1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.

Risk. VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.

Defect. THE SECOND ROW, RIGHT HAND SHOULDER BELT CAN BECOME "PINCHED" BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE DOOR FRAME PILLAR TRIM. THE SHOULDER BELT MAY NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE 1994 VEHICLES HAVE AN OPTIONAL INTEGRAL (BUILT IN) CHILDSEAT INSTALLED NEXT TO THE POWER SLIDING SIDE DOOR. THE 1993 INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE STANDARD SEATS IN THAT SAME POSITION.

Risk. IMPROPER SHOULDER BELT RETRACTION DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR COLLISION.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR FRAME PILLAR TRIM PANEL WITH A REDESIGNED TRIM PANEL. ALSO, A CAUTION LABEL WILL BE APPLIED TO THE CHILD SEAT ADVISING THE OWNER NOT TO INSTALL THE SEAT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF A VEHICLE WITH A POWER SLIDING SIDE DOOR.

Defect. THE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS MAY BE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AND MAY LOCK-UP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON SLOPES OF LESS THAN 15 DEGREES, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: PASSENGERS SEATED IN THESE POSITON MAYBE UNABLE TO EXTRACT AND FASTEN THEIR SEAT BELTS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS MOVED TO A MORE LEVEL SURFACE. UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE MORE AT RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION THAN THOSE USING SAFETY BELTS.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS AND REINSTALL THEM PROPERLY.

Defect. THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS FOR THE REAR CENTER POSITION ARE MISSING A PAWL SPRING AND IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, WILL ALLOW THE SAFETY BELT WEBBING TO EXTEND BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE SAFETY BELT WOULD NOTRESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT, SUBJECTING THE OCCUPANT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURIES.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE THE RETRACTOR IF THE PAWL SPRING IS MISSING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME SEPARATED FROM THE INSULATOR ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARD TO A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE ISSUE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED AT THEIR EXPENSE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000. *TR

I RETURNED FROM COLUMBUS OHIO A 650 MILE TRIP AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT NEVER CAME ON EXCEPT FOR WHEN I FIRST TURNED THE VAN ON THEN IT WOULD GO OUT. I PARKED THE VAN IN MY DRIVE WAY. JULY 18 TUESDAY 2006 I GOT IN THE VAN AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING TO GO TO WORK. JUST AS I TURNED THE KEY THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BREAKING MY GLASSES. I CALLED GM AND TALKED TO SARAH. HER NUMBER AT GM IS 1-866-790-5600 EX 10712. I TOLD HER OF THE PROBLEM ASKING HER IS GM COULD FIX THE AIR BAG AND REPLACE MY GLASSES. TODAY IS MONDAY JULY 24TH 2006 AND SHE CALLED BACK TELLING ME THAT GM WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE AIR BAG NOR THE GLASSES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD ADDRESS THEIR PROBLEM. ONE DAY AN AIR BAG IS GOING TO DEPLOY ON SOMEONE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WAS LUCKY IT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVE WAY. I HAVE DETAILED NOTES WITH PICTURES IF YOU WANT THEM. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING GRADUALLY LOST ENGINE POWER TO WHERE IT WOULD NOT GO OVER 50 MPH. IT CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER. HE SAW AND SMELLED SMOKE INSIDE. HE TURNED AROUND AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE FLOOR RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CENTER SEAT. HE PULLED OVER, AND GOT OUT IN AN AREA WHERE NO ONE WOULD BE IN DANGER. BY THE TIME HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND PULLED THE KEY OUT THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. WITHIN 25 MINUTES THE CAR BURNED UP. *AK

HORN GOING OFF REPEATEDLY, CAUSING THE HORN FUSE TO BLOW. TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP FOR CHECKUP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE HORN CONTACTS WERE BUILT INSIDE WITH THE AIR BAG. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO FIX THE HORN.*AK

I OWN 1994 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE WHICH HAS HAD THREE TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED. *BF *SC THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. 8JB

AFTER PLACING A LARGE OBJECT INSIDE REAR OF VEHICLE SPARE TIRE DROPPED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TIRE CABLE RUSTED, CAUSING IT TO BREAK. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK THE DEALER TOOK THE POSITION THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINED. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT WHEN READING THE OWNERS MANUAL IT NEVER MENTIONED MAINTENANCE OF THE SPARE TIRE CABLE. THE DEALER REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM

FIRST ISSUE: THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. I REPLACED THE BLADES AND THERES NO IMPROVEMENT. THEY MIGHT GO UP/DOWN 2 OR 3 TIMES THEN GET STUCK IN UP POSITION, SOON DISCOVERED THAT HITTING BUMPS CORRECTED FOR FEW SECONDS THEN AGAIN, THEY WOULD FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP & THEY SAID THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE BEARING WAS LOOSE & LATER I REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR. #2: THE FUEL GAUGE IS INACCURATE & FLOATS WITH ACCELERATION OR TURNS. THE FUEL WARNING LIGHT ONLY ILLUMINATES AFTER YOU'VE RAN OUT OF GAS, YOU ARE OUT OF GAS WHEN NEEDLE IS SLIGHTLY ABOVE 1/4 TANK MARK. #3: THE FRONT DRIVER SEATBELT FAILS TO RETRACT & OFTEN IS SHUT IN DOOR B/C OF FAILURE. ALSO THE SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT/SIGNAL WILL ONLY OPERATE AFTER YOU WIGGLE FLOOR ATTACHED BUCKLE. #4: THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATES & REMAINS LIT. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RETRIEVE TROUBLE CODE THE PCM DOES NOT COMMUNICATE W/ SCOPE DIAGNOSTER OR WHEN USING ALDL JUMPER WIRE METHOD THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT NEVER FLASHES THE CODES. #5: THE DRIVER ELECTRIC WINDOW JUMPS WHEN LOWERING & OFTEN FALLS FROM 1/2 UP POSITION & THE PASSENGER WINDOW ROOLS ONLY 1/2 DOWN THEN MUST BE PULLED UP BY HAND. ALSO, IT MAKES A LOUD VIBRATING NOISE. #6: DRIVER EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IS BROKEN & LIFTGATE LOCK/LATCH DOES NOT LOCK & IS LOOSE. #7: TRANSMISSION JUST SUDDENLY WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY @55MPH. WHEN I KILL THE ENGINE MOMENTARILY, THE RESTARTING PROBLEM SUBSIDED TEMPORARILY & ALSO S

IN MAY 2000, THE VEHICLE DRIVEN BY MY HUSBAND JUST STOPPED MOVING ON THE HIGHWAY - ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WORKING. VEHICLE RECOVERED AFTER PULLING TO SIDE OF ROAD. BROUGHT TO COTTMAN TRANSMISSION. THEY TOOK APART AND REBUILT TRANSMISSION. RETURNED TO COTTMAN SEPTEMBER 2, 2003 FOR AUTO TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICE DUE TO MECHANIC TELLING US TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BROWN AND WHINING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. COTTMAN TRANS MECHANIC SHOWED ME SOME SMALL METAL FLAKES IN FILTER AND SLUDGE ON MAGNET INSIDE PAN AND TOLD ME THERE WAS ALSO VARNISHING INSIDE PAN. COTTMAN MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THEY'D HAVE TO TAKE TRANSMISSION APART TO SEE WHAT PROBLEM IS AND MIGHT BE TORQUE CONVERTER (WHICH THEY REBUILT IN MAY 2000). ONLY 21,000 MILES IN 3 YEARS AND AUTO TRANS GOES AGAIN?! I DON'T GET IT. IN ADDITION, WE HAD PURCHASED A USED 1994 CHEVY LUMINA APV IN JANUARY 2002, BECAUSE 94 OLDS HAD BEEN STOLEN (WAS RECOVERED WITH A LITTLE BODY DAMAGE). THE AUTO TRANSMISSION ON THE 1994 CHEVY LUMINA MINIVAN ALSO FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A REBUILT ONE IN FEB 2002. ODOMETER MILES WERE 61029. VIN ON 94 CHEVY IS [XXX]. COST $1,754.30 AFTER WRANGLING WITH COTTMAN TRANSMISSION ON PRICE. IS THIS A COINCIDENCE THAT TWO BROTHER/SISTER VEHICLES HAD TRANSMISSIONS FAIL AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME MILEAGE? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FIRESTONE TIRE FR410 TREAD SEPARATION.*MR THE TREAD OF THE TIRE WRAPPED ITSELF AROUND THE REAR AXLE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70+ MILES. THIS RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED AND LANDED ON ITS TOP WHEN IT CAME TO REST. THE CONSUMER LATER LEARNED THE TIRE WAS RETURNED TO FIRESTONE BECAUSE OF FEAR WITH THE FIRESTONE DEBACLE AND THEN SOLD TO THE CONSUMER FOR $25.00 A TIRE. CONSUMER FILLED A CLAIM AND A YEAR LATER WAS INFORMED BY FIRESTONE THAT THE TIRE WASN'T A RECALLED TIRE NOR WAS IT ON A WATCH LIST SO THERE WOULD BE NO SETTLEMENT. *PH *PH * CB

FIRESTONE TIRE FR410, DOT HY M3 41 A 349, P215 70R15 97S PURCHASED ON 5-22-02 WITH TIRE FAILURE BECAUSE OF TREAD SEPARATION ON 5-27-02. THIS RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. THE TREAD OF THE TIRE WRAPPED ITSELF AROUND THE REAR AXLE OF THE AUTOMOBILE WHILE WE (ME AND MY DAUGHTER) WERE TRAVELLING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70+ MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR FLIPED AND LANDED ON ITS TOP WHEN IT CAME TO REST! I LATER FOUND OUT THIS WAS A TIRE THAT HAD BEEN RETURNED TO FIRESTONE BECAUSE OF FEAR WITH THE FIRESTONE DEBACLE AND THEN SOLD TO ME FOR $25.00 PER TIRE. I THROUGH AN ATTORNEY FILED A CLAIM WITH FIRESTONE AND AFTER A YEAR OF EXCHANGES I WAS TOLD BY FIRESTONE THIS WAS NOT A RECALLED TIRE NOR WAS IT ON ANY WATCH LISTS THEREFORE THERE WOULD BE NO SETTLEMENT. FIRESTONE HAD THEIR FIELD PEOPLE EXAMINE THE TIRE THOUGH THE RESULTS OF THE EXAMINATION HAVE NOT BEEN SHARED WITH ME AND MY ATTORNEY. THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A FAULTY TIRE. THE FACT THAT THIS PRACTICE IS HAPPENING IS APPALLING AND THE MANNER IN WHICH FIRESTONE IS DEALING WITH IT IS EVEN MORE OF A CONCERN. THE TIRES SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN RESOLD. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT ONE OF YOUR FIELD REPRESENTATIVES IN THE AREA PLEASE EXAMINE THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS PRODUCED AT A PLANT WHERE SOME OF THE RECALLED TIRES HAVE BEEN MADE. IF THIS TIRE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AND IS NOT ON ANY WATCH LISTS IT IS TIME THAT IT SHOULD BE RECALLED OR ADDED TO THE WATCH LIST. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOUR OFFICE HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE CHANGES AND HA

WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL SUDDENLY NOT BE OPERATIONAL. NEITHER THE WIPER "MIST SWITCH" OR THE "WASHER SWITCH" OR THE REGUALR WIPER SWITCH WILL GET THE WIPERS TO WORK. THE PROBLEM WILL "HEAL" ITSELF BY THE NEXT DAY AND CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED. THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM WAS OBSERVED ON MY 1993 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE DEALER WAS ABOSLUTELY NO HELP. THIS LACK OF WIPER FUNCTION IS A CRITICAL PROBLEM. *AK

MRS. PARKER PULLED ON THE LATCH TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THE LATCH BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE ROD WHICH CONNECTS TO THE MECHANISM. IT APPEARS THAT THE WELD OR GLUE OR WHATEVER FAILED. THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND I AM HESITANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE I AM 6'31/2" TALL AND WEIGH 235 LBS.. EXITING QUICKLY OUT THE RIGHT DOOR IS NOT AN OPTION FOR ME IN CASE OF ACCIDENT OR FIRE. OUR VAN HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY SORT OF ACCIDENT. IS THIS CONSIDERED A NORMAL FAILURE DUE TO THE VEHICLE AGE? THANK YOU.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN A FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT HORN BLOWS BY ITSELF, DEALER STATES THE CAUSE IS SHRINKING PLASTIC IN COLD WEATHER, BECAUSE THIS IS HOOKED UP TO THE AIRBAG, THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS $600. *SLC

CONSUMER FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID ON DRIVEWAY. HOWEVER, TRANSMISSION FLUID WILL LEAK ONLY WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING.*AK

SIDE WINDOW ON THE LEFT SIDE OF VAN FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. CAUSE UNKNOWN . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AFTER SHOPPING OPENED UP THE BACK TAILGATE TO GET GROCERIES OUT AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. SPARE TIRE BROKE. CABLE RUSTED, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF. CONSUMER STATED THAT IF TIRE WOULD HAVE FALLEN OFF ON THE HIGHWAY IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. SPARE TIRE HAS NEVER BEEN USED OR DISMOUNTED. *AK *ML

SINCE PURCHASING THE VAN IN LATE 1994 NEW WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A MULTITUDE OF INCIDENTS WHERE THE FRONT WIPERS FREEZE WHEN WORKING OR WONT TURN ON...THE FIRST PERSON TO EXPERIENCE IT WAS MY WIFE AT ABOUT 20000 MILES ...I DIDNT TAKE IT SERIOUS AT FIRST ...THE WIPERS WOULD EVENTUALLY COME BACK ON AFTER HITTING A BUMP OR AFTER A WHILE FOR NO APPARENT REASON...WHEN MY WIFE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY WOULD SAY THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG...THIS HAPPENED TO HER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I EXPERIENCED IT ...WE DROVE RIGHT INTO THE DEALERS AND THEY REACHED UNDER HOOD AND HITTHE WIPER MOTOR WHICH KICKED IT ON ...THEY SHOWED US WHAT TO DO AND THEY INDICATED THEY WOULD CHECK WITH OLDSMOBILE ON ITABOUT CORRECTION ...NOW WE HAD A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE ..BUT THEY KEPT PUTTING US OFF ON REPAIRING IT... EVENTUALLY NEAR ABOUT 95000 MILES WE TOOK IT IN AND DEMANDED THAT THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT...THEY REFUSED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STILL DOING IT .....WE SEEMED TO BE IN A MEXICAN STANDOFF ...BUT NEITHER MY WIFE OR I HAD TIME TO SET DOWN AND FIGHT WITH THEM ABOUT IT VIA SNAIL MAIL...WE HAVE NOW STARTED CARRYING A LONG HEAVY BRUSH IN THE VAN AND WHEN IT FREEZES UP WE PULL OVER ASAP, OPEN THE HOOD AND TAP THE ASSEMBLY SHARPLY ..USUALLYY IT STARTS TO GO ...SOME DAY , WE ARE GOING TO BE RIDING IN HEAVY RAINSTORM AND IT WILL SEIZE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A PASSING MANUEVER OR SOME SUCH THING. SINCE WE FIRST EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE EVEN THE BASIC 36000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY

TAILGATE HANDLE FAILED TO OPEN IN 1998. DEALER REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. EXTERIOR DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE FAILS TO OPEN SINCE JULY, 1998. DOOR MUST BE OPEN FROM INSIDE VEHICLE, OR THROUGH OPEN VEHICLE.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES BREAKING. ON TWO OCCASIONS DOOR HANDLES WERE REPLACED, ONE ON EACH DRIVER'S SIDE AND /PASSENGENER'S SIDE. PRESENTLY, PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE NEEDS REPLACEMENT AGAIN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK