| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2008 Saab 9-3 repairs by problem area
Engine (36%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (2%)
Brakes and Traction Control (8%)
Suspension and Steering (12%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (26%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (8%)
Other (9%)
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 249 repairs.
2008 Saab 9-3 electrical repair cost distribution
$2500+ (0%)
$1000 - $2499 (7%)
$500 - $999 (12%)
$100 - $499 (30%)
< $100 (51%)
Chart based on 57 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2008 Saab 9-3
Engine not specified
| 21080 mi | Drivers front window rolling up then back down; would not go all the way up unless X button was held down. Dealer reset pinch protection software with scan tool |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Wagon
turbocharged 280hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 22000 mi | Alarm system malfunction. Entire rear window required replacement under warranty. |
| 75000 mi US $1500 |
The driver's door and passenger side rear door solenoid locking modules required replacement (would not lock and unlock with the keyfob) |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Wagon
turbocharged 280hp 2.8L V6 6-speed manual AWD
| 75000 mi US $182 |
Replaced Xenon (HID) headlight |
| 40900 mi US $300 |
Back right LED circuit board went bad. Replaced circuit board inside back right taillight assembly, which corrected issue. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Wagon
turbocharged 255hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 41000 mi | Battery died. |
| 72300 mi | Air conditioning speed working, don't remember issue but it works be like a $800+ repair diet or labor from accessing parts. I didn't get it fixed. |
| 15810 mi C $300 |
Found the sunroof not working when test drove it in a used car dealer. They thought it was the motor, but after replacing the motor the problem remained. They finally replaced the module, problem solved. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Wagon
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD
| 46000 mi | Chimes |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Wagon
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 53000 mi US $175 |
Left front Tire Pressure Sensor |
| 71780 mi | Weak battery. Replaced with a new one. |
| 73780 mi | Door module failure. Driver side. |
| 85020 mi C $250 |
Fuel level sending unit failed. Mechanic broke the fuel pump while replacing the unit, so he changed the fuel pump too. |
| 110360 mi C $950 |
Alternator replaced with a new one.rnNew brake rotors ands pads-front. |
| 113860 mi | -fuel level sending unit defective, replaced with a new one . Poorly designed fuel level unit seems problematic-i already replaced the unit less than two years ago. |
| 120900 mi C $950 |
A/c compressor shot. Replaced with a new one. Recharge and maintenance of a/c. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 280hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 18000 mi | Cruise control engaging on its own when driving on highway. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 280hp 2.8L V6 6-speed manual AWD
| 32300 mi | The ambient light sensor that automatically controls the headlights went out. A new one is ordered, and it should take less than a day to fix. |
| 23560 mi | Battery faulty - replaced under warranty. |
| 53500 mi US $970 |
Battery kept on dying and after diagnosis of entire electrical no leach was found and alternator was not charging the battery |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 255hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 17000 mi | Speedometer is off by 3 or 4 mph (over) at highway speeds compared to my gps. Dealer said he ran my car next to another car and they both said same speed. I think the gps is accurate. |
| 71300 mi US $930 |
Driver rear window needs new regulator. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 255hp 2.8L V6 6-speed manual FWD
| 40000 mi | Rain sensing wiper module needs replacement. Part is on order for past three weeks. |
| 65000 mi | When filling the tank with gas the gas gauge reads empty when it is full. When partially full in reads correctly. Called dealer. Waiting for GM to decide on warranty. |
| 34300 mi US $1200 |
Replaced dead battery |
| 87000 mi US $75 |
Gas gage intermittently goes to empty even when there is fuel in the car. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD
| 41000 mi | Housing for glovebox light melted by HVAC system |
| 50000 mi | Faulty third brake light. |
| 94000 mi US $650 |
Changed fuel level sensor. |
| 109000 mi US $150 |
Tire Pressure Monitor System - master system fault. No parts replaced. Reprogrammed master module. It took three trips but it is finally working without a fault. |
| 111000 mi US $10 |
Remote FOB battery was low. This resulted in Random faults in the security system when unlocking or starting the car. Random faults such as steering wheel lock, or the doors would not unlock would occur. My mechanic instructed me to change the FOB batteries, then start the car at least 5 times with each fob to re-initialize the FOB with the security computer. After that I was to reset the computer by pulling the NEG battery cable for several minutes. The fix worked, all faults cleared and both FOBs function normally without fault. |
| 78820 mi C $700 |
Rebuilt AC compressor installed |
| 89900 mi C $230 |
The fuel gauge sender failed, indicating an empty tank when over half full. This is a known common failure in this model. |
| 93000 mi C $160 |
No crank. Inspected the battery, which turned out to be the factory original. I purchased and installed a new 5 Year Warranty battery. |
| 124514 mi C $1345 |
Change AC evaporator and expansion valve, leak test and recharge. |
| 18000 mi | Brake light malfunction |
| 19000 mi | Two brake light bulbs had to be replaced because they stopped working. My experience is that it took more than 10m due to the assembly being a bit difficult to take apart etc. |
| 21300 mi | Pinch mechanism for power window out of alignment prevented driver window from closing completely. Re-calibration in less than one hour fixed problem. |
| 39100 mi US $600 |
replaced control unit for windows on drivers door. system was failing and erratic. |
| 73200 mi US $95 |
Bose amplifier partially failed. Replaced with a used Bose amp. Less than a 1 hour repair. |
| 32000 mi | A/C was not blowing cold after a month of ownership. Took up to 10 minutes before the air would get cold. Dealer recharged under warranty. Door speakers were blown, dealer replaced them under warranty. Appears to be a common problem with these cars. |
| 61000 mi | The battery failed after 2 years. I bought a dura last platinum battery with AGM (absorbed glass mat) technology hoping it would last longer that 2 years. Replaced free under 3 year free replacement warranty. |
| 107200 mi US $730 |
Drivers side power lock module failed |
| 106000 mi US $250 |
AC warm |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 83000 mi US $435 |
Fuel tank sending unit was failing intermittently. Sending unit was replaced. |
| 131000 mi | Airbag warranty repair (Takata). Done at independent Saab shop (East of Sweden Saab in Boulder, CO) and Saab fully covered 100% of repair cost. East of Sweden did the replacement of entire airbag unit in like 15 minutes! |
| 110000 mi US $60 |
Left side headlight went out. Bought replacement bulbs, and replaced both left & right side myself. |
| 92000 mi US $20 |
Intermittent hard starting. Walmart battery replaced under warranty. Self installed. |
| 99000 mi | Fuel tank level sensor in tank is failing. Inoperative when level is > 3/4 full. |
| 99550 mi US $300 |
Fuel level sensor in tank failed. Broke fuel pump outlet pipe during repair so ended up replacing entire in-tank fuel pump assembly, which was recommended anyway due to mileage of car and difficulty of access. |
| 129000 mi US $225 |
Drivers window switch failed, other windows okay. Replaced master drivers door switch pack ($90 part), paid "indi" SAAB shop $135 to "marry" new switch pack to car via TechII Canbus. Problem solved. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 180hp 1.9L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual FWD
| 53940 mi | Broken down alternator, had to be replaced. |
2008 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 255hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 53000 mi US $300 |
driver air bag sensor |
| 55300 mi US $400 |
Tire pressure sensor was failing intermittently. Replaced one sensor. |
| 73500 mi US $100 |
Trunk light was inoperative. Bulb was good. Wiring to the bulb had cracked. |
2008 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 255hp 2.8L V6 6-speed manual FWD
| 61380 mi C $150 |
replaced the battery after 5 years with old one. |
| 74300 mi | Car was periodically draining battery when not being driven. Glove box light switch was sticking and caused the light to remain on even with the glovebox door shut. Glovebox light removed in lieu of replacing switch. |
2008 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 49800 mi | Right front low beam failure message on Driver info system. Both front headlamps checked and replaced based on visual inspection showing low lamp brightness. |
| 65000 mi US $60 |
Driver's side window would auto reverse down half way when using door switch for auto express up. PDM, DDM reprogrammed and pinch point pressure recalibrated. |
| 102225 mi US $1300 |
A/C was working less efficiently, that is, had to set thermostat to 64 F instead of 70 F to get cool air to blow through vents. |
| 77000 mi US $30 |
Message "Failed Rear Brake light" (left & right) However lights did brigthen when braking . This is a fail-safe feature by Saab whereby the tail lights act as standby stop lights. In fact the bulbs WERE blown. V. difficult to source locally |
| 87300 mi US $82 |
Security alarm kept going off. Replaced ignition key |
| 89600 mi | The vsecurity alarm has started going off(again) Central locking has stopped working. Not fixed yet |
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