| 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%)
Chart based on 249 repairs.
2008 Saab 9-3 engine repair cost distribution
$2500+ (2%)
$1000 - $2499 (11%)
$500 - $999 (19%)
$100 - $499 (43%)
< $100 (25%)
Chart based on 84 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 4dr Wagon
turbocharged 280hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 165000 mi US $200 |
replace coolant hoses |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Wagon
turbocharged 280hp 2.8L V6 6-speed manual AWD
| 41000 mi US $45 |
Coolant leak. Mechanic tightened banjo clamp on coolant line into turbocharger. |
| 51500 mi US $100 |
Miss, check engine code showed misfire in cylinder 5. Mechanic replaced spark plugs. |
| 58700 mi US $550 |
Engine miss, various ignition related CELs. Replaced ignition coil packs and spark plugs. A known problem with SAABs with this engine. |
| 77000 mi US $121 |
Engine was intermittently throwing a fuel pressure check engine light. My mechanic checked the fuel pump and the fuel pressure sensor and determined the sensor was the problem. He replaced the sensor and no more check engine light. |
| 27000 mi | Coolant leak from turbo return hose. Tightened clamp. |
| 47500 mi | Replaced fuel pump under warranty, in response to Check Engine light. No driveability problems. |
| 49300 mi US $530 |
Misfires. Replaced 3 coil packs & all 6 plugs. |
| 84000 mi US $1500 |
Replaced fuel pump after eliminating fuel pressure sensor and computer. (Three trips.) |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Wagon
turbocharged 255hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 125240 mi C $250 |
Hose to coolant expansion tank split. Had to be towed home. Replaced both hoses, coolant tank and tank cap. |
| 129580 mi C $130 |
Engine running rough, one coil needed replacing. Replaced spark plug also. |
| 140740 mi C $300 |
Upper heater hose warn and leaking coolant. Part replaced. |
| 150660 mi C $1 |
CEL triggered by two faulty ignition coils. Replaced all three rear coils myself. |
| 19220 mi C $500 |
Vibrations observed at idle speed and also during high speed acceleration. Diagnosed engine misfiring and replaced one of the ignition coils and spark plugs. Repair costs rather expensive but at least problem solved. |
| 24180 mi C $1000 |
Random low fuel pressure caused misfire and threw a CEL. Dealer ordered and replaced the fuel pump. Problem solved. |
| 33480 mi C $80 |
Faulty ignition coil caused engine to misfire. Replaced the faulty coil by myself. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Wagon
turbocharged 255hp 2.8L V6 6-speed manual FWD
| 117000 mi US $65 |
Changed a bad Coilpack |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Wagon
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD
| 112840 mi C $201 |
Main thottle body, near butterfly, major clean-up |
| 127720 mi C $125 |
Bad coil,plus others were old. Changed all 4. Worn spark plugs, changed all 4. Buyed the coil packs(mail order)before going to the garage. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Wagon
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 88660 mi C $225 |
Intermittent hesitation on idle when starting the car (hot starts only) Replaced Crankshaft position sensor. Oil Change.(regular maintenance) |
| 96100 mi C $350 |
Faulty ignition coils, replaced #1 and # 2. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 280hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 37200 mi C $1000 |
Engine would shake and lose power. Scanner reading was Cylinder #2 misfire. Changed Plugs and back 3 ignition coils ... didn't fix it. Finally discovered rusted wiring connectors. Cleaning then + oxygen sensor cleaning solved it. |
| 42040 mi C $550 |
Radiator coolant warning on dash. Topped up missing coolant but it would come back know in a few weeks. Noticed coolant stains on driveway. Took to garage to repair leak. Turned out to be a leaky water pump. Replaced pump |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 280hp 2.8L V6 6-speed manual AWD
| 34000 mi | Misfire under wide-open throttle. Mechanics could not reproduce the issue and no diagnostic codes so nothing done. Problem still present - I can reproduce at will. Same misfire under wide-open throttle. Mechanic still could not reproduce on road test. No diagnostic codes. Nothing done - advised to wait until it gets worse. Update: never went away completely, but later improved on its own. |
| 26660 mi C $710 |
Replaced one coil. |
| 63000 mi US $118 |
Replaced engine torque rod bushing (P#-12777977) also added Powerflex insert for upgraded stability (Powerflex P#-PFF80-1220) |
| 64000 mi US $700 |
Replaced leaking water pump and worn belt tensioner, belt was replaced as well. |
| 78000 mi US $15 |
small coolant leak at coolant outlet reservoir (P#-12574373). Replaced with new gaskets, no more leak. |
| 118000 mi US $25 |
Replaced belt and tensioner. Belt shredded half way on the freeway so had both replaced. Replaced EVAP Purge valve. Vehicle showed a code which suggested the valve was leaking. Replaced with AC Delco 214-1685 |
| 124000 mi US $250 |
Replaced rear transmission mount. |
| 124000 mi US $250 |
Replaced water pump |
| 37700 mi | Coolant leaking from damaged turbo coolant return hose, hose replaced. Coolant leaking from damaged return hose, hose replaced. |
| 38000 mi | Coolant leak again after a couple of months, indication that coolant level is low due to leak from coolant tubing. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 255hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 17000 mi | This was actually the third time brought in for the same problem, the "low coolant" warning light would come on signifying a leak. At first they replaced a couple of clamps, finally replaced a metal tube along with washers, solved prob. |
| 65000 mi US $240 |
Dirty fuel injector causing cylinder misfire. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 255hp 2.8L V6 6-speed manual FWD
| 87000 mi US $75 |
Coolant cap for overflow reservoir cracked, needed to be extracted and replaced. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD
| 70000 mi | Balancer chain replaced due to vibration caused from chain jumping and putting the balancer out of sync |
| 130000 mi US $700 |
Radiator |
| 130000 mi US $2000 |
GM manufactured the car with soft intake valves that wear out prematurely. Don’t expect any help from them, you’re on your own for this repair. Thank you GM. |
| 89900 mi C $250 |
Seals between the head and the power steering pump and the vaccuum pump were changed, due to them leaking oil. |
| 108500 mi C $100 |
Oil Pressure Switch was leaking. Part was replaced. |
| 114642 mi C $220 |
Replace flex coupling in exhaust pipe. |
| 134540 mi C $200 |
Replace Oil Feed Pipe to Turbocharger (leaking due to corrosion) |
| 135780 mi C $220 |
Radiator was leaking at bottom corner due to corrosion of the crimping strips on the tank. |
| 139500 mi C $500 |
I replaced the clutch. With transmission out, replaced engine rear main seal. |
| 18000 mi | Kept loosing coolant. Dealer unable to find leak. Entire engine short block replaced. Heads reworked. I traded the car in after they repaired it |
| 56000 mi US $800 |
The clutch was slipping in the winter, would stop slipping when car was warmed up. Eventually it got to the point where the clutch would slip going uphill. Replaced the flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing. |
| 117000 mi US $415 |
Spark Plugs, wires, engine and passenger compartment filters. |
| 125500 mi US $350 |
Cleaned oil sump and strainer - known Saab issue. Engine was not getting enough oil to top of engine causing missing and lack of power. Car runs great after this repair. |
| 72540 mi C $3000 |
Check Engine light was on.Intake valves in 1st cylinder worn and replaced.All other intake valves replaced also since also starting to wear and would cost a lot in labour to gain access again. |
| 47740 mi C $100 |
Power steering fluid overfilling,gasket to engine leaking and filling power steering resevoir with engine oil.replaced gasket (had to find my own as saab doesnt sell) and replaced steering fluid as well since it was full of engine oil. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 84700 mi US $2400 |
Intake valves had worn excessively due to inferior quality valves used by GM in 2007 - 2009. SAAB nor GM has offered warranty support. Valve guides were also worn and replaced. |
| 167000 mi US $160 |
Replaced rear muffler. |
| 99550 mi US $300 |
New fuel pump is very loud, not sure if this is just an annoyance for the aftermarket part or indicates a problem. Also OBD check engine warning multiple times for P0453 OBD-II Trouble Code: Evaporative Emission Control Pressure Sensor High Input. Have not had time to troubleshoot or repair. |
2008 Saab 9-3 4dr Sedan
turbocharged 180hp 1.9L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual FWD
| 31180 mi | Car was shaking only when I was accelarating strongly. Manufacturer changed parts inside the engine. Problem solved |
| 90060 mi €200 |
exhaust gas recirculation dirty. cleaned it. |
| 89280 mi €500 |
problem returned about 10 days later. exhaust gas recirculation changed. |
| 102300 mi €450 |
Turbo pipe failure. Had to be replaced. |
2008 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 280hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| 26660 mi C $125 |
Coil malfunction |
2008 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 255hp 2.8L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 125500 mi US $600 |
Check engine light and other items |
| 47500 mi US $2600 |
Threw a diagnostic code for intermittent low fuel pressure. Replaced the fuel pump. |
| 88000 mi US $1000 |
Two visits. One to fix a cracked EGR hose then a second trip to replace the EGR valve which failed after the hose was changed out. Low fuel pressure indicated from OBD-II. Replaced fuel pump. |
| 106000 mi US $700 |
Worn sparkplugs. Engine stuttered on acceleration. Replaced cracked coolant expansion tank. |
| 116000 mi | Coolant level dropped over and over again. Water pump replaced. Then more coolant level problems. Dealer discovered engine leaking coolant from both cylinder heads. At this point, we ceased work on the car and I traded its remnants. |
| 60000 mi US $275 |
Bad coil pack and one bad plug |
| 69000 mi US $800 |
Elect fuel pump failed. Replaced in 2 hr. $ 590 for pump, $ 210 for labor. |
| 70000 mi US $500 |
Cracked expansion tank for coolant. |
| 42000 mi US $416 |
Car started running rough. Display indicated multiple problems. Replaced #4 coil module |
| 48000 mi US $640 |
Water pump leaking. |
| 51000 mi US $151 |
Check engine light. Replace vacuum check valve |
2008 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 255hp 2.8L V6 6-speed manual FWD
| 79800 mi US $300 |
Replaced fuel pump because of ongoing performance problems with the original. New pump fixed the problem. |
| 86000 mi US $30 |
Bad ignition coil |
| 55160 mi C $40 |
hoses for overflow of radiator coolant were leaking fluid onto the motor creating smoke when hot. |
| 63860 mi C $30 |
Had to replace the cap on the antifreeze overflow container. |
| 60760 mi C $350 |
engine was running rough. turned out it was a solenoid that needed replacing. |
| 75640 mi C $350 |
solenoid causing motor to run rough |
| 80600 mi C $50 |
Replaced both hoses for coolant return to reservoir. |
| 84940 mi C $500 |
vacuum hose connector leaking |
2008 Saab 9-3 2dr Convertible
turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
| 89800 mi US $100 |
Warning light "Steering Lock Malfunction" Changed ignition switch and hot wired starter relay added start button. I can start and drive the car but repair is temporary work around I need a new module |
| 96000 mi US $430 |
Engine died without warning . I coasted to a stop and could not restart. Called tow truck and took the car to a repair shop. Turns out that there was some electrical short in the ignition system caused by erosion of the insulation of some wiring. The diagnosis was difficult and took the technician several hours to trace. No new components were required. The faulty wire was replaced and clipped back into position |
| 58000 mi US $1400 |
replaced noisy pulley tensioner |
| 102225 mi US $1300 |
Vacuum pump was leaking oil; it was replaced with a new vacuum pump and seal. |
| 104000 mi US $700 |
Replaced original ECM with remanufactured ECM |
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