Front Suspension Coil Spring problems of the 2003 SAAB 9-3

This is on a 2003 SAAB 9-3 2. 0t linear model. There were no injuries this time but the potential is very much there. My wife was pulling out from a stop light and hear a loud pop followed by a loud grinding noise. She pulled off immediately. When I arrived on scene, I found that the drivers front wheel was pushed up into the wheel well. When I removed the tire I found that the spring had broken in two (the bottom last ring broke off) and had dropped down to where the jagged end (still attached/wrapped around the shock) was poking into the tire. It had left a relatively deep gouge all the way around the tire. I am sure I don't have to explain to you what could happen if the spring were to break on the interstate at 70mph and puncture the tire. I am quite certain that if my wife would have kept driving any distance that the spring would have dug its way through the side wall and punctured it. Remember, we cant always just pull off the interstate or stop at the drop of a hat. If you have ever driven through atlanta you will know this to be true ;) anyway, went digging on the internet trying to purchase replacement springs and found out that SAAB had issued a special warranty for spring failures on some of the 9-3's (including mine). Apparently,SAAB is aware that road debris can get jammed in the spring mount and eat at the coating away on the bottom coil and allow corrosion to work its magic resulting in the springs breaking/failing. So, I call SAAB. They tell me that I am not covered because I do not live in what they consider to be the snow belt. Which is the upper/more northern states. They tell me that the failure has been reported more in these states and it is due to road salting. Furthermore, I am told that they are only replacing the springs after they have failed. As these cars start to get some age on them, I think we are going to start seeing more and more of these failures. Will it take someone dying for them to issue a recall campaign?.

The contact owns a 2003 SAAB 9-3. While the contact was examining his vehicle, he noticed that the front driver's side coil spring split in half. Prior to the failure, he noticed that the steering had become slightly difficult to turn. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 60,200. Updated 08/04/09 the dealer repaired the vehicle as a goodwill gesture. Updated 08/06/09.

My 2003 SAAB 93 vector had the front passenger coil spring broke, im still driving on it with the parts on order. Seems to be a common problem with many other peoples Saabs. And sounds like their will be no help from the dealer. I am assuming its going to take a fatality or 2 before SAAB wakes up and makes some better springs or just recall the !@#$% things.

My 2003 SAAB 9-3 linear with 79,500 miles. Driving on average road when hearing a pop. After further investigation (as rattling continued for some time afterwards) the front, driver-side coil spring has broken. While the piece has not (yet) popped out into my tire, any further driving risks doing so and bursting a tire as well. Am waiting for SAAB dealership to order this part. This seems to be a common problem, as indicated by many online forums and your website. . Read more...

No accident or anything yet, but according to a forum I follow, {SAAB central} there are alot of people experiencing front coil spring failure on 2003 SAAB 9-3. This on cars with under 100,000 miles. Don't have to tell you that this could be bad news if the broken spring punched into the tire at speed. To me, having to replace coil springs as a maintenance item every 70000 miles is unacceptable. I will have my 03 SAAB up on jack stands to check out the springs as best as I can, but this is the type of failure you can not really see until it is to late. I have no way of checking for metal fatigue. Hopefully, this is a problem you can move on before someone gets hurt.

Front coil spring brakes and the broken piece launches off the car into the wheel well area which may result in tire damage at high speeds.

Left front coil spring failure on 2003 SAAB 9-3 ss linear. I have read that there is a defect investigation on this issue, and that the NHTSA has reviewed warranty claims. My car is out of warranty, so it would not be included in this data.

2003 SAAB 9-3 arc. Started car and smelled tire burning, drove around building, checked tires -- all 4 looked fine, checked, drove about 1 mile and right front tire blew. Had aaa change tire, and was shown it blew from the inside. Took vehicle to costco for tire replacement. Was informed that the spring coil broke (was handed about a 6 inch piece) and that was what blew through the tire. Car was towed to the SAAB dealership and both springs were replaced. The left front is very eroded from rust and also appears ready to break. Consequences - 2 new tires, 2 new front coil springs and a tow.

The contact owns a 2003 SAAB 9-3. The contact heard a strange noise in the front end of the vehicle while driving at any speed. The dealer stated that the front coil spring snapped. He chose not to have the vehicle repaired because he believes it is a manufacturer defect. Through online research, the contact found an open investigation for the same failure (NHTSA action number ea08026 (suspension:front:springs:coil springs) date investigation opened : December 22, 2008). He believes that a recall should be issued. The current and failure mileages were 85,000.

Front right suspension springs on my 2003 SAAB 9-3 broke. No accident occurred, but could have been deadly if it was on the freeway. There seems to be a pattern of this. . Something like this should not be happening on this type of car. It was taken to the nearest dealer that wants to charge $1100 for the fix because I am out of warranty by. I am also in the process of contacting SAAB USA.

Another front suspension coil spring failure on a SAAB 9-3. On returning from a 2 week vacation I started the car in the airport parking lot and heard a clicking / rubbing noise from the front left wheel. I stopped and inspected the wheel and noted rust on the brake rotor and assumed that this was the cause of the noise and would wear off when the brakes were applied. Drove ~1/4 mile and stopped at a light before turning on to the interstate when I saw smoke coming from the wheel. Closer inspection revealed that the front left suspension coil spring had failed and the fractured spring was rubbing on the tire. The car was towed to the SAAB dealer where the front springs were replaced and the damaged tire replaced. I have the failed spring hardware. Despite the large number of similar failures of the front spring on SAAB 9-3s, SAAB refused to acknowledge that this was an issue and charged me for the repair. I feel lucky that I stopped to investigate before turning on to interstate. If I had not it would have undoubtedly resulted in a high speed tire failure.

Front driver side spring coil broke which caused tire blowout and car to be immobilized. . Did not cause any injuries or accidents but very well could have had there been anyone else on the road at the time.

The contact owns a 2003 SAAB 9-3. The contact stated that the suspension front coil springs have been failing since spring of 2008. The vehicle has been repaired. The contact wanted to go on record and referenced investigation number ea08026. The failure mileage was 35,210.

The front left coil springs snapped in half, shoving a jagged, broken spring into the inner side wall of the tire while my wife was driving our son to school. The ensuing drama consisted of a nearly uncontrollable vehicle and plumes of smoke billowing out from the front of the vehicle. Fearing for the safety of herself and our son, my wife pulled him out of the car and ran a distance away as she feared it was about to catch fire. She called me from her cell phone, crying, and in a near panic as other drivers pulled over to help. Everything turned out okay for us, but I can?t say that the same would have happened if the spring had broken after she dropped off our son and was on the interstate going to work. We are thankful she was only traveling 35 mph rather than 70 mph. After this occurred, and after a complete lack of help or explanation from our dealer, we were motivated to research this issue further to determine if this was a ?freak accident? or if in fact there was some issue with the design of the suspension system. It appears from a cursory search of the internet that there are at least several dozen other instances of this happening to this particular year, make, and model of vehicle. In most cases, the same thing happened exactly as it did to us. And when we learned that SAAB had redesigned the front coil spring seats the following year (presumably to address this issue), it became apparent that even the manufacturer had acknowledged that a problem existed. I am hoping that this will lead to a full investigation into this issue which could not only potentially protect the lives of other unknowing owners and their vehicle occupants as well as other drivers, but also to help shoulder the financial burden of this problem. In all cases that I have researched, the springs broke just after the factory warranty ran out (at 4 years/50,000 miles), and consequently, the dealers have been charging for this repair. In our case it was $500. 00!!!.

Driving on local city street, when right front tire blows out. Blow happened because right front coil spring sheered into two pieces and cut into right front tire causing blowout. Right front tire replaced and new coil spring installed on right front suspension. Yes, I have the failed coil spring in my possession.

While backing up out of a driveway on a flat level surface the vehicles front passenger coil spring broke in two pieces. The car was rendered un-drivable and was towed to a dealership. The part was replaced. The vehicle is a 2003 SAAB 9-3 with only 41,400 miles.

2003 SAAB 9-3 customer states that the front end of the car just dropped off after having the car inspected the front coil spring was found to be broken* the consumer was told the passenger side coil spring was also in the process of failing. The consumer was informed that the failure was caused by rust that had formed inside a rubber boot that was used at the base of the spring to dampen noise. Water was able to get inside the boots and remain, which caused rust to form and eventually compromised the integrity of the spring. The front pads and rotors were replaced. The consumer was informed that the new springs did have the rubber boots that the original springs had.