22 of the
155 complaints about the 1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette are about the
steering — 14% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
9,000 miles.
WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE HORN CONTINUOUSLY SOUNDED AND ALL THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED. THE DOORS COULD NOT BE MANUALLY OPENED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND WAIT FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE TO TEN MINUTES AND THEN TURN THE VEHICLE OFF TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, POWER STEERING FLUID HAD TO BE ADDED EVERY 10,000 MILES AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO FAULTY GASKETS. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *AK WHEN THE DOORS LOCKED, THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPEN, THE DASH LIGHTS AND OVERHEAD LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE POWER LOCKS WOULD CHATTER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN THE DASH, THE DRIVER DOORS WOULD UNLOCK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, ALL THE DOORS WOULD LOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND COULD NOT BE OPENED MANUALLY OR OPEN THE WINDOWS, ALL OF THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND WAS INTERMITTENT, THE LEFT DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, THE STEERING PUMP WENT DRY WHILE DRIVING AND THE PUMP WENT DRY 5 ADDITIONAL TIMES AFTER 1005K MILES, THE DOORS LOCKED WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND WOULD BE UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR(S) OR WINDOW, THE POWER WINDOWS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER MIRROR WOULD SHAKE, THERE WAS MOISTURE IN THE HEAD LAMP, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO DIM AT NIGHT WHEN THE HEATER WAS TURNED ON, THE LEFT REAR WINDOW RATTLED, THE WIRING CHAFFED ON THE STUD UNDER THE CARPET IN THE VEHICLE, AND THE ELECTRICAL REMOTE DID NOT WORK UNTIL THE CONSUMER WAS CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE DOORS WERE LOCKED AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS OFF, THE HORN WOULD START BLOWING AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURNED BACK ON. *SC THE POWER MIRROR WERE INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10064708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marshall, TX
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE RACK AND PINION, AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE, HOWEVER THE DAY BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT, CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY HAD NO TOOLS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10014639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Castle, DE
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP FOR RECALL REPAIRS TO THE RACK AND PINION BEARING AND THE POWER STEERING. THIS RECALL REQUIRED THAT THE AIR BAGS,HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL BE RESET. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10009804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Castle, DE
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP FOR RECALL REPAIRS TO THE RACK AND PINION BEARING AND THE POWER STEERING. THIS RECALL REQUIRED THAT THE AIR BAGS,HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL BE RESET. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10009804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fairfield, CT
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT VERY SLOW SPEED POWER STEERING WOULD NOT WORK, AND THE LEFT TURN WAS NOT POSSIBLE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER YET.
NHTSA complaint #8015131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maple Grove, MN
STEERING
WHILE EXITING OFF HIGHWAY STEERING WOULD NOT TURN LEFT. *AK WHILE DRIVING WITH OUT PRIOR WARNING, THE STEERING BROKE WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS ATTACHED TO THE RACK AND PINION.
NHTSA complaint #8013570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glendale, AZ
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE MAKING A LEFT DUE TO RACK AND PINION FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #785464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Bern, NC
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR SLIDING DOOR. WHEN DOOR WAS SECURED IT OPENED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, ALARM SYSTEM WENT OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #887696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wausau, WI
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
POWER STEERING RACK FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER WANTS TO BE COMPENSATED FOR REPAIR AND RENTAL CAR, WHINE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP. NLM
NHTSA complaint #553079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wausau, WI
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
POWER STEERING RACK FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER WANTS TO BE COMPENSATED FOR REPAIR AND RENTAL CAR, WHINE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP. NLM
NHTSA complaint #553079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Florissant, MO
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING RACK AND PINION FAILED, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING ASSIST TO LOCK UP. OWNER HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER TO ROTATE STEERING WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #841652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ashland, OH
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
ANTI THEFT DEVICE MALFUNCTIONS ON OCCASIONS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE TRAPPED INSIDE. MJS
NHTSA complaint #545712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sugar Land, TX
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE - POWER ASSIST STEERING MOMENTARILY INOPERABLE ON 1/13, 3/12, 4/12, 4/14, 5/11, 5/12 (TWICE) AND 5/13. OCCURS WHEN DRIVING THROUGH WATER PUDDLES. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX WITH AFTER MARKET BELT. PROBLEM IS WORSE NOW BECAUSE LENGTH OF OUTAGE IS MORE BRIEF AND JUST WHEN DRIVER ADDED PRESSURE TO STEER WITHOUT POWER ASSIST IT STARTED TO WORK CAUSING OVERCORRECTION. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER FOR SCRUTINY. ON 4/21, AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR POPPED OPEN WHEN CAR GEAR SHIFT WAS MOVED OUT OF PARK POSITION. THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. DEALER CLEANED CONTACTS AND DAYS LATER THE UNIT BROKE. DEALER HAS COMPLETED MOST OF REPAIR. INJURY TO PASSENGER NEXT TO DOOR COULD OCCUR IF DOOR WERE TO OPEN WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #706661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sugarland, TX
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
UPON USING THE PASSENGER'S SLIDING DOOR AND LOCKING THE DOOR AND CONSUMER PUTTING VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, THE DOOR WILL POP OPEN. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING THROUGH SOME WATER VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER STEERING.
NHTSA complaint #836729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Overland Park, KS
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN PLACE AFTER TURNING. UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION.
NHTSA complaint #706182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sugar Land, TX
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
DRIVING AT APPROX. 25 MPH ON WET ROADS WITH RAIN. STARTED TO SLOW TO TURN RIGHT ONTO SIDE STREET WHEN POWER STEERING FAILED. DRIVER HAD TO USE EXTREME EFFORT TO MANUALLY TURN STEERING WHEEL TO AVOID HITTING CURB AND TREE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CORRECT CAR DIRECTION WITH EXTREME EFFORT WHILE STOPPING CAR. ONCE THE CAR WAS STOPPED, THERE WAS A SQUEALING NOISE ,INDICATING BELTS WERE SLIPPING AND THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL CLICKING/TAPPING SOUND. GM CASE NUMBER IS 990028165. PROBLEM 2: AUTOMATIC DOOR ON PASSENGER'S SIDE DISENGAGED WHEN PLACING SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK. DEALER CLEANED CONTACTS AND STATED PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. EXPLANATION DOES NOT SEEM REASONABLE IN THAT THE DOOR CLOSED PROPERLY UNTIL THE SHIFT LEVER WAS PLACED OUT OF PARK. SAFETY FEATURES SHOULD PREVENT THE DOOR FROM OPENNING UNLESS SHIFT LEVER IS IN PARK.
NHTSA complaint #705608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Antoni, TX
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
ALARM COMPUTER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #533857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Golf Port, MS
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 30 MPH AND WHEN IT IS RAINING, CONSUMER COULD DRIVE OVER A POTHOLE AND LOSE CONTROL DUE TO POWER STEERING FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #836358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pittsburg, PA
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK PINION STEERING BROKE, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP, AND NO STEERING ABILITY AT ALL, WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #835073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sugar Land, TX
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING BECOMES INOPERABLE MOMENTARILY IN WET DRIVING CONDITIONS AT SLOW SPEED. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN TURNING WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS A SQUEAL SOUND SUCH AS BELTS SLIPPING CAN BE HEARD. STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT WHEN TURNING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. DEALER WAS ADVISED ON TWO OCCASIONS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER STEERING IS WORKING AND BELTS ARE PROPERLY ADJUSTED. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT HAPPENED IN WET WEATHER WHILE PULLING INTO A STREET FROM A DRIVEWAY. FORTUNATELY NO TRAFFIC WAS COMING AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE AND RETURN TO THE DRIVEWAY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT, STEERING APPEARED TO WORK.
NHTSA complaint #702247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Antoni, TX
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
ANTI-THEFT ALARM MALFUNCTIONED.
NHTSA complaint #534444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jamison, PA
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE RACK AND PINON STEERING IS LOOSE AND NEEDS TO BE TIGHTENED. THE STEERING COULD HAVE BEEN LOST UNEXPECTEDLY IN THE VAN.
NHTSA complaint #814544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.