VehicleVerdict

2004 Saab 9-3 seat belts problems

The 2004 Saab 9-3 has 80 seat belts complaints filed with NHTSA — 34% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

80

Seat Belts complaints

34%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

3

Related recalls

Seat Belts complaints by year

9-3 seat belts complaints by model year80 complaints1999: 4 complaints2000: 3 complaints2001: 1 complaints2002: 3 complaints2003: 12 complaints2004: 80 complaints2005: 22 complaints2006: 15 complaints2007: 7 complaints2008: 10 complaints2009: 2 complaints2010: 2 complaints2011: 3 complaints
9-3 seat belts complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

14V318000Seat BeltsJune 12, 2014 · 28,789 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

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.

10V043000Seat BeltsFebruary 18, 2010 · 14,126 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

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.

04V226000Seat BeltsMay 11, 2004 · 31,335 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT MAY RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES.

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.

What owners report

“I DO HAVE A 2004 SAAB 9-3 ARC CONVERTIBLE. THERE IS A SEAT BELT RECALL. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY GMC TUSTIN DEALER 3 WEEKS AGO. HOWEVER, THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. SINCE IT IS A SEAT BELT ISSUE, I DO NOT LIKE TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUE. BY LAW, HOW…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Seat Belts · May 30, 2015

Common questions

How many seat belts complaints does the 2004 Saab 9-3 have?

NHTSA has 80 complaints about the 2004 Saab 9-3 seat belts — 34% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2004 Saab 9-3 seat belts?

Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the seat belts: 04V226000, 10V043000, 14V318000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.