Most common Saab warranty defects
Saab Automobile filed for bankruptcy in December 2011, no new Saabs have been sold since, and every factory warranty has long expired. Because lemon law protection typically requires a defect that arose under an active manufacturer’s warranty, a Saab today is very unlikely to qualify as a lemon. What still matters for owners are open safety recalls, which General Motors and Subaru have filed and continue to remedy on Saab models, and the protection that may come with a used-car purchase.
9-3 and 9-5 driver air bag inflator rupture
Campaign 16V-063 covers 2006–2011 Saab 9-3 and 2006–2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles in which excessive internal pressure can cause the driver’s frontal air bag inflator to rupture when it deploys, sending metal fragments toward the driver or other occupants. GM began the remedy in 2017, and dealers replace the inflator free of charge. Because this is a safety recall rather than a warranty repair, the age of the car does not matter. If you own one of these models, check your VIN on NHTSA’s recall site and contact a GM dealer to schedule the repair. Our Saab owner’s guide covers other common problems on these cars.
Models9-3 (2006–2011)9-5 (2006–2009)
9-2X passenger air bag inflator recalls
The 9-2X was built by Subaru, and it has been included in a series of Subaru recalls for passenger frontal air bag inflators that can be affected by moisture over time and rupture on deployment. Campaign 15V-323 covered certain 2005 9-2X cars, and later campaigns, including 16V-358, 16V-359, 17V-016 and the 2020 campaigns 20V-001, 20V-002 and 20V-003, extended coverage to 2005–2006 9-2X vehicles in groups of states. Dealers replace the passenger inflator free of charge. Checking the VIN on NHTSA’s recall lookup is the most reliable way to know whether the repair was ever done on your car.
Models9-2X (2005–2006)
9-4X rear toe link failures
The 9-4X was recalled twice alongside the Cadillac SRX for the same rear suspension part. Campaign 14V-571 covered 2011–2012 9-4X vehicles whose rear toe adjuster jam nut may not have been tightened correctly, which can cause sway or wander at highway speed and eventually a sudden change in alignment. Campaign 21V-473 followed for the same models, and the remedy replaces the adjustable toe link with a non-adjustable one; owners are told not to drive if certain warning lights or unusual steering behavior appear. Wandering at speed on a 9-4X should be checked against these recalls first.
Models9-4X (2011–2012)
9-7X driver door module corrosion and 9-3 Convertible seat belts
The GM-built 9-7X was recalled twice (13V-248 and 14V-404) for 2005–2007 models in which fluid can enter the driver’s door module or master window switch, corroding the circuit board. The result can be intermittent or dead power windows and locks, and in some cases overheating, smoke or fire even when the vehicle is parked, which is why owners were told to park outside until repaired. When 14V-404 was filed, remedy parts were not yet available. Separately, campaign 14V-318 covered 2004–2011 9-3 Convertibles whose driver’s seat belt retractor may break; dealers replace it free.
Models9-7X (2005–2007)9-3 Convertible (2004–2011)
Signs your Saab may be a lemon
- It failed right after you bought it from a dealer. A used 9-3 or 9-5 develops a major problem within days or weeks, and the dealer gave a written warranty or did not properly sell the car “as is.”
- The dealer’s own warranty repairs keep failing. The same transmission, electrical or turbo problem returns after repeated repairs under a dealer or service-contract warranty.
- An open safety recall was never done. Your 9-3, 9-5, 9-2X, 9-4X or 9-7X still has an unrepaired air bag, suspension or door-module recall.
- Repairs stall on parts. A covered repair has been delayed because a Saab part is backordered, and the shop has not documented the wait.
Saab models we see
Saab’s last US-market models, now well past their factory warranties, were:
- 9-3
- 9-5
- 9-4X
- 9-7X
- 9-2X
What Saab’s warranty means for a claim
When Saab filed for bankruptcy in December 2011, it suspended warranty coverage on new Saabs and stopped paying warranty claims. General Motors said it would honor remaining warranty obligations only on Saabs it had marketed in the US and Canada and sold before February 2010. All of those warranties have since expired, so a Saab will not usually qualify under a state lemon law that depends on the manufacturer’s new-car warranty.
For a used Saab, the protection that matters comes from the sale itself. Under the FTC’s Used Car Rule, dealers must post a Buyers Guide showing whether the car is sold “as is” or with a warranty; some states limit or prohibit “as is” sales, and a few have used-car lemon laws or implied-warranty rules that can apply. A written dealer warranty or a service contract can also give you rights if covered repairs fail. Parts are still supported: Orio, formerly Saab Automobile Parts AB, is the sole distributor of Saab Original parts and acquired the supplier-held tooling for existing Saab models to keep parts in production. Keep the Buyers Guide, sales contract, any warranty or service contract, and every repair order.
Saab recalls and problem reports
No Saab articles match that exact combination — but that does not mean you do not have a claim. Repeat repair attempts, days out of service, and warranty status matter more than whether a recall exists.
A recall is not a claim
An open recall on your Saab is not, by itself, a lemon law case — and a recall that has already been repaired does not mean you don’t have one. Recalls are safety campaigns run by the manufacturer; lemon law claims turn on how your specific vehicle has performed under warranty. What matters is the record: how many times you brought the vehicle in for the same problem, how many days it has spent out of service, and whether the defect substantially impairs its use, value, or safety while covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
A Saab that has been back to the dealer repeatedly for one persistent issue can qualify with no recall on file, while a vehicle with three open recalls may not qualify at all if each was repaired on the first visit. Repair-attempt and days-out-of-service thresholds vary from state to state, so the same facts can play out differently depending on where you bought or registered the vehicle. Keep every repair order — the paper trail is the case.
Who handles your Saab claim
Lemon Law Group Partners is a law firm dedicated to lemon law. Jason S. Hegedus founded it in 2012 after years as a defense attorney for a major automaker in Michigan, and he has litigated lemon law claims since the late 1990s. That background shows us how manufacturers evaluate and defend claims — and we use it for consumers.
Your Saab case is handled by a team of more than twenty attorneys, paralegals and case managers. We collect and review your repair orders, deal with the manufacturer and its lawyers, and pursue a buyback, replacement or cash settlement where your state’s law allows. No attorney’s fees unless we recover.
Jason S. HegedusManaging Partner & FounderFrequently asked questions about Saab lemon law claims
Can I file a lemon law claim on my Saab?
Almost certainly not under a new-car lemon law. Those laws depend on the manufacturer’s factory warranty, and every Saab warranty has expired. You may still have rights if you recently bought the car from a dealer: a written dealer warranty, a service contract, implied warranties in states that do not allow them to be waived, or a state used-car lemon law. Those claims are against the seller or warranty provider, not Saab.
Who handles Saab recall repairs now?
The company that filed the recall. GM filed the campaigns on the 9-3, 9-5, 9-4X and 9-7X, and the 9-2X air bag campaigns were filed by Subaru. Recall repairs are free regardless of age or mileage. Enter your VIN on NHTSA’s recall lookup to see open campaigns, then contact a GM or Subaru dealer as the recall instructs; for the 9-4X toe link campaign, the filing directs questions to Cadillac customer service.
Can I still get parts for my Saab?
Yes, for many parts. Orio, which was Saab Automobile Parts AB before it changed its name in 2013, is the sole distributor of Saab Original parts and bought the supplier-held tooling used to make parts for existing Saab models. Availability still varies by part and model. If a covered repair under a dealer warranty or service contract is stalled waiting for a part, ask the shop to note the order date on the repair order.
I bought a used Saab from a dealer and it broke down within weeks. What are my options?
Start with the Buyers Guide that was on the car and your sales contract. If the dealer gave a written warranty, the repair should be covered under its terms. If the car was sold “as is,” your options depend on whether your state allows that and whether the dealer followed the rules. Some states have used-car lemon laws with short coverage periods. Document every failure and repair with dates and mileage.
Does a third-party extended warranty make my Saab eligible for lemon law?
Generally no. A service contract from a third-party company is not a manufacturer’s warranty, so it does not usually bring a car under a new-car lemon law. It is still a contract, though, and if the provider refuses to pay for covered repairs or the same covered failure keeps recurring, you may have a claim against the provider under the contract or under federal warranty law. Read the contract’s coverage and claim procedures carefully.
Think your Saab might be a lemon?
If your Saab has been in the shop repeatedly for the same warranty problem, or has sat out of service for weeks, tell us what happened. The review is free, and there are no attorney’s fees unless we recover for you.
Lemon Law Group Partners PLC is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Saab or any other vehicle manufacturer. All trademarks, service marks, and brand names are the property of their respective owners and are used solely to identify the vehicles at issue.
