Recall – 2010-11 Saab 9-3 for fuel pump issue

January 22, 2011January 23, 2011 by Swade

WASHINGTON — Saab is recalling 4,400 Saab 9-3s to fix a defective fuel pump that can cause the engine to stall, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Certain fuel pumps installed as original equipment may have internal components with incorrect specifications,” said the NHTSA in its recalls summary of the problem. “The subject fuel pumps can seize, causing the engine to stall, which increases the risk of a crash.”

In other documentation filed with the federal government, Saab said there have been no reported accidents or injuries due to this defect.

“The defective fuel pumps may seize, stopping fuel flow to the engine and causing a stall,” wrote Gary T. Jones, Saab Cars North America compliance manager. “Once seized the fuel pump will no longer operate and must be replaced. The fuel pump defect is due to a process issue of the fuel pump component supplier, resulting in an out-of-specification internal component in the fuel pump. The component was limited to certain batches of fuel pumps.”

Saab dealers will replace the defective fuel pump. The recall is expected to begin on February 18. Owners can contact Saab at (800) 955-9007.

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The VIN’s concerned:

XWD Start VIN A1613280-> B1306695
FWD Start VIN A1613280-> B1307318

Saab dealers were told to check all 9-3s they had in stock so if you’re taking delivery of a 9-3 in the next week, your car should have already been checked. If your dealer doesn’t tell you it’s been checked, ask.

If you’ve picked up a 2010-11 Saab 9-3 recently then get it back to your dealer for a check (you can do a cursory check on the VIN yourself according to the numbers above, but for peace of mind, I’d take it back anyway just to be sure).

This is a precautionary recall. No incidents have been reported.

Guest

Tilley

Happens to the best 😉

Guest

74stingray

Yup, It happens…

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till72

**it happens.

I just wonder who will be the one to call Saab doomed this time… 😉

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StefanH STHLM

Only in the States? Or am I in Sweden concerned by this?
Car Magazine “Vi Bilägare” (equals “We car owners”) have an article on their long test vehicle Saab 9-5 and a problem with the ignition. They had to push it of a ferry in Stockholm (I guess). Saab seem to have been a bit slow on respons on the question for a solution.
It doesn´t look so good on their http://www.vibilagare.se. But the reporter is rather objective about the issue.
And the 9-5 looks good in red. 🙂 (On the main page)

Author

Swade

Saab have responded to the Vi Bilgare situation. Covered in another thread.

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Jake

Recalls are all the rage nowadays…

😀

Guest

C’est la vie!

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Jake

Sorry for being off-topic, but can someone find a “contact us” link, so that we can fix the plethora of mistakes found under the 9-3, 9-3X, and 9-5 page under this site?

http://autos.aol.com/saab/

Thanks!
-Jake

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till72

Looks like you have to use “send feedback”, top right.

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Jake

Till-
I tried using that link, but it was pretty much useless.

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GerritN

2010 was the best (or worst, depending on how you look at it) for voluntary recalls. The Toyota braking problem has got the whole industry scared.

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Steve C.

I just saw this post before logging off and just checked my SN and it is not in the range. It is a lower number for a car produced in May 2010.

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Jason Powell

Love that this recall is posted on sites all over the place the same day the dealers find out and hardly any sites/papers have done any stories on Saab being alive…. I guess Saab is only worth mentioning by writers when there is something that can be percived as negative. Just sent off a couple of emails to another writer about an article about luxury car sales in Canada and saying how poorly Saab had done in 2010 in Canada, with no mention of the fact that Canada only received cars in December. Hard to say Saab was so bad… Read more »

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Olle

This must be the cheapest ad they could get in magazines ignoring Saab is alive; a recall in MY 2011??? Do they still make cars? What cars? No incidents and they still make a recall; they must be really a qualitybrand!

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Peter

Hello, http://www.vibilagare.se writes about 2 incidents regarding the new Saab 9-5: * The first car – one of the earliest manufactured, and one demobil borrowed from the manufacturer – had suddenly refused to start after a tank top. With some sadness, we gave the car a swipe and presented a series of technical problems in the test were published in number 13/2010. * “With our long test car refused to start was no choice but to push it off the ferry, “said Niklas Carle in his editorial about the Saab 9-5. After our long test car, which was manufactured over… Read more »

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aZuL2001

@Peter, thx for the tip, but see Swade’s respons some comments higher

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aZuL2001

And this one 😉

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Peter

Sorry! 🙂 I was to fast for my best.

Should read better next time 🙂

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SAABDOC

Were going to have to do a lot better then 4400 cars if were going to keep up with BMW. 😉 BMW Recalls 150,000 Vehicles For Fuel Pump Problem By Liz Opsitnik Wednesday, Oct 27 2010 10:31 BMW is recalling 150,800 vehicles for a fuel pump problem that could reduce engine performance. The automaker’s voluntary recall affects about 130,000 models with twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engines and involves 2007 to 2010 335i models, 2008 to 2010 135i, 535i and X6 xDrive35i Sports Activity Coupes and 2009 to 2010 Z4 Roadster sDrive35i. Drivers may notice long-crank engine starting times, the “service engine… Read more »

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saabisdead

It is amazing how easily you brush off the recall issue, “it happens.” Wow. Yes, for a large volumecar manufacturer that still has a decent reputation. Saab does not. This is the last thing Saab needs. Saab builds an insignificant amount of cars each year and they still can’t get it right! Dead brand walking.

A voluntary recall for a possible fault – no incidents recorded, remember – is not great from a business point of view, but the pro-active action is a positive thing. – SW

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benrp

“saab is dead”??? Why are you on Saabs united?

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GerritN

Don’t feed the trolls………….

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SAAB_andee

except those original trolls fromtrollättan 🙂

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74stingray

they can be safely fed 24/7

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Rune

Next time you post, please provide the name of one or two manufacturers who have not recalled any vehicles in the past five years.

Thanks in advance.

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Thesandysaab

1. This can be seen as cheap advertising – Saab is alive and selling cars, recalling a 2011 model. 2. Saab is getting components like fuel pumps from the same manufacturers as other car brands. Possibly slightly different specs, but same same… If the fuel pump manufacturer screws up an integrated part, it does not matter which car it sits in. There will be a recall. Now the sensitive bit is how to handle the issue. The recall is a start, but how well do the (few) dealers service the issue? Informing the owners, explaining the problem, appointments, loaners anyone????… Read more »

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BaRa

What is unclear to me: is this recall for gasoline engines only, or also for diesel engines (namely the new TTiD)

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saabisdead

“Don’t feed the Trolls”- GerritN, I admire your passion, dedication, and loyalty to SAAB but to be honest you have your head in the clouds. You are getting emotionally involved with a car manufacturer that unfortunately has been forever tainted by General Motors’ bean counters. SAAB has not been “SAAB” since the last 900 rolled off the assembly line in 1994. Yes the original 900 and 9000 were not perfect, but they were indeed SAABS designed and built true to Trollhatten’s initial ethic of form follow’s function. There is nothing of that left in the SAABS to follow save for… Read more »

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74stingray

@saabisdead… We happen to like, maybe even love Saab and we’re quite comfortable in our environment here. Your negative comments are just simply are not appreciated here. Not that you’re not entitled to speak them, you most certainly are. But it’s like walking into a Steelers bar with a Cowboys jersey, you’re gonna get a earful from the locals. We are all well aware of Saab’s continuous struggle however most of us simply don’t give up when the going goes rough. Quite simply, In the words of Mr Blutarsky What? Over? Did you say “over”? Nothing is over until we… Read more »

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Rune

So BMW is perfect? (http://www.teknikensvarld.se/documents/bmw/5serie_sladdar/index.xml) Audi is perfect? (http://mobil.aftonbladet.se/bil/article6800299.ab;jsessionid=C1362BC902332950500329326BF76696.pool4) A DI cassette is an easy part to replace. It is not the end of the world. Good luck with your Audi’s throttle pedal that was constructed out of a non-solid piece of plastic. If that S60 is anything like an Ovlov V50, that idiot friend of yours is going to suffer in the winter. The V50 falls into every track in the ice covered road there is. It can’t move on a road covered with 5cm of snow sludge. In short: It isn’t a Saab. Every car has its set… Read more »

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Dan

I would like to point out how patently unfair it is to tar a manufacturer of cars based on one sample. It is not a statistically representative sample. I understand being passionate about old generation 900’s. However, dead brand walking is going a little far. I might accept brand under stress, however, having survived the best efforts to kill it, deserves a chance to blossom and flower on its own. I am rather sure that Saab would love to be in a better condition than it is in. However, it is clear from crash test statistics that they still hold… Read more »

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SaabHost

I do not know about you but my faithful SAAB that never let me on the road, like VW did later, saved my life in a crash. These cars may not be perfect like you said. But I know SAAB is not for the people that does not understand the “SAAB spirit” or at least be attracted by and if you can only drop the attitude maybe you could catch the glimpse of it.

Good luck anyway whatever you’re driving.

cheers

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michaelb

I think you completely miss the point. I have had 4 Saabs after the Saab period, as you define it. I just can say, that they have been great with respect to defects or repairs, not to speak about real life safety. But yes, the dashboard in the 9-5 is cheap, as is the mounting of the front seats. The driver seat mounting broke 7 or 8 times in three different 9-5s, and problems with the headlight bulbs came in two 9-5s after 130k. My impression is that the quality was improved in stages and over time, and that it… Read more »

Guest

I think it is quite obvious that you have entered the wrong URL into your web browser. This is not the place for people who lacks all types of appreciation for Saab and comes with negativistic claims which has little to no connection to reality.

Author

Swade

Mr SaabIsDead left a third comment, which got held in the moderation queue, thankfully. It won’t be published and his user details are low listed so comments will automatically go to the mod queue. People are welcome to come here, but if their sole purpose in visiting is to shout down the brand, then they’re asked to leave. SaabIsDead – You wouldn’t put up with someone who came into your home, called it trash and called you an idiot for living there. If the most interesting thing you had to do today was hang out on a website for a… Read more »

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100%Saab

Minor recall. Thanks for the notification. It does not affect ether of my 2008 or 2009 9-3s. Nice to know I have someone who cares to watch my Saab back, Saab and Swade. Thanks. I call this recall notice a “stoop and recover”. Not a problem.

Just a thought.

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GerritN

“Who is delusional? Time to come back down to planet earth GerrittN.”

Moi? Wat did I do to deserve this?

Oh yes, even saying “Don’t feed the trolls” feeds them.
[I had a nasty but still decent comment in mind, but why bother…..]

Guest

…just a large paper weight sitting in the driveway because the damn thing won’t start because of a bad DI cassette Taken from: http://www.mitt-eget.com/saab/faq_electrical.shtml It is easy to replace the DI cassette. Just unplug the connector on the side of the DI cassette (pull out the red part of the connector to release it), remove the four Torx screws, and lift the cassette. Insert new cassette, tighten Torx screws, plug in the connector (push in the red part of the connector to lock it) A new DI cassette cost under $300 and comes with warranty. How many can you brake… Read more »

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Doctor Donk

Di shows a error on SID way before actual death. Keep your cars in perfect technical conditions.

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Barbapappa

Dear Mr. saabisdead,

Personally I believe that you need to be a cool person to enjoy and love SAABs, and at the moment you strike me as being a “hot-head”, or in medical terms, you seem to suffer from Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED). Do not worry however, there are a few treatments for this, some even long term successful, and I think that if you somehow manage to get over your IED, then maybe you too will start loving SAABs (again).

Gute Besserung!

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Doctor Donk

I think SAABs should use double fuel pump. I had a problem with unexpectable pump death in 5 am 100km from home and did not like it much. Both pumps should work, but if 1 die, you should get SID message and be able to drive on 1.