179 of the 1,277 complaints filed about the Oldsmobile Silhouette are about the engine — 14% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1999.
179
Complaints
14%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
4
Fires
ENGINE
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN AND IT HAS SECURITY LIGHT COME ON. IT SHUTS THE ENGINE AND ALL POWER OFF. THE VAN WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. A REAL SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10788527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
T-BONED CROSSING A 4WAY DUE TO VIEW OBSTRUCTION. OTHER PERSON HIT US AT 60 MILES PER HR. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED APPROX. 10 SECONDS AFTER INITIAL IMPACT.
NHTSA complaint #10706055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #10679779 — 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
WHILE DRIVING VAN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED HOT AND HEATER STOPPED BLOWING HOT AIR FEW MINUTES LATER IT COOLED BACK DOWN AND STARTED BLOWING WARM AIR AND IT CONTINUED TO DO THAT OVER AND OVER PUT A THERMOSTAT IN IT AND IT DID NOT HELP IT CONTINUED TO DO THE SAME THING IT IS FULL OF WATER STILL NOT BLOWING ANY WARM AIR OUT AND STEAMING OUT THE EXHAUST.
NHTSA complaint #10442808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY OVER HEATING MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT IN MARCH 2011 HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10389729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE: INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT. UNDERSTAND IT IS A DEFECT. REQUIRES CONSTANT ATTENTION, OIL CHANGES AND ADDITION OF COOLANT. UNDERSTAND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE A DEFECT AS WELL. HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THEM SINCE PURCHASE.
NHTSA complaint #10365731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL OIL LEAK. THE OIL LEAKAGE INCREASES THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
NHTSA complaint #10266634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I WAS NO THE FREEWAY AND THERE IS A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION SO THERE IS NO WHERE TO PULL OVER THE CAR GOT REALLY HOT. I WAS TRYING TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY AS I WAS GOING ON THE OFF RAMP THE CAR TEMP ALL THE SUDDEN WENT RED THEN ENGINE HAD STOPPED. I HAD MY GIRLS IN THE CAR. THEY WHERE VERY SCARED. COME TO FIND OUT THE HEAD GASKET WENT OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME. IT WENT OUT JUST AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR IT WAS AT 41000 MILE NOW AT 120000 IT GOES OUT AGAIN IT IS NOW GOING TO COST ME ANOTHER $1700 TO FIX IT. I HAVE READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHY HAVE YOU NOT LOOK IN TO THIS PROBLEM. IS IT A SAFETY PROBLEM THESE CAR HEAT UP INSTEADLY AN THE ENGINE HAS A FAIL SAFE THAT SHUTS IT OFF. IF IT WOULD HAVE SHUT OFF A FEW MOMENTS EARLIER I WOULD HAVE STILL BEEN ON THE FREEWAY AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT.
NHTSA complaint #10258653 — 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
MY 1998 OLD SILHOUETTE HAD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED AT 69, 000 MILES AND THEN 8 MONTHS AT 73 000 MILE MY CAM BROKE IN HALF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 25 TO 30 MPH UNKNOWN WHY OR HOW MUCH MORE DAMAGE IS DONE AT THIS TIME. INVESTIGATOR IS COMING OUT TO CHECK WHAT HAD HAPPEN .
NHTSA complaint #10228077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AFTER ACCELERATING TO PASSING GEAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON .. AND THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE THE SPARK PLUG FAILED. THE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK SAID THERE WAS NO COMPRESSION IN THE #2 CYLINDER. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE ROCKER ARM BOLT HAD STRIPPED OUT. THAT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. THERE ARE 95,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, I CONSIDER THIS A MANUFACTURING DEFAULT .. THE BOLT SHOULD NOT HAVE STRIPPED OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. I QUESTION WHETHER THE OTHER ROCKER ARM BOLTS WILL STRIP ... GM DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY .. BECAUSE IT DIDN'T SHOW AT THE 35,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER CHECK.
NHTSA complaint #10221104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WE PURCHASED A VAN IN GOOD WORKING ORDER IN 04/2006. IT WAS USED PREVIOUSLY BY ONE OWNER SINCE BEING PURCHASED NEW. IN NOVEMBER 2007- IT BEGAN OVERHEATING AND LOSING COOLANT. THE DIAGNOSIS IS NOW REPLACEMENT OF HEAD GASKET AND POSSIBLE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. GM HAS REFUSED TO HELP THEIR CONSUMERS IN ANY WAY IF THERE IS NO WARRANTY. AS WITH ALL PROBLEMS THESE COULD FAIL DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, MILEAGE, AND OR AGE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE CASE IN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS INCLUDING MY OWN!
NHTSA complaint #10210764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TRANSMISSION FAILURE-THREE TIMES IN AS MANY YEARS ALSO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH REAR LIGHTS AND ALSO INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING. BOTH WINDOW SWITCHES FAILED. PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL HUB HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10209769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT EXTERNALY.AND ENGINE OIL LEAKING INTO COOLANT INTERNALY. INTAKE GASKET FAILURE. INTAKE GASKET WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10207794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
2002 SILHOUETTE, 39000 MILES. FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. HAD REPAIRED, WITHIN 50 MILES AFTER PICKING UP FROM DEALERSHIP, THERE WAS A GRINDING WHEN TURNING RIGHT. BOTH HEATED SEATS DIDN'T HEAT. DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW OPERATED EXTREMELY SLOW. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT!, $1000!, 39000 MILES FOLKS! AIR SUSPENSION DID NOT OPERATE CRACKLED. POWER DOORS DID NOT OPEN WHEN SOMETHING GOT IN THE WAY. BRUISED SHOULDER BECAUSE OF THIS. PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, REPLACED TIRES AT 30,000 MILES. ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE DONE. STORED IN A GARAGE MORE HIGHWAY MILES THAN CITY. HOW DID GM WANT TO HELP ME? DEALER DID PAPERWORK WHEN PURCHASING, TRIED TO PUSH OFF A CHEAPER MODEL ON AN ELDERLY WOMEN, AND CHANGED THE PROMISED 5 YEAR WARRANTY TO A 3 YEAR WARRANTY. MOTHER WAS JUST SO HAPPY SHE GOT THE RIGHT VEHICLE TO TAKE HOME, SHE NEVER NOTICED THE CHANGE IN THE WARRANTY. TRIED TO WORK WITH THE DEALER ON REPAIRS SINCE THERE WERE ONLY 39000 MILES, AND WE GOT A 'GEE, REALLY SORRY MA'AM, I UNDERSTOOD, BUT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WE COULD DO ABOUT IT. WENT TO THE GM SERVICE LINE, AND DID NOT GET ANY HELP THERE EITHER, BUT SHE HAD A REAL PURDY FIRST NAME! SEEMED TO ME THESE WERE ALL RECURRING PREMATURE KNOWN FAILURES , YET GM DID NOT CARE TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT! IT WAS A SHAME THEY PUSHED THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY SO EXTENSIVELY WHEN THEY HAD ALL THESE VEHICLES ON THEIR LOTS. PEOPLE, WE'VE BEEN HAD. I GREW UP IN OLDSMOBILE, BUT THE MORE I READ ABOUT GM - THE MORE LIKELY I AM TO BUY TOYOTA! THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT I FOUND A DEALER (NOT CLOSE TO HOME THOUGH) THAT WAS WILLING TO AT LEAST REPAIR THE FIRST SET OF WHEEL BEARINGS FOR $100. GOT THAT ON MY OWN, NOT THROUGH GM SERVICE HELP. I JUST HOPE THEY WILL BE AS NICE FOR THE NEXT SET OF WHEEL BEARINGS THAT NEED REPLACEMENT AND FOR THE GASKET THAT WAS JUST DISCOVERED. STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM GM ON THE OTHER ISSUES. (NOT AS AN IMMEDIATE NEED AS THE WHEEL BEARINGS) I'M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH.
NHTSA complaint #10191801 — 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
2000 OLDS SILHOUETTE 1 OWNER WITH 43000 MILES, INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT, HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED BEFORE COOLANT IN OIL DAMAGED ENGINE BEYOND REPAIR, ALSO NOISY LIFTERS. DISCOVERED THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM IGNORING A DEFECT IN THE GASKET/DESIGN OF ENGINE. CONSUMER PAYS PRICE.
NHTSA complaint #10178714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2002 OLDS SILHOUETTE MINIVAN WHICH HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED. IN TALKING TO THE MECHANIC WHO FIXED IT, THIS IS SO COMMON WITH THESE GM VEHICLES THAT IT IS LAUGHABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10172872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.