1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette engine problems

ENGINE

THE ENGINE. THE COOLANT LOW LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN THOUGH IT ISN'T.. HAVE HAD IT CHECKED. THEY SAID ITS ALL OK. THEN I READ THESE COMPLAINTS. WHY AREN'T THEY BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR A DEFECT!!!!! ITS THEIR DEFECT, NOT OURS. WE DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR $1200 IN REPAIRS OR MORE!!! ARE YOU GETTING PAID TO SIT THERE AND JUST PUT THESE UP HERE TO APPEASE US? NO WONDER THIS NATION IS GOING YOU KNOW WHERE IN A BASKET. LACK OF INTEGRITY. MY BRAKES ALSO BOTH WENT OUT COMPLETELY WHEN SOMEONE GAVE ME LESS THAN A FOOT TO STOP WHEN THEY PULLED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT DOWNTOWN. NO ACCIDENT BUT COMPLETELY BLEW MY BRAKE. THIS ALSO SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE POINT IN THIS SO CALLED VEHICLE. THE ENGINE DOES WHAT IT WANTS WHEN IT WANTS. IT MOANS AND SHUDDERS WHEN IT TAKES OFF..KIND OF LIKE ME WHEN I GET UP IN THE MORNING. COULD KILL ME THOUGH. AIRBAG LIGHT CAN'T DECIDE IF IT ALIVE OR NOT. ONE HEADLIGHT IS FROSTED.WILL COST $325.00 TO FIX IT. WHO HAS THIS MONEY??!!THAT IS HALF OF MY MONTHS INCOME!!!!!!!!!ARE YOU CRAZY????? AND NO, THERE IS NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WHERE I LIVE. SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK RIGHT.DANGER!!! BODY IS RUSTING. DOORLOCKS LOCK ME OUT ALL THE TIME. WINDOW DON'T WORK.DANGZER!!!! I LIVE WHERE THERE'S LOTS OF WATER.. BACK WIPER QUIT. BACK LIGHTS QUIT. FUEL GAUGE QUIT..MAKES ME WANT TO QUIT. :( HOW CAN THEY GET AWAY WITH THE MAJOR SAFETY ITEMS..HOW????!!!!! PLEASE TELL ME. I NEED TO KNOW. THIS HEAP OF JUNK NEEDS TO LAST ME AT LEAST 20..YES TWENTY MORE YEARS.:(

NHTSA complaint #10733492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN WHEN A CAR PULLED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME GIVING ME TWO FEET TO STOP AT 25 MPH. I STOPPED BUT MY BRAKES BLEW. TOTAL FAILURE OF TWO BRAKES. THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO YOUR COMPLAINTS I MIGHT HAVE A GASKET TO REPLACE BECAUSE I HAVE A COOLANT LIGHT ON AND IT DOESN'T NEED ANY. THE REPAIRMAN SAID I NEEDED A NEW SENSOR. HMMM. ELECTRICAL. FUEL GAUGE IS INOPERABLE. COOLANT LIGHT WRONG. AIRBAG LIGHTS CAN'T MAKE UP THEIR MIND IF THEY WORK OR NOT. THE CAR LOCKS ME OUT REPEATEDLY. THE POWER WINDOWS WON'T WORK..DANGEROUS HERE WITH ALL THE RIVERS AND WATERWAYS. THE SLIDING DOORS DON'T WORK. NONE OF THE POWER CONTROLS IN THE KEY FOB WORK(YES, I CHECKED THE BATTERY). OH..AND IT HAS A INDOOR SHOWER WHEN IT RAINS. ROOF FAILURE, FAULT IN DESIGN. COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME IF PAST SERVICE BULLETINS I JUST FOUND ON YOUR SITE STILL PERTAIN? THERE ARE MANY FOR THIS VEHICLE AND ITS ISSUES. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10670025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

REPEATED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK / FAILURE - HAD TO REPLACE TWICE IN LESS THAN 100,000 MILES - FIRST TIME AT JUST OVER 36,000 MILES. NEVER OWNED A CAR WHERE I HAD TO REPLACE AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ONCE, LET ALONE TWICE AND VIRTUALLY EVERY CAR MY FAMILY HAS OWNED HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN OVER 100,000 MILES. SEARCHING THE INTERNET YOU SEE THE GM 3.4 LITER ENGINE IN 1999 ERA THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT/PROBLEM. ALSO THE ORIGINAL OLDSMOBILE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS ENGINE. THERE IS ALSO A LAWSUIT WWW.DEXCOOLSETTLEMENT.COM SHOWING HOW PREVALENT THIS ISSUE IS - YET GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS A DEFECT AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND VEHICLE OWNERS BY REPAIRING THESE VEHICLES AND CHANGING THE GASKET DESIGN. IT WAS BAD ENOUGH HAVING TO SPEND CLOSE TO $500 TO REPAIR THIS ON MY OLDSMOBILE WITH JUST OVER 36,000 MILES ON IT, NOW I AM TOLD TO PAY CLOSE TO $1,000 TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN! GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE INSISTS THERE IS NO DEFECT, THERE IS NOTHING ABNORMAL ABOUT THIS THAT REQUIRES ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION OR "ASSISTANCE" FROM GM. THEY FURTHER CLAIM GM ENGINEERS HAVE REVIEWED THE INCOMING DATA TO CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND THERE IS NO PROBLEM / NO TREND WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS ON THE 3.4 LITER ENGINE - THAT CAN NOT BE THE TRUTH. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR ITEM, AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE AND IF NOT, GM SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND REPLACE IT FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM HAVE HAD ENGINE SEIZURES AND SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT NOTICE OR CATCH THE PROBLEM SOON ENOUGH AND COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE OIL CAUSED ENGINE SEIZURE AND/OR OVERHEATING. ORIGINAL PROBLEM WAS FEBRUARY 2003, PROBLEM HAS RE-OCCURRED OCTOBER 2008 SO CLEARLY GM DID NOTHING TO CHANGE THE GASKET DESIGN AND DOES NOT EVEN STAND BEHIND THEIR SERVICE / REPLACEMENT PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #10246446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE BROUGHT HE 1999 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE TO DEALER IN COSTA MESA, CA FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PLUG BOOTHS MELTED, AND THAT THE SPARK PLUGS, AND PLUG WIRES MELTED AS WELL, AND THE HEAD GASKET FAILING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE SHE NEVER GOT ANY PRIOR WARNING ABOUT THE FAILURES ON HER VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10180589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING ON SHORT TRIPS TO THE STORE(1-2 MILES). THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS THE THERMOSTAT HOWEVER WHEN TAKEN TO MECHANIC FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT HAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I CALLED OLDSMOBILE REF TO THE PROBLEM TO INQUIRE ABOUT TSB # 030601010 OR 030601010B AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAD NEVER BEEN A BULLETIN.

NHTSA complaint #10168838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

LEAK IN THE DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET , WHICH HAS BEEN DIRETLY RELATED TO ENGINE FAILURE,WHICH I NOW HAVE WITH MY 1999 OLDS SILOUETTE - COST TO REPLACE ENGINE - $4,500 - HAVING COLLANT LEAK INTO THE OIL CAN NOT BE GOOD FOR ANY ENGINE! GM WILL NOT OWN PROBLEM

NHTSA complaint #10128217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE OVERHEATED ON CONGESTED HIGHWAY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING OF ANY PROBLEM. MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE AT 45,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $831 WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE ENGINE MAY SEIZE AT ANY TIME DUE TO COOLANT/OIL CONTMINATION. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED WITH NEW GM DESIGN AND NEW INSTALLATION PROCEEDURE. I HAVE RETAINED THE OLD PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #10120044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING ON 1999 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE WITH 64,000 MILES. $900 REPAIR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT GM WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DESIGN DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10107911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE "LOW COOLANT" LIGHT CAME ON BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A LEAK. WE FINALLY DISCOVERED THAT THE HOT COOLANT WAS LEAKING ONTO THE CAMSHAFT AND INTO THE ENGINE THROUGH FAULTY LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. THE GASKET WAS REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE BUT WE DO NOT KNOW THE DAMAGE OR CONDITION OF THE CAMSHAFT AND ENGINE BEARINGS FROM COOLANT MIXED WITH OIL TO LUBRICATE. THERE REMAINS A COOLANT ODOR WE CANNOT IDENTIFY. WE LATER LEARNED OF GM SERVICE BULLETIN 03-06-01-010 DATED MARCH 2003 THAT IDENTIFIES THIS PROBLEM BUT VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE NOT BEEN ALERTED. THERE WILL BE COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WITHOUT EARLY DETECTION OF PROBLEM AND REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10104871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

COOLANT LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD APPEARED AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE DRIVING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE REGISTERED HOT. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR LIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10091644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I OWN A 1999 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE WITH ABOUT 55,000 MILES. I TOOK THE VAN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE OF A KNOCKING NOISE ON COLD STARTUP AND CONTINUAL OVERHEATING. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE TOTAL BILL ABOUT $600. THE VAN HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES WITH THE 3.4L ENGINES.

NHTSA complaint #10068006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSE OIL TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH COOLANT. ENGINE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10069001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

COOLANT LEVEL LOW LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICING AND OIL CHANGE. TECH SAID THE INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING AND THAT THE RADIATOR WAS FULL OF MUD. TOOK IT TO A GM DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND FOUND THE GASKETS WERE LEAKING AND THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE AT LEAST 1 RADIATOR FLUSH, POSSIBLY 2.

NHTSA complaint #10069136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CAR WENT TO DEALER TO DIAGNOSE A KNOCKING SOUND ON COLD STARTUP. DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, COST TO REPAIR APPROX $900.00. ON DISASSEMBLY, DEALER CONTACTED ME AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE INTERNALS WERE SO BADLY FOULED (SLUDGE AND DEPOSITS) THAT HYDRAULIC LIFTERS NEEDED REPLACEMENT, COST APPROX $450.00. I ASKED HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED, VAN HAS ALWAYS HAD ENGINE OIL CHANGED AT 3000 MILE INTERVALS, WITH NEW FILTER AND CORRECT OIL, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO DIFFERENTLY TO AVOID THIS HAPPENING AGAIN. NO ADVICE OFFERED, AND NO SUGGESTIONS FOR WHY THE GASKET HAD FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10069178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED ALLOWING DEXCOOL COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE AND MIX WITH THE OIL. TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED AT 58,000 MILES. ENGINE REBUILT AT 62,000 MILES. APPARENTLY THIS IS HAPPENING ON THOUSANDS OF GM VEHICLES AND GM WILL NOT COVER THE COST. IN NO WAY SHOULD A 1999 VAN NEED A NEW ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #10069554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. THIS PROBLEM HAS ALSO OCCURED TO A FRIEND OF MINE WHO OWNS A 1999 OLDS SILHOUETTE.

NHTSA complaint #10069556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I OWN A 1999 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE WITH 64,000 MILES. I TOOK THE VAN TO A LOCAL DEALER BECAUSE OF A KNOCKING NOISE ON COLD STARTUP. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE FAILED GASKET RUINED THE HYDRAULIC LIFTERS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL BILL WAS $1500. THE VAN HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE (OIL, FILTERS, ANITFREEZE CHECKED) EVERY 3000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES AND DEXCOOL SYSTEMS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE HAD THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10070100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

AT 35,000 MY '99 OLDS BURNS 2 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES! I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH A 60 DAY 100% ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN COVERAGE SO THE DEALER IS GOING TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD THE GM 3.4 L ENGINE IS FAMOUS FOR POOR PISTONS IN ALL YEARS. THIS ENGINE IS ALREADY SHOT AT 35K MILES AND I FEEL CAN'T POSSIBLY BE REPAIRED ADEQUATELY...IT SHOULD BE REPLACED BUT THE DEALER WON'T DO IT.

NHTSA complaint #10070290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

MY 1999 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE ONLY HAS 69,000 MILES AND HAS A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. IT IS OBVIOUS BY THE OUTRAGED COMMUNITY ONLINE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH GM'S DESIGN AND A RECALL SHOULD BE FORCED UPON THEM.

NHTSA complaint #10065610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

COOLANT IS LEAKING ON TOP OF ENGINE, RESULTING FROM FAILED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE GASKET WAS REPLACED AT 34,000 MILES, NOW FAILING AGAIN AT 88,000 MILES. WATER PUMP WAS RECENTLY REPLACED. BELIEVE DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE IS AT FAULT.

NHTSA complaint #10062020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET - NO WARNING OF ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE FINDING MYSELF STRANDED AT A GAS STATION DUE TO MY VAN OVERHEATING.

NHTSA complaint #10060185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING COOLANT LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON UNTIL VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED A SENSOR, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10057969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

OIL LEAKING INTO THE COOLANT SYSTEM. PROBLEM WAS FIXED BY REPLACING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. RESULTED IN REPLACING ALL COOLANT/HEATER SYSTEM HOSES AND A LARGE REPAIR BILL. THE LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10054816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WATER PUMP FAILED, THEN RADIATOR FAILED, NOW ENGINE FAILED. ALL SEEM TO BE RELATED TO DEX-COOL.

NHTSA complaint #10054726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAK CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE GASKET. RELATED TSB MENTIONS "NEW GASKET DESIGN" IMPLYING THAT ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE. OLDSMOBILE REFUSES TO OFFER ANY WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR FAILURE, REPAIR BILL IS $950.00 SO FAR. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AT THIS AGE. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH GM'S ATTITUDE OF CUSTOMER DISSATISFACTION.

NHTSA complaint #10053205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

I OWN A 1999 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE WITH 65,000 MILES. I TOOK THE VAN TO A LOCAL DEALER AFTER ANTIFREEZE STARTED LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE FAILED GASKET FOULED THE HYDRAULIC LIFTERS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL BILL WAS $1255. SAME PROBELM HAPPENDED TO A RELATIVE'S PONTIAC. THIS IS ALL TOO COMMON OF A PROBLEM. GM SHOULD RECALL THIS MODEL. THIS WILL BE THE LAST OF 5 GM PRODUCTS I HAVE OWNED.

NHTSA complaint #10052521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DURING THE SUMMER, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE G.M. DEALER. THE COOLANT WAS LOW AND IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT A PRESSURE CHECK BE DONE FOR THE RADIATOR COOLANT. THE MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.............................

NHTSA complaint #10048616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

INTAKE GASKET LEAK - RADIATOR FULL OF "MUD" AT 72,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10039134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

HEAD GASKET FAILURE

NHTSA complaint #10038707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.