Saab Problems

If there are any common problems and complaints about Saab's reliability or faults, they'll likely show up on our Saab problems page. You can also calculate a car's projected resale value via our price and specs page.

Poor reliability, a nearly non-existent support network, bloated styling, terrible on-road performance, and no resale value all combine to give you the full Saab 9-5 experience. You would be better off putting your money in a bag and setting fire to it than buying a second-hand Saab. While some people love their Saabs I find them as appealing as eating a hamburger made of broken glass and battery acid.

I'm going to offend Australia's dentists here, but I do not consider Saabs to be good cars. Soft to the point of being unpleasantly spongy, they seem maintenance-heavy and prone to breakages, suffer shocking resale, and aren't that attractive.

If you're looking for a good, budget conservative piece of transport in this size of car, have a look at Honda Accord Euros or Subaru Libertys.

 Given that Saab dealers don't exist any more you'll need to contact a professional locksmith to have them reprogram your Saab's key to the car itself.

Begin by gently popping out the air vents in-line with the vent control knobs using a plastic trim removal tool. Slide and twist the vents out to remove them, then use a TX25 Torx bits from the top of the radio unit.

Lift the radio up and pull it forward, then unplug the wiring.

Hollywood has taught us any car can be "hot-wired" in a matter of seconds and driven away into the sunset. Reality tells us a very different tale, however, as in-built electronic immobilisers and steering column locks will prevent you from hot-wiring any modern car.

The more pressing question I have is, out of all the cars you'd want to hot-wire, why a Saab 9-3?.

SAABs have fallen off the radar since the company exited the market, but that doesn't necessarily mean they should be avoided. With their discounted price they could be a good buy. When the brand was taken out of the market guarantees were made that parts would be available for 10 years, so that should ease your mind a little. But even if parts weren't readily available there are enough second hand parts around to keep your car going, and there are specialists who know the brand backwards and know were to find any part that might be needed. The 9-3 is getting on in years so look for rattles and squeaks, particularly in a convertible, which isn't as rigid as a sedan or wagon. It's important also with a convertible to check the operation of the roof to make sure it's working, and working smoothly. They can be expensive to repair if they don't go up and down as they should.

It really depends on what you want to do with the car, as they are quite different, the Saab being a four-seater and the MG a two-seater and sportier. If you want a cruiser capable of taking your friends along as well the Saab is probably the better option, if you're not worried about taking others with you on your ride the MG presents an appealing choice. With either one you would need to find a mechanic who knows the brad and their quirks, and be prepared to spend more on keeping them on the road than other brands. If you chose the MG I would recommend join the MG Car Club and enjoy the car on club events.

The trade puts the turbo life at 100,000-150,000 km depending on how they've been serviced. If they've been well serviced they will last up to 150,000 km. The word is they can't be rebuilt and a replacement is the only real option. A new factory-supplied turbo costs around $2200 fitted.

SAABS are generally sound, but are subject to breakdowns and problems as the kilometres climb. Seek advice from a Saab specialist and have any car checked before buying it.