AI DamageOldsmobile Silhouette: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Oldsmobile Silhouette across 16 model years: 958 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 18% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 12% of all complaints
- 3 Exterior lighting 8% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 8 Latches, locks, linkages 7% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 170 complaints (18% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 119 complaints (12% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Exterior lighting: 79 complaints (8% of all).
- Electrical system: 78 complaints (8% of all).
- Service brakes: 78 complaints (8% of all), 8 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.1 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1990–1995
- 3.4 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1996–2004named in 9 complaints
- 3.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1992–1995
- automatic, 3-speed 1990–1995
- automatic, 4-speed 1992–2004
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 958 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 170 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 119 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 79 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 78 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 78 | 8 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 74 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 72 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 71 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 69 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility | 66 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 51 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 47 | 24 | 0 |
| Tires | 45 | 4 | 0 |
| Seats | 41 | 3 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My dad purchased this oldsmobile van, it was a used vehicle, he did not realize that there had been recalls for problems with the seat belts, and air bags. I shared a mail box with him, and I got the mail every day, so I know he never received any info on this.
The air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained a fractured right knee that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The vin was unavailable.
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.
``it looks more like an airplane crash scene than a car crash,'' said jim johnson of the flomaton volunteer fire department. ``the van's front end just disintegrated. I've never seen so much debris.
Most of the day may 8,2010 been doing some city but mostly highway driving totaling approximately 100 miles. Stopped for an hour after the first 50 then drove another 40 stopping again for about 15 minutes. Drove the last 10 home and left car idling to go into my house for approximately 8 minutes.
When the fire department came & turned the van off I was told the van had been on fire it was trying to stop itself but was being over powered, the tow guy came & towed the van away. This is a blessing know one was hurt, but something needs to be done about this, & for the auto company not to investigate is a tragedy.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.