AI Damage2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette: common problems
Owners of the 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette filed 57 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 57
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 16% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 14% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 14% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 12% of all complaints
- 5 Latches, locks, linkages 12% of all complaints
- 6 Seats 12% of all complaints
- 7 Equipment 11% of all complaints
- 8 Exterior lighting 11% of all complaints
- Suspension: 9 complaints (16% of all).
- Powertrain: 8 complaints (14% of all).
- Structure: 8 complaints (14% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 7 complaints (12% of all).
- Latches, locks, linkages: 7 complaints (12% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.4 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 57 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 3 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Upon impact air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained two broken ribs, and was taken to the emergency room to receive treatment. The vehicle was totaled. The manufacturer felt that the impact wasn't sufficient enough to deploy the driver's airbag. (side pushed in 11 1/2 inches)
My vehicle plus many other multiple year and make expended base gm mini vans are developing gasoline leaks at the top of the fuel tank due to worn plastic seal. The only repair is replacement of the fuel tank, that retails around $800.
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.
Also,the fuel gauge has gone bad on several oldsmobile vans and you do not know how much gas car has that can be dangerous on a highway and a recall was never done on fuel gauges.
This has also occurred with our 2002 buck century at approximately the same # of miles and again both the gas gauge reads inaccurately and the abs light came on.***
It just all of a sudden stop working this is a constant problem non stop I bought fuse and that didn't work I got new lights park aid stop working, both heated seats stop working, electrical gone bad in the whole.
It first started with lights burning out repeatedly, then went to turn signals not working properly, then went to power windows functioning improperly, then the temperature/mpg/oil display stopped functioning, then I had to replace the alternator and the problems got even worse.
I had the heat element fail on my 2002 olds silhouette. They replaced both seat once and the last time a year later the warranty was out by 500 miles so they wouldn't honor it even though I have had problems with it.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,000 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 14% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Silhouette has 60 complaints (16 years in the data). This year has 57, about average.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
- Silhouette 199043 sources
- Silhouette 199137 sources
- Silhouette 199227 sources
- Silhouette 199322 sources
- Silhouette 199436 sources
- Silhouette 199546 sources
- Silhouette 199620 sources
- Silhouette 1997104 sources
- Silhouette 1998170 sources
- Silhouette 1999149 sources
- Silhouette 2000114 sources
- Silhouette 200178 sources
- Silhouette 200336 sources
- Silhouette 200411 sources
- Silhouette 99998 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, powertrain, structure. Total complaints: 57. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: A/C or heater (11%), windows, sunroof (9%), door locks, latches, handles (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2002 models
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.