78 of the
1,277 complaints filed about the Oldsmobile Silhouette
are about the steering —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1997.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V286000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 107,519.
NHTSA complaint #10466669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR A DEFECT IN A 2001 OLDSMOBILE-SILOUTTE VAN.AS I WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN HIGHWAY AT 55MPH(CRUISE SET) THE VAN WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND ALMOST ROLLED. THE VAN SWERVED ALSO IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I MANAGED TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL BUT WAS A VERY SCARY ORDEAL! I HAD THE VAN TOWED TO MY CAR DEALER AND FOUND OUT A SENSOR ATTACHED TO THE MOTOR (APPROX 2FT LONG) CAME LOOSE AND GOT CAUGHT IN THE SERPETINE BELT. THE CAR DEALER REPAIR DEPARTMENT RE-ATTACHED THIS PART WHERE IT BELONGED. LUCK- THERE WAS NO ON-COMING TRAFFIC!!
NHTSA complaint #10185473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE NAVIGATING A TURN AT 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TURNING FREELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT AND DRIVER AIR BAG COIL.
NHTSA complaint #10172835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OUR 2001 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE HAS HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES. THE ISSUES ARE PLACED IN A CLOSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. ALL EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED AFTER 50K MILES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE POWER DOOR LOCKS. THE DEALER TOOK CARE OF ALL RECALLS. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY LOCK AND UNLOCK. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER OVER 4 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS AND THE LAST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED A CHAFED WIRE UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE OTHER TIMES THE DEALER COULD NOT ISOLATE. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. WE GOT TIRED OF BRINGING IT TO THE DEALER. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER HAD FAILED. AT 66K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY SUN GEAR. I HAD TO REPLACE TIE RODS ON THE VEHICLE TWICE ON EACH SIDE. ONCE AROUND 70K AND ONCE AROUND 115K. THE FUEL ASCENDING UNIT FAILED AROUND 90K. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE CV AXLE. LIGHTS IN THE HEATER CONTROLS HAVE BLOWN AND THE ONLY WAY TO REPLACE THEM IS TO SOLDER NEW BULBS ONTO THE CONTROL MODULE. THE BLOWER MOTOR FAILED ON 1ST AND 2ND SPEED. WE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ENGINE OVERHEATING ISSUES AS SEEN BY OTHER INDIVIDUALS AT MYCARSTATS.COM. THIS RELATES TO THE COOLING SYSTEM. I HAD THREE SEPARATE ISSUES STEMMING FROM THIS. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ABOUT 8 MONTHS LATER THE UPPER MANIFOLD GASKET BLEW. SIX MONTHS LATER ANOTHER COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE BLAMED ON THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. MANY OF THE REPAIRS WHERE COSTLY. THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE WAS NEVER FIXED. WE DECIDED TO PASS THIS GM PIECE OF JUNK ON. IT HAD 137K MILES. MOST OF THE MILES DRIVEN WHERE HIGHWAY, VERY FEW CITY AND STOP-AND-GO.
NHTSA complaint #10163466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE HAVE A 2002 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. IN NOVEMBER, 2005 WE STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH STEERING VIBRATION AND SEVERE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. IT TURNS OUT A LEFT TIE ROD END WAS FAILING. THE MECHANIC TOLD US THAT IT WAS CLOSE TO FAILURE AND IF IT DID WE WOULD GET IN AN ACCIDENT. WE GOT THAT FIXED BUT NOW WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THE SAME TIE ROD ON THE RIGHT SIDE HAS AN END THAT IS FAILING.
NHTSA complaint #10148189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1999 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MOTOR HAD FALLEN DOWN.*MR THE DISCOVERED THE CRADLE BOLT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS GONE. THE CONSUMER UNSCREWED THE DRIVERS BOLT AND SAW THAT IT CONTAINED RUST. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT COVER THE COST BECAUSE THEY STATED IT HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH BEFORE THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE OUTER TIE RODS AND HUB BEARINGS WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10135579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: CONSUMER STATES 1991 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE WAS HAVING MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. IT WAS A LEASED BY THE CONSUMER. THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE SPARK PLUGS FOR THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING LINE, SHOCKS, BRAKE WORK, AND A TUNE UP. THE ENGINE HAD TO HAVE THE MODULE REPLACED. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE UNDER A WARRANTY THAT THEY PURCHASED FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR ANY OF THE PARTS. DEALER SAID THAT HE DID NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS OR THE VAN ANYMORE. DEALER A COULD DO THE REPAIRS, BUT HE WAS NOT LICENSED TO DO THE WORK. THE VAN HAD BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES. CONSUMER SAID THE VAN NEEDED TO GO BACK RIGHT NOW FOR MORE WORK, BUT IT WILL COST $971.34 FOR THE WORK. THE OWNER CALLED THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER KEPT YELLING AND COMPLAINING THAT HE DID NOT WANT TO DO THE WORK ANYMORE. THIS HAD BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE DAY CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER YESTERDAY TO TAKE THE CAR SOMEWHERE ELSE. THE WIRING HARNESS ALSO NEEDS REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10130421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAME TO A STOP SIGN, MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEELS OUT. THE STEERING WHEEL JUST KEPT SPINNING AROUND AND AROUND. WAS ABLE TO MANUEVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FAILURE WAS: THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER AND THE REAR CRADLE DROPPED DOWN AND CAUSED THE STEERING SHAFT TO DISCONNECT FROM THE STEERING GEAR. THEREFOR THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER STEER. WE AVE A FOUR YEAR OLD AND A SIX YEAR AND HAD WE BEEN GOING 50 MPH THIS COULD HAD BEEN A SERIOUS CATASTROPHE. I CALLED GM AND INFORMED THEM OF THIS PROBLEM AND ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS, THEY SAID NO BUT TOOK THE INFORMATION AND WOULD KEEP IT ON RECORD IN CASE THERE ARE MORE OCCURANCES OF THIS SITUATION. I THEN WENT TO THE COMPUTER AND CHECKED THE NHTSA RECALL INFORMATION, AND FOUND THAT THERE THERE WAS ONE ON THE 1990 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX AND MINIVANS. WE HAVE THE OLDESMOBILE EQUIVALENT OF THE PONTIAC TRANSPORT. THE RECALL DATE WAS 4/8/1997, THE VEHICLE COMPONENT AFFECTED IS THE STRUCTURE AND THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER IS 97V058000. I THEN CALLED GM BACK WITH THIS INFORMATION, BECAUSE THE PONTIAC TRANSPORT THAT WAS RECALLED IS THE SAME VEHICLE AS THE OLDESMOBILE SILHOUETTE THAT I AM DRIVING. THEY SAID THAT BECAUSE ITS AN OLDS AND NOT A PONTIAC IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE IDENTICAL VEHICLES. ONE ADDITIONAL CONCERN, IS THAT THERE MAY BE MANY OTHER SIMNILAR OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE AND CHEVROLET LUMINA VANS THAT COULD EXPERIENCE THESE SAME MALFUNCTIONS. IF THIS SHOLD HAPPEN TO SOMEONE AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND WITH THE TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING WHEN THIS STRUCTURE BREAKS LOOSE COULD BE DISASTEROUS FOR THE PERSON DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ITS PASSENGERS AS WELL AS ANY ONCOMING VEHICLES. I WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED AND FEEL STRONGLY THAT THESE OTHER GM MODELS SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10122254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE STEERING WHEEL SEVERED FROM THE STEERING RACK, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. NEITHER WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE CORRECT VIN TO IDENTIFY THE VEHICLE, AND TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE RECALL WORK HAS BEEN DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10103678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RECALL FOR STEERING, DIFFICULTY TURNING LEFT,POWER STEERING INOPERATIVE. REPLACED RACK AND PINION. *BF LEFT TURNS COULD ONLY BE DONE AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND AT A WIDE ANGLE. CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND WAS CHARGED FOR SERVICE. MECHANIC LEFT THE RECALL PAPERWORK ON THE PASSENGER SEAT AND IT WAS FOUND BY THE CONSUMER SHOWING THAT HE USED THE PAPER WORK DETERMINE HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10101151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RECALL FOR STEERING, DIFFICULTY TURNING LEFT,POWER STEERING INOPERATIVE. REPLACED RACK AND PINION. *BF LEFT TURNS COULD ONLY BE DONE AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND AT A WIDE ANGLE. CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND WAS CHARGED FOR SERVICE. MECHANIC LEFT THE RECALL PAPERWORK ON THE PASSENGER SEAT AND IT WAS FOUND BY THE CONSUMER SHOWING THAT HE USED THE PAPER WORK DETERMINE HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10101151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. A BEARING BLEW THROUGH THE LOWER CASING, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER FLUID. THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS REPAIRED. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN RECALL 02V286000 CONCERNING POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10099390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10097666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DRIVER'S VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WHILE INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT. THE DRIVER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. THE DRIVER TRIED TO UNLOCK IT BUT WAS UNABLE. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC'S SHOP FOR REPAIR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10075678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RUBBING SOUND INSIDE STEERING COLUMN WHEN STEERRING WHEEL IS TURNED. DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE LUBED THE COLUMN BUT NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. VEHICLE HAS 50000 MILES I AM CONCERNED OF PREMATURE STEERING FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10068162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
WHILE IN REVERSE AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOST STEERING POWER. CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF. THEN, RESTARTED VEHICLE AND STEERING OPERATED NORMALLY.
NHTSA complaint #10059773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 02 V 286 000, BUT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND AND A SLIGHT EFFECT TO THE RIGHT. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10046110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1995 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUTTE... WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING ABOUT 45-55 MPH VAN LOST POWER AND CONTROL OF STEERING ETC HAD TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROADHAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6-10 TIMES SINCE THEN HAVE HAD CHECKED NO KNOWN CAUSE. VAN SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY LIGHT SAYS IT'S OPENED. HAS OPENED ON IT'S OWN. WHILE ON INCLINE AND BACKING UP BRAKES MAKE A CLICKING SOUND. STEERING COLUME CLICKS WHEN TURNING TO BACK UP WHEN FIRST STARTED. PASSENGER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK. INSIDE HANDLES ARE DETACHING FROM THE DOOR ON BOTH SIDES. THE PIN THAT CONNECTS THE GEAR SHIFT TO THE STEERING COLUMN IS ALWAYS COMING OUT. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THESES PROBLEMS. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND AM NOT SURE IF ONE EXIST.
NHTSA complaint #10037375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.