quality on 2004 9-3 aero

I recently bought a 2004 9-3 Aero, slightly used...4k miles (was a trade in...dealer claimed owner had wanted to lower their payments). While it is a very slick car, it has numerous.little problems:

- noisy/squeaky brakes/high pitch noises (even after releasing brake, esp at low speeds)

- odd but consistent, muffled, rattling noise coming from front suspension (as if a part is loose somewhere)

- i've heard additonal sporadic noises (aside from rattling) coming from the wheels (or brakes), again as if something has broken

- broken/flimsy shielding plastic part underneath front passenger seat,

- odd behaviour of abs system (when engaged on slippery/snowy conditions)...car jerks unexpectedly

- one morning the Onstar system gave a bizarre "system malfunction...please contact saab dealer" error mesage. shutting car off then back on a little later, seemed to make the probelm disappear. I attributed it to it just being a cold morning.

All these problems are really annoying and I don't think they should be happening on such a costly car. As much as I'd love to praise the car to others, it hasn't sofar, given me much reason to.

I'm planning to bring it back to the dealer to have all of these issues addressed, but are these things common or did I simply buy a lemon? perhaps I've discovered the reasons why it was traded in.

- tex

Reply to
Tex
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I too recently bought a new 9-3 Aero, but I have to admit I am delighted with it. I have had none of the problems you are experiencing except once I did get a similar "system malfunction" on the display, but restarting the car resolved that. I would say you need to return it to the dealer. Do you still have the remaining warranty on it? If so, all the problems should be covered and not cost you anything to fix. Sounds like you have got a "lemon" as you described it.

Mark.

Reply to
Mark in the U.K.

Last month, I got the Onstar malfunction a couple times on one drive, but on the return trip it was fine and I haven't seen it since.

Last summer, I've had the locks malfunction twice. Once, I couldn't lock the car with the remote or with the controls on the door. A couple days later, I couldn't unlock the car with the remote and had to use the concealed metal blade to open the door. That sets off the alarm, which I stopped by putting the key in the ignition. Both times, the problem went away after turning the car on.

I've had the radio go goofy twice. After starting the car, the radio turned on and was tuned to a random station, there was no volume, and I none of the controls worked. Turning off and on the car fixed it. I think I've had the radio just turn off mid-trip, but I was able to turn it right back on again.

Back in December, the fuel guage got confused and dropped to empty while the SID told me the distance to empty was "--- miles." Turning the car off and then back on fixed that.

Everything so far has been electrical, only happened once or twice, and was also fixed by turning the car off and on or on and off.

Reply to
Shane Almeida

Once my signal clicking did not sound. Re-starting fixed it. I guess with the computers and fiber-optic network that these problems should be expected. At least the car doesn't die and refuse to restart like some other cars...

Reply to
dxyzc

Were you by any chance using Onstar (or Personal Calling)? The sound of the directionals is disabled when you do certain things with Onstar.

Reply to
Shane Almeida

No.

Reply to
dxyzc

I bet if you checked the electronic components that are having problems you will find two letters, GM. I have a GM Saab and it spent much of the first 90 days in the shop for electrical problems. The repairs were free of charge, but there is the time issue. None of my pre-GM Saabs had an electrical problems.

Reply to
ma_twain

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