Of the 25 airbags complaints filed for the 2011 Saab 9-3,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
0 (0%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
0 (0%)
75-100k
2 (100%)
100-125k
0 (0%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted.
Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits
and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2017. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 28810.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented
repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall
(it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service Bulletin18-NA-094Apr 2024
This service bulletin provides information on Takata Air Bag Courtesy Transportation Reimbursement Program - Applicable to GM Recalls listed in bulletin.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The overwhelming majority of complaints center on NHTSA recall 16V063000 for Takata airbags. Starting in 2016, owners received recall notices but found replacement parts perpetually unavailable. Dealers, independent shops, and the manufacturer all confirmed the same issue: no parts in stock and no estimated delivery date. Owners contacted dealers and called the manufacturer's hotline (800-955-9007) repeatedly over months and years—some report waiting 8 months, others five years—with no resolution. A few owners were referred to dealers 60 miles away. After Saab's bankruptcy, GM took over recall responsibility but provided no timeline or commitment. One owner reported an illuminated airbag sensor warning light that an independent mechanic could not diagnose. Another owner reported spontaneous driver-side airbag deployment while driving straight on a city street with no collision. The latter two cases are isolated incidents; the bulk of complaints are about the recall parts shortage and manufacturer inaction, not actual airbag failures.
Same Saab 9-3 airbags reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Takata airbag recall — parts unavailable, prolonged delay
Owners received recall notices (NHTSA 16V063000) for Takata airbags but repair parts remained unavailable for months or years after notification. Multiple owners report contacting dealers and the manufacturer repeatedly with no remedy available and no estimated timeline for parts arrival. Saab's bankruptcy and lack of manufacturer support exacerbated the issue.
When: Recall notice received 2016 onward; delays extended 8 months to 5 years in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received but no parts available; No estimated time frame provided by manufacturer; Unreasonably long delays exceeding what owners considered reasonable; Dealers unable to proceed with repair; Manufacturer referred some owners to distant dealers (60+ miles away)
Codes mentioned:16V063000
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite that dealers and independent shops confirmed parts unavailable; some dealers never contacted or documented issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V063000 (Takata airbag recall); Saab manufacturer bankruptcy left GM as parent company with no stated timeline; recall remedy marked 'incomplete, remedy not yet available' on safecar.gov
Airbag warning light illumination
One owner reported the airbag sensor warning light remaining illuminated while driving. Independent mechanic was unable to diagnose the cause. No manufacturer or dealer notification made.
When: At 103,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Air bag sensor warning light illuminated; Condition persistent while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic unable to determine cause
Driver-side airbag spontaneous deployment
One owner reported the driver-side airbag deployed spontaneously while driving straight on a city street at normal speed with no collision or impact.
When: While in motion on city street
Symptoms owners cite: Spontaneous airbag deployment; Occurred while driving straight forward; No collision or impact triggering event
Synthesized from 25 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
17 most recent
airbags
· filed 12/27/2016
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 saab 9-3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 14v318000 (seat belts) and 16v063000 (air bags) however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issues. The contact had not experienced a…
airbags
· filed 12/09/2016
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 saab 9-3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v063000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms…
airbags
· filed 11/30/2016
Takata recall. We received notice, by mail, of the airbag recall in march 2016. It is now 8 months later and we are told there are no parts available.
airbags
· filed 10/27/2016
Hi all, we receive a notice several months ago regarding a recall to the airbags in our car. At the time they said there was currently no rememdy. I just checked safecar.gov to check if there were any updates and it says "recall incomplete. Remedy not yet available " we are worried about using this car as recently an eleventh person was killed by these airbags. Is there some way to…
airbags
· filed 10/26/2016
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 saab 9-3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v063000 (air bags). The part to do the repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts…
airbags
· filed 10/12/2016
Takata recall - I was apprised by mail that the airbags on my saab 9-3 need to be replaced, but that the remedy is not yet available. Eight months have passed and the remedy is still not available. Why must I continue to drive a vehicle with airbags that may cause injury or worse? When will replacement airbags be available?
airbags · 75,000 mi
· filed 10/01/2016
Takata recall. Saab vehicle has been recalled for potentially dangerous airbag, but manufacturer is out of business and previous parent company (gm) has not indicated any timeframe for fixing the defective airbag. This car is now going on 5 years with this defective airbag in place. What can be done?
airbags
· filed 09/12/2016
2011 saab 9-3. Consumer writes in regards to replacement parts not available to repair recall notice 16v-063. *smd
airbags
· filed 09/07/2016
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 saab 9-3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v063000 (air bags); however, the part for the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
airbags · 90,000 mi
· filed 08/31/2020
Drivers side airbag spontaneously deployed while in motion on a city street going in a forward, straight motion.
Had airbags trouble with your 2011 Saab 9-3?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2011 Saab 9-3?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 25 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 25 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 95,037 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags 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 airbags?
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Saab/9-3.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.