Saab 9-3 reliability: better info

[mkaresh]

I wanted more up-to-date car reliability information that included actual repair rates. So a few years ago I started getting people together to make this possible. TrueDelta now updates actual repair frequencies, not just dots, four times a year, to track cars closely as they age.

We've had very good participation by Saab 9-3 owners, with over 500 signed up. But more remain needed to provide precise results for all model years. So I'm grateful that Dave suggested that I post a thread here.

Participants simply report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.
To encourage participation, participants receive full access to all results, not just those for the 9-3, for free. I'll share results for the 9-3 in this thread after each update.

For the details, and to sign up to help out:

Car reliability research

[Dave T]

So I'm grateful that Dave suggested that I post a thread here.

His website tabulates car reliability and is, by no means, a spam website. According to his data, some years are better than others for Saab. If I recall correctly, the 2003 9-3 isn't a good year. 2005, my year, is much better.

[nordwulf]

Is it only for the 9-3 or for other Saab models as well?

[jlrSAAB]

for all models and other cars.
need a free registration to see the results and statistics.

Car Reliability Comparisons

[mkaresh]

His website tabulates car reliability and is, by no means, a spam website. According to his data, some years are better than others for Saab. If I recall correctly, the 2003 9-3 isn't a good year. 2005, my year, is much better.

Thanks, Dave. The 2003 was of course the first model year of the current 9-3, and they appear to have worked quite a few bugs out by the third. One caveat: the 2003s are older cars with more miles on them.

[mkaresh]

We have updated our reliability stats for the Saab 9-3 (on our redesigned site) to include owner experiences through September 30, 2011.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2008: 94, about average

2007: 60, about average

2006: 89, about average

2005: 65, better than average, out of line with the others

2004: 92, about average

2003: 161, worse than average

2002: 126, about average, small sample size

1999: 87, better than average, small sample size

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.
Because they require a larger sample size, we have these stats for only one year, the 2007: 66 percent with no repairs, and about 4 percent with 3+ repair trips.

Saab 9-3 Lemon-odds and Nada-odds

Thank you, everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in February and May. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help provide this information:

Saab 9-3 reliability ratings and comparisons

[mkaresh]

We have updated our reliability stats for the Saab 9-3 to include owner experiences through December 31, 2011.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2008: 84, about average

2007: 52, better than average

2006: 97, about average

2005: 79, about average

2004: 57, better than average

2003: 162, worse than average

2002: 117, about average, small sample size

1999: 97, better than average, small sample size

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.
Because they require a larger sample size, we have these stats for only one year, the 2007: 63 percent with no repairs, and less than one percent with 3+ repair trips.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates later this month and in August. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help provide this information:

Saab 9-3 reliability ratings and comparisons

Saab 9-3 Lemon-odds and Nada-odds

[mkaresh]

We have updated our reliability stats for the Saab 9-3 to include owner experiences through June 30, 2012.


Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:


2008: 78, worse than average (on a revised scale), small sample size


2007: 52, about average


2006: 71, about average


2005: 57, about average


2004: 48, better than average


2003: 148, worse than average


2002: 105, worse than average, small sample size


2001: 74, better than average, small sample size


1999: 91, about average, small sample size


We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.


We have these for two model years:


2007: 64, 3


2006: 48, 4


We'll have further updates in November and February. With more owners involved, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years from 1998 on.


To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help provide this information:


Saab 9-3 reliability ratings and comparisons

[mkaresh]

We have updated our reliability stats for the Saab 9-3 to include owner experiences through September 30, 2012.


Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:


2008: 21, better than average


2007: 61, about average


2006: 63, about average


2005: 38, better than average


2004: 44, better than average


2003: 84, about average


2002: 106, worse than average, small sample size


2001: 57, better than average, very small sample size


1999: 79, better than average, very small sample size


We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.


We have these for two model years:


2007: 42, 3


2006: 59, 8


We'll have further updates later this month and in May. With more owners involved, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years from 1998 on.


To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:


Saab 9-3 reliability ratings and comparisons

[mkaresh]

We've updated our reliability stats for the 9-3 to include owner experiences through March 31, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2008 9-3: 50, moderate
2007 9-3: 44, low
2006 9-3: 55, moderate
2005 9-3: 46, low, small sample size
2004 9-3: 71, moderate
2003 9-3: 75, moderate, small sample size
2002 9-3: 58, low, very small sample size
1999 9-3: 68, low, very small sample size

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:

2007 9-3: 51, < 1

We'll have further updates in August and in November. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

For the details, including the descriptions of reported repairs, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Saab 9-3 reliability ratings and comparisons