The 2004 Saab 9-3 has 4 recalls, all involving front seat belt retractors that can fail to pull the belt back in, leaving occupants without proper restraint in a crash.
The retractor issue affects both sedan and convertible trims, though the specific mechanism differs slightly by body style. On convertibles, a tensioning cable in the driver's seat belt retractor can break, preventing the belt from retracting. On sedans, the retractors can simply fail to retract over time. In either case, a belt that hangs loose rather than snugging against the occupant may not restrain them properly in a collision, raising the risk of injury. One filing notes that if the cable breaks while the belt is already being worn, the belt will still function normally in that moment, but the retractor will need repair afterward.