1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette

Routine

Owners filed 20 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline3
000
Engine and Engine Cooling3
000
Structure › Body › Door2
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor1
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer1
000
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Tires › Tread/Belt1
000
Structure › Body › Tailgate1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Other › Storage › Tank Assembly › Pressure Relief Devices07E021000
Filed Mar 12, 2007742 vehiclesDelphi

Defect. CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

Risk. FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

Steering › Rack and Pinion02V286000
Filed Nov 4, 20021,159,156 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.

Risk. IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jun 27, 2010105,000 milesNY

I OWN TWO VERY SIMILAR GM MADE VANS, A 1996 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE, AND A 1994 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV VAN. BOTH HAD SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO THE REAR BRAKE LINE BURSTING, IN EXACTLY THE SAME PLACE! BOTH HAD CURRENT INSPECTIONS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE LINES ON BOTH VANS. THE FACT THAT THEY FAILED AT EXACTLY THE SAME POINT IN THE REAR BRAKE LINE MAKES ME THINK THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. WHEN THE LINE FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED, I ALSO REPLACED THE SAME LINE ON THE OTHER SIDE AND FOUND IT WEAK AND READY TO BURST. I STILL SEE MANY OF THESE GM VANS ON THE ROAD AND FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TWICE, ONE FOR EACH CAR. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Sep 19, 2006120,000 milesAZ

1) VEHICLE STARTED STALLING 2) COOLANT LEAKED INTO OIL 3) HAD TO HAVE REPAIRED AT MY OWN COST $780.00 AND NOT SURE THAT THIS WILL TAKE CARE OF IT. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 26, 2004118,000 milesMO

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ENGINE. BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

Steering
Filed Feb 25, 2004AR

WHILE IN REVERSE AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOST STEERING POWER. CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF. THEN, RESTARTED VEHICLE AND STEERING OPERATED NORMALLY. *AK

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Jan 15, 200483,000 milesMI

INTAKE GASKET LEAKED INTERNALY AND ALLOWED OIL AND COOLANT TO INTERMIX AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. I\\\\\\'M STILL GETTING ESTIMATES FOR THE ENGINE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT BUT IT LOOKS TO BE $4000+.

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 26, 2003NV

LEFT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE TIRE NEVER DEFLATED WHILE SEPARATING . THE TRACKS FROM THE MATERIAL OF TIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF VEHICLE. FUTURA, SIZE P205/70R15, DOT# HYM0S8M420. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Sep 23, 2003120,000 milesMN

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *NLM *SCC *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 14, 2003AZ

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WOULD LOSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO WAIT 2 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER ON SIX OCCASION S,AND PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 28, 2003NH

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Jun 20, 2003MD

NHTSA RECALL 02-V-286-000: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE. CONSUMER STATED THIS RECALL PROBLEM ALSO WAS IN HIS VEHICLE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Apr 29, 2003124,000 milesGA

COOLANT LEAK DESTROYED THE ENGINE - THERE WAS NO WARNING - SUDDEN STOP ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WAS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 19, 200384,000 milesMI

INTAKE GASKET FAILED ALLOWING OIL AND COOLANT TO INTERMIX AND DESTROY THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. ENGINE HAD ONLY 84000 MILES ON IT AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED.

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Oct 25, 2002IN

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING WATER GETS INTO THE VEHICLE CAUSING WATER BUILD UP ON THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. TS

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed May 1, 2002OH

LIFTERS COLLAPSED, MY MECHANIC IS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THE GASKETS TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jun 22, 2000OH

ALTHOUGH I ONLY REPORTED SIX PROBLEMS THERE ARE MORE JUST NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THE FORM. THE WINDSHIEL CRACKED WHILE BEING WASHED RIGHT AFTER WE PURCHASED IT. THE SEAL STILL LEAKS OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE. BOTH MOTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE POWER WINDOWS. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY WERE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND ALSO WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE WIPER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOT UNDER WARRANTY. BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE DOORS DO NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IS BROKE AGAIN. THE BACK GATE WON'T UNLOCK, NEED TO USE A KEY EACH TIME. THE ENGINE WENT WITH NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING. THE FUEL PUMP WENT SHORTLY AFTER.*AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Power Adjust
Filed Feb 10, 2000MI

6 WAY POWER SEAT, DRIVERS, IN THE DRIVEWAY, AS I LEANED BACK IN MY SEAT TO BETTER POSITION MYSELF. THE BACK OF THE SEAT BROKE (AT THE HINGE POINT?) AND FELL BACKWARD. IF I WERE ON THE STREET DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED I'M SURE SERIOUS DAMAGES COULD HAVE RESULTED. *AK

Structure › Body › Tailgate
Filed Jan 4, 2000NE

DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT OPEN THE VEHICLE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS COULD CAUSE A POTENTIAL DANGER FOR THE DRIVER IF UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *AK

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Jul 1, 1998CA

POWER SLIDING DOOR FAILED. QCAW

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Oct 21, 1997TN

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DOES NOT GO DOWN ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER IS OFF, AND THIS CREATES A BLIND SPOT. WHEN THE WIPER IS IN MOTION FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME, THE LOW SPEED WILL NOT OPERATE (THE HIGH SPEED STILL WORKS). *AK CONSUMER STATES THE WIPER CURRENTLY WILL NOT FULLY SWEEP THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION. *SLC

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 9, 1997CA

PROBLEM WITH FLOOR CARPET.

20 of 20 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1998
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200411300Routine
200336506Fatalities reported
200257500Routine
200178931Fatalities reported
2000114820Routine
1999149740Routine
19981701000Routine
1997104900Routine
1996 — this page20200Routine
199546220Routine
199436440Routine
199322340Routine
199227200Routine
199137323Fatalities reported
199043510Routine

Compare every Silhouette year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 12, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.