100% . But we manage with it. Not sure at this pont but believe it may be more than a simple gas refill. front left half bulb changed & it cost approx 80 euro + 30mins time - approx 120 euro. 
74000 mi

US $200
The REC fuse block in the trunk #17 block for the auto dim mirror/compass and Intermittent wiper control failed. I had to replace the entire Rear electrical center and have it reprogrammed to match the car's options. 
74100 mi

US $300
The A/C blower motor failed. 

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2005 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

81000 mi driver seat heater stopped working. Element cover wore through from contact w/ metal strap in seat, causing a short which eventually caused element to break. removed seat cover, resoldiered element & added add'l cover to prevent reoccurance 
92000 mi HVAC blower motor bearing started to sieze due to rust which developes from moisture in the air. Removed motor, oiled bearing to free it, then caked on heavy duty grease on outside of bearing surfaces to keep moisture from forming again. 
120000 mi

US $25
Replaced Driver side front Window Regulator 
124000 mi

US $90
Replacement Window Regulator broke. had to replace again with better quality part 
79000 mi

US $35
Car wouldn't start. Battery is almost brand new (4 months old). Seems to be a parasitic drain on the battery when shut off, but couldn't find any source - no lights left on, etc. Jump-started the car, everything has been fine (as of 4/6/17). 
44488 mi Front left side seat belt replaced under warranty. 
44470 mi Low Beam headlight failure. Replaced both headlights under warranty. Low Beam headlight failure. Replaced both headlights under warranty 
62000 mi

US $30
Left Low beam headlight. replaced. 
63000 mi

US $410
Windshield Wiper motor malfunction. Motor replaced. 
101300 mi

US $500
Power window regulator, driver's side. 
15000 mi Driver Window pinched wouldnt roll up 
25000 mi Driver window pinched wouldnt roll up 

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2005 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 175hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

99000 mi

US $2400
ac only blowing hot air. Replacement of cooling fan module, compressor, drier, orings, orifice tube, lines, condensor flush with freon refill. still not working correctly. 
84000 mi

US $190
Amp shorted out. Needed new amp. 
212000 mi

US $250
Replace condenser and recharge system. Diagnosed by shop, I replaced the part myself 
234000 mi

US $5
Heater fan was squeaking. Removed the fan to lubricate it 
65000 mi Cabin fan failure. Cabin fan failure - Warranty 
48000 mi

US $300
Driver window actuator replaced Heating/ac fan making noise intermittently, dealer replaced under extended warranty. 
57000 mi

US $90
Wipers wouldn't operate on intermittent, wouldn't go to home when off. The windshield washer fluid wasn't functioning at all. The wiper motor was replaced, by me, correcting all problems existing. This is common prob. w/ owners, wiper motor is the solutio 
104200 mi

US $25
had to access cabin fan to lubricate it, also replaced cabin air filter. fan had stopped working after squeeling for a while. 
104300 mi

US $180
Had to replace amplifier for radio 
105000 mi

US $180
Replaced cabin air fan. Bitch if a job. Did it myself 
143000 mi

US $55
Personally replaced expansion valve 
90000 mi

US $50
Air mix stepper motor 
72000 mi

US $1110
headlight bulb burned out and the wire harness also bad 

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2005 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 175hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

67580 mi

C $1900
hvac recirc motor & blower 
88300 mi

US $55
Blower motor resistor failed due to corrosion on blower fan. Cleaned and lubed motor and replaced resistor. 

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2005 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 150hp 1.9L I4 Diesel 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

56600 mi Routine Intermediate service carried out in accordance with Maintenance Schedule set out in Owners Handbook 

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2005 Saab 9-3 4-door

turbocharged 4-cylinder manual 2WD

20000 mi Dash display occasionally showed "Steering lock malfunction - see dealer." Faulty ignition switch module was diagnosed and ISM was replaced. 

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2005 Saab 9-3 4-door

4-cylinder automatic 2WD

38000 mi No heat, air would be produced but, the air was not hot 
38000 mi No heat from the heater 

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2005 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible

turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

75485 mi

US $10
High center light bulb out and synthetic oil/filter change. low beam bulb replaced. Runs great. 50 in-town miles and 900 high-speed interstate miles per week (long commute). 
29000 mi

US $1000
draining battery, source could not be found. tried replacing acc resistor and checked all fuses and starter system 
56000 mi

US $238
Anti-pinch window feature kept driver-side window from rolling up completely without driver intervention. Window module was reprogrammed. 
74000 mi

US $60
Balance knob broke on the radio. 
87000 mi

US $100
Car was blowing its low-beam headlight at least once/every two months on the left-hand side and had started blowing the right-hand side low-beam about once every six months. Dealer replaced the bulb connectors on both sides. 

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2005 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible

turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

87000 mi Any or all of the Turbo boost gauge, Fuel Gauge, Temperature Gauge show that the engine has self destructed with the temperature off the top of the scale, the turbo boost showing that the turbo has just blown itself up, and that there is very nearly a full tank of petrol, when the tank is almost empty. This is a known problem. The previous owner was told that its an earthing [grounding] problem and that the cost of diagnosis and repair would be £2000+. This is a car worth about £1000! The answer is to remove the fourth fuse down (red 10A) in the fuse box, wait for about 20 seconds, and then replace it. This solves the problem for between 1 week and 3 months. 
98000 mi

£650
Aircon compressor screamed and then stopped compressing. Result - no cooling. Compressor replaced along with some pipes in the cooling system. Initially the system leaked, and so the car had to be returned to the repair shop for a gland to be replaced prior to a second regassing of the system 
29760 mi sid warning- low washer fluid when full 
74400 mi

C $120
Electrical connection 

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2005 Saab 9-3 Electrical Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2005 Saab 9-3 problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.