DecodedCars2008 Saab 9-3
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2008 models.
- Class
- Compact Cars
- Body styles
- 2dr Convertible FWD, 2dr Convertible FWD Aero, 4dr Sedan FWD, 4dr Sedan FWD Aero
- Engines
- 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 2.8L 6-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Premium Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 23 combined · 19 city / 29 hwy
- Length
- 182.7–183.1 in
- Curb weight
- 3,175–3,699 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 2 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
Watch out for
- Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 32 similar 2008 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2008 Saab 9-3 is a compact car offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl turbo and 2.8L 6-cyl turbo) and front-wheel drive and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.
It measures about 183 inches long and 69 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,479 lb (2dr Convertible FWD).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 23 MPG combined (19 city / 29 highway), 5% better than the 2008 compact car average of 21.9 MPG, for an estimated $3,550 a year in fuel.
It has 2 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 134 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the air bags.
What changed for 2008
- All-wheel or four-wheel drive now available
Compared with 2007; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2007 9-3 →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2dr Convertible FWD | 182.7 in | 69.3 in | 56.3 in | 105.5 in | 59.4 / 59.1 in | 3,479 lb | 60/40 |
| 2dr Convertible FWD Aero | 182.7 in | 69.3 in | 56.3 in | 105.5 in | 59.4 / 59.1 in | 3,699 lb | 60/40 |
| 4dr Sedan FWD | 182.7 in | 70.5 in | 57.9 in | 105.5 in | 59.8 / 59.4 in | 3,175 lb | 62/38 |
| 4dr Sedan FWD Aero | 182.7 in | 70.5 in | 57.9 in | 105.5 in | 59.8 / 59.4 in | 3,285 lb | 62/38 |
| Sportcombi 4dr Wagon FWD | 183.1 in | 68.9 in | 56.7 in | 105.5 in | 59.4 / 59.1 in | 3,175 lb | 60/40 |
| Sportcombi 4dr Wagon FWD Aero | 183.1 in | 68.9 in | 56.7 in | 105.5 in | 59.4 / 59.1 in | 3,285 lb | 60/40 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9-3 Sport Sedan | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 29 / 23 | +5% | $3,550 | 386 |
| 9-3 SportCombi | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 29 / 23 | +2% | $3,550 | 386 |
| 9-3 Convertible | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 27 / 22 | +4% | $3,750 | 404 |
| 9-3 Sport Sedan | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S5) | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 21 | -4% | $3,900 | 423 |
| 9-3 Convertible | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S5) | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | -5% | $4,100 | 444 |
| 9-3 SportCombi | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S5) | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | -11% | $4,100 | 444 |
| 9-3 Convertible | 2.8L 6-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 / 26 / 19 | -10% | $4,350 | 468 |
| 9-3 Sport Sedan | 2.8L 6-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 / 26 / 19 | -13% | $4,350 | 468 |
| 9-3 SportCombi | 2.8L 6-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 / 26 / 19 | -16% | $4,350 | 468 |
| 9-3 Aero Sedan AWD | 2.8L 6-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 24 / 19 | -13% | $4,350 | 468 |
| 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD | 2.8L 6-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 24 / 19 | -16% | $4,350 | 468 |
| 9-3 Convertible | 2.8L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 15 / 24 / 18 | -15% | $4,550 | 494 |
| 9-3 Sport Sedan | 2.8L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 15 / 24 / 18 | -18% | $4,550 | 494 |
| 9-3 SportCombi | 2.8L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 15 / 24 / 18 | -20% | $4,550 | 494 |
| 9-3 Aero Sedan AWD | 2.8L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 24 / 18 | -18% | $4,550 | 494 |
| 9-3 Aero SportCombi AWD | 2.8L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 24 / 18 | -20% | $4,550 | 494 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2008 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2008 Saab 9-3 under the current (2011+) test program.
Similar 2008 compact cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Saab 9-3 (this car) | 23 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2008 Toyota Corolla | 31 MPG | Not rated | 7 |
| 2008 Honda Civic | 42 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2008 Ford Mustang | 20 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2008 Honda Accord | 25 MPG | Not rated | 8 |
| 2008 Toyota Camry | 34 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2008 Toyota Prius | 46 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
Recalls (2)
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module · Feb 3, 2016
NHTSA campaign 16V063000 · 113,716 vehicles
- Problem
- 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. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- 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.
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor · Jun 12, 2014
NHTSA campaign 14V318000 · 28,789 vehicles
- Problem
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2011 Saab 9-3 Convertible vehicles manufactured July 30, 2003, to February 15, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the driver's side front seat belt retractor may break, causing the seat belt webbing not to retract.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, a seat belt that has not retracted may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
- Fix
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt retractor, free of charge. The recall began on October 6, 2015. Owners may contact Saab customer service at 1-800-955-9007. GM's number for this recall is 14222. Note: Special Coverage 10086 will replace the passenger side seat belt retractor if it fails, free of charge, for the life of the vehicle.
Not every 2008 Saab 9-3 is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2008 Saab 9-3 buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 2 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Air Bags — 71 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Engine — 42 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Fuel/Propulsion System — 11 owner reports. Smell for fuel around the car and in the cabin, check that it starts easily when warm, and look at the oil dipstick for a fuel smell or rising level.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 88,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2008 Saab 9-3. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other 9-3 years
Compare all years →Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Saab. How we calculate this →