Table 1 shows one common exterior lighting related problems of the 2004 SAAB 9-3.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Headlights problems |
Low beam headlights are so dim that the vehicle can not be safely driven at night. High beam work great.
The low beam headlights are not bright. Took it to a SAAB dealer, was told that the wiring that turns of the headlights were burnt and ready to catch fire. Was told this would cost about $1000. Did some research and found this is not only common, but every SAAB 9-3 has this problem. If this is such a bad thing, then why are there no recalls and this a concern?.
The halogen headlights on the SAAB 9-3, from 2003 through present, do not adequately illuminate the roadway. This type of headlight lamp design is known as a "projector beam" & is a different concept than traditional headlights. They're designed to better illuminate road signs & peripheral road markers, which they do, but as far as the primary purpose of headlights, (to illuminate the roadway in front of the vehicle) they are inadequate & only extend light about 40' down the roadway, which is not nearly enough to drive safely at night. Please note that this complaint is only regarding the lowbeam halogen headlights, as both the highbeams & optional xenon type headlights are more than adequate. The irony of this problem is that the SAAB 9-3 is among the very safest cars available today, from a crash test perspective, but nighttime visibility is a separate safety related issue which I've never seen test results for. My family has owned Saabs exclusively for the last 30 years & haven't had this headlight problem until we purchased a SAAB model 9-3, of which we now own 2: an '04 & an '07, both of which suffer from the same problem. . Read more...
The contact owns a 2004 SAAB 9-3. The contact stated that the low beam headlights were progressively becoming more dim over the last two years, reducing visibility. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that this failure was a known issue. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,000 and the current mileage was 48,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Headlights. . I have replaced the headlight bulbs 3 times in one year. Currently the driver side headlights, side light lower bumper, and light within the headlight assembly have blown. There seems to a an electrical problem with the headlights as they continue to blow out. . Short lights as high beam are okay. I have purchased the light bulbs in autozone, pepboys and oem to ensure that its not vendor supplier issue.