MUCH LIKE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V318000 (GM RECALL NUMBER 14222), THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE BELT IS PULLED OUT. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE BELT WOULD NOT BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE DRIVER TO RETRACT, SINCE IT IS TOO LOOSE.
2005 Saab 9-3 seatbelts problems
moderate 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $500
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$500
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
RECALL 14222/15027. RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT MECHANISM. UPON MAKING SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH LOCAL GM DEALER THEY STATED THEY DO NOT HAVE A TECHNICIAN TO DO IT. I TRIED CALLING THE 800 NUMBER ON THE RECALL NOTICE AND GOT A RECORDING THAT THE NUMBER WAS NO LONGER IN SERVICE. HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHO CAN PERFORM THIS RECALL SERVICE?
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. *TR
SEAT BELT REPAIR PROBLEM RE 2005 SAAB 9.3 VIN [XXX] PURCHASED DEC '04, INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT AUG '05. NO REPAIR PARTS STOCKED IN USA, THEREFORE ORDERED FROM SWEDEN. AFTER SEVEN WEEKS ON ORDER, MOST REPAIR PARTS RECEIVED AND REPAIRS FINALLY HAVE BEEN STARTED MORE THAN EIGHT WEEKS SINCE ACCIDENT. HOWEVER SEAT BELT REPAIR KIT IS STILL ON BACK ORDER. AM ADVISED THAT SAAB'S ORIGINAL SUPPLIER OF SEAT BEL…
THE DRIVER SEAT BELT INTERNAL CABLE BROKE. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THERE IS A RECALL. BUT, THE PARTS ARE BACKORDERED OVER 10 MONTHS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. NOTHING I CAN DO. GM HAS NOT PROVIDED A DATE WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SAAB 9-3. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V318000 (SEAT BELTS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
Common questions
How serious is the seatbelts problem on the 2005 Saab 9-3?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 21 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the seatbelts typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $500 for seatbelts repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to seatbelts?
No active recalls currently cover seatbelts issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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