1990 Oldsmobile Silhouette

Defect. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT BUCKET SEATS. THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM LOWER BOLTS CAN LOOSEN. A LOOSE BOLT COULD FATIGUE AND BREAK, RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACK FALLING REARWARD.

Risk. THE SEAT COULD SUDDENLY FALL BACKWARD, DISTRACTING THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN OR REPLACE THE BOLTS AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNERS. THIS POLICY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL JUNE 30, 2002.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NOT LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.

Risk. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

Defect. THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WILL NOT REMAIN CLOSED DURING CERTAIN LOAD FORCES ASSOCIATED WITH A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 201.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOORMAY OPEN AND RESULT IN OCCUPANT(S) INJURIES FROM CONTACT WITH THE GLOVECOMPARTMENT DOOR.

Remedy. REPLACE THE CURRENT UPPER GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WITH A REDESIGNED UPPER GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WHICH INCORPORATES A POSITIVE LATCH TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED SHOULD A VEHICLE CRASH OCCUR.

Defect. A RIGHT HAND SEAT/SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THE SECOND ROW LEFT HAND SEAT POSITION (DIRECTLY BEHIND DRIVER).

Risk. THE INCORRECT RETRACTOR MAY CAUSE THE BELTS TO LOCK UPIF THE VAN IS PARKED ON A STEEP GRADE. AS A RESULT OF THIS, THE OCCUPANT COULDNOT EXTEND THE BELT FOR USE.

Remedy. REPLACE SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLY.

Defect. THE REAR MODULAR SEAT FRAME HOLD-DOWN HOOKS MAY NOT MEET THE REQUIRED PULL FORCE AT THE REAR SET ANCHORAGE.

Risk. VEHICLES WOULD NOT CONFORM TO FMVSS 207.

Remedy. REPLACE REAR HOLD DOWN HOOKS AND PIVOT RIVETS WITH HEAT TREATED HARDWARE.

DT: THE CONTACT PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND WAS HEADING FOR INTERSECTION WHEN HE REALIZED THAT ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK. HE HAD TO TURN RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HE THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING. HE DID NOT CONTACT THE DEALER. *AK

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. *AK

SPEEDOMETER ISN'T FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WHEN I GOT THIS VAN FROM MY GRANDFATHER (WHO WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER) THE SPEEDOMETER HAD NOT BEEN WORKING FOR A LONG TIME AND IS STILL NOT WORKING. *LA

FRONT AND MIDDLE SEAT BELTS WON'T RETRACT. *LA

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORRISON OF THE RETAINER. AS STATED IN RECALL # 97 V 058 000, BUT VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL. *MR

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP, AND CONSUMER WILL LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

STEERING COLUMN BROKE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, AND VEHICLE BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT ON DRIVERS SIDE PULLED OUT OF THE FRAME DUE TO RUST CUSING THE BACK MOUNT BOLT TO BREAK OFF. THE STEERING GEAR BOX IS LOCATED ON THE SAME SIDE. HAS NOT CONTACTED A DEALER. *AK *JG

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR COIL SPRINGS COME OFF OF RETRACTOR ASSY. THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE THERE IS JUST A SOFT PLASTIC COVER CAP ON THE RETRACTOR ASSY. BELT IS THEN UNUSABLE. IVE HAD BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS COME APART AND ONE IN THE REAR.

A BOLT FROM THE ENGINE CRADLE BROKE, WHEELS COULD FLOP TO THE SIDE BECAUSE OF BAD ENGINE CRADLE MOUNT. *AK

SEAT BELTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DO NOT RETRACT. RETRACTOR MECHANISM ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS REPLACED ON FEB 5, 1999. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. SEAT BELTS HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR OVER A YEAR, AND PASSENGER'S SIDE RETRACTOR HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS. DEALER WILL TRY TO REPAIRS SEATBELTS, BUT WILL CHARGE OWNER FOR REPLACEMENT. *AK *ML

FRONT DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF ON TWO OCCASION. FIRST TIME ON DRIVER'S SIDE ,AND A YEAR LATER ON PASSENGER SIDE. UNABLE TO OPEN DOORS FROM OUTSIDE. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. *AK

FRONT BRAKES FAILED. NLM

WHEN SHUTTING THE LIFTGATE IN REAR OF VEHICLE, THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED THE CABLE. *AK *YC

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH A FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; A REPLACEMENT OF THREE ALTERNATORS AND THREE BATTERIES WITHIN THREE MONTHS. ALSO, A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED A FIRE UNDER THE DASH. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER, BECAUSE DEALER REFUSED TO HELP UNLESS COST GO TO CONSUMER. *AK

THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT, LEAVING THE LAP BELT LOOSE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

THE INSIDE HANDLE OF THE SLIDING DOOR WIL NOT OPEN THE DOOR. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE HANDLE ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN I COULDN'T OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE. I BELIVE FAULTY HANDLES ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY IF NEEDED DURING AN EMERGENCY NO MATTER OF THE AGE OR MILAGE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY FREE-WHEELED W/ NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. INSPECTION SHOWED THAT BOTH REAR SUB-FRAME MOUNTS FAILED AND DROPPED ENGINE ONTO RACK AND PINION, CAUSING STEERING COLUMN TO DISENGAGE AND ALSO DISCONNECTING. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN HE HEARD A CLUNK, THE STEERING BECAME HARD. ANOTHER CLUNK, CONSUMER THAN TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND EVERYTHING COLLAPSED, FELL APART. IN JANUARY 98, THE FRONT TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOUR TIMES A YEAR SINCE APRIL 98. BEEN TO GMC DEALERS 16 TIMES. *AK

LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE RUPTURED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY HIS MECHANIC THAT VEHICLE BRAKE LINE IS A DEFECTIVE PART. MANUFACTURER//DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SEATBACK IS BROKEN. THE OWNER HAS THE SEAT PROPPED UP WITH AN ICE COOLER. THE SEATBACK ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE MOVES BACK AND FORTH. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK