2004 SAAB 9-3 Recalls Canada & USA – Major League Recalls
2004 SAAB 9-3 Recalls — Canada & USA
Summary
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.
On certain convertible model vehicles, the tensioning cable in the driver's seat belt retractor may break, causing the belt to fail to retract. If a crash were to occur with a seat belt in this condition, it could increase the risk of injury to the driver.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will replace seat belt retractor assemblies.
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.
Safety 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.
Remedy
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.
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 SAAB 9-3 SEDANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT, OVER TIME, COULD FAIL TO RETRACT.
Safety Risk
USING A SEAT BELT THAT HAS NOT RETRACTED, AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE RETRACTOR FREE OF CHARGE. IF THE FRONT PASSENGER RETRACTOR WERE TO FAIL TO RETRACT, GM WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER RETRACTOR FREE OF CHARGE UNDER A SPECIAL COVERAGE THAT WILL BE RELEASED FOR THE SAME POPULATION FOR 10 YEARS FROM NEW VEHICLE DATE OF SALE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT SAABPARTS.COM/US. Note: In June 2014, GM expanded the special coverage from 10 years to be for the lifetime of the vehicle.
On certain vehicles, the Automatic Tensioning System (ATS) cable of the seatbelt retractors could fail. Should this occur, the webbing spooled out by the user would not retract. If the spool cable were to break while the belt is being worn, the belt would function normally in a crash. It would then be obvious to the occupant that the belt needs repair as soon as possible.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the driver's seatbelt retractor.