1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette complaints

LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSE OIL TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH COOLANT. ENGINE FAILED.

COOLANT LEVEL LOW LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICING AND OIL CHANGE. TECH SAID THE INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING AND THAT THE RADIATOR WAS FULL OF MUD. TOOK IT TO A GM DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND FOUND THE GASKETS WERE LEAKING AND THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE AT LEAST 1 RADIATOR FLUSH, POSSIBLY 2.

CAR WENT TO DEALER TO DIAGNOSE A KNOCKING SOUND ON COLD STARTUP. DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, COST TO REPAIR APPROX $900.00. ON DISASSEMBLY, DEALER CONTACTED ME AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE INTERNALS WERE SO BADLY FOULED (SLUDGE AND DEPOSITS) THAT HYDRAULIC LIFTERS NEEDED REPLACEMENT, COST APPROX $450.00. I ASKED HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED, VAN HAS ALWAYS HAD ENGINE OIL CHANGED AT 3000 MILE INTERVALS, WITH NEW FILTER AND CORRECT OIL, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO DIFFERENTLY TO AVOID THIS HAPPENING AGAIN. NO ADVICE OFFERED, AND NO SUGGESTIONS FOR WHY THE GASKET HAD FAILED.

INOPERATIVE FUEL GAUGE

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED ALLOWING DEXCOOL COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE AND MIX WITH THE OIL. TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED AT 58,000 MILES. ENGINE REBUILT AT 62,000 MILES. APPARENTLY THIS IS HAPPENING ON THOUSANDS OF GM VEHICLES AND GM WILL NOT COVER THE COST. IN NO WAY SHOULD A 1999 VAN NEED A NEW ENGINE.

LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. THIS PROBLEM HAS ALSO OCCURED TO A FRIEND OF MINE WHO OWNS A 1999 OLDS SILHOUETTE.

I OWN A 1999 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE WITH 64,000 MILES. I TOOK THE VAN TO A LOCAL DEALER BECAUSE OF A KNOCKING NOISE ON COLD STARTUP. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE FAILED GASKET RUINED THE HYDRAULIC LIFTERS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL BILL WAS $1500. THE VAN HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE (OIL, FILTERS, ANITFREEZE CHECKED) EVERY 3000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES AND DEXCOOL SYSTEMS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE HAD THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING.

AT 35,000 MY '99 OLDS BURNS 2 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES! I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH A 60 DAY 100% ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN COVERAGE SO THE DEALER IS GOING TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD THE GM 3.4 L ENGINE IS FAMOUS FOR POOR PISTONS IN ALL YEARS. THIS ENGINE IS ALREADY SHOT AT 35K MILES AND I FEEL CAN'T POSSIBLY BE REPAIRED ADEQUATELY...IT SHOULD BE REPLACED BUT THE DEALER WON'T DO IT.

INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAK CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE GASKET. RELATED TSB MENTIONS "NEW GASKET DESIGN" IMPLYING THAT ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE. OLDSMOBILE REFUSES TO OFFER ANY WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR FAILURE, REPAIR BILL IS $950.00 SO FAR. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AT THIS AGE. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH GM'S ATTITUDE OF CUSTOMER DISSATISFACTION.*AK

I OWN A 1999 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE WITH 65,000 MILES. I TOOK THE VAN TO A LOCAL DEALER AFTER ANTIFREEZE STARTED LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE FAILED GASKET FOULED THE HYDRAULIC LIFTERS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL BILL WAS $1255. SAME PROBELM HAPPENDED TO A RELATIVE'S PONTIAC. THIS IS ALL TOO COMMON OF A PROBLEM. GM SHOULD RECALL THIS MODEL. THIS WILL BE THE LAST OF 5 GM PRODUCTS I HAVE OWNED.*AK

SLIDING POWER DOOR WILL OPEN BY ITSELF IN OCCASIONS AND NOW IT DOESN'T WORK AUTOMATICALLY STATES IS THE MODULE AND REPLACEMENT COST QUOTED AT $1412.00. *LA

THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE WHEN THE DRIVER STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR, IT SHUTTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INDICATED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. IT INVOLVED THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE ASSEMBLY WHICH NEEDED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. *AK THERE WERE TWO CLOSE CALLS WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP TO GET INTO A MERGE LANE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. ANOTHER INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE GOING UPHILL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO QUICKLY ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED AND DRIFTED BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THEN SUDDENLY SHOT FORWARD. *SC *JB

I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VAN FROM A AND B AUTO SALES IN BELLAIRE OHIO. WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE SEATBELT LIGHT , TURNED OUT TO BE THE AIR BAG LIGHT.THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SENSE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE VAN AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS VAN NEVER SHOULD OF LEFT THE LOT WITH THAT LIGHT ON, IT IS CONSIDERED A UNSAFE VECHILE AND IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP KNEW THIS AND SOLD IT TO ME ANYWAY. *AK

DURING THE SUMMER, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE G.M. DEALER. THE COOLANT WAS LOW AND IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT A PRESSURE CHECK BE DONE FOR THE RADIATOR COOLANT. THE MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS............................. *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT ONCE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS INSTALLED SEAT BELT RETRACTED, ALLOWING THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT TO BE REMOVED. WHEN TRYING TO REINSTALL THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT THE SEAT BELT REMAINED LOCKED, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REINSTALL THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT ONCE IT HAD BEEN REMOVED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MOVED TO SIDE OF ROAD. CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD ,AND NOTICED COOLANT WAS LEAKING ONTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK OUT LEAKAGE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER SIDE ELECTRONIC SLIDING DOOR BEGUN TO CHIME AND OPEN. THE DEALER MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE DOOR, BUT THERE HASN'T BEEN A REMEDY. *AK *SCC *NLM

INTAKE GASKET LEAK - RADIATOR FULL OF "MUD" AT 72,000 MILES. *JB

THE CONSUMER GRABBED THE GRAB BAR AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE GRAB BAR SNAPPED, AND CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *JB

HEAD GASKET FAILURE

THE SEAT BELT FOR THE RIGHT SIDE 2ND ROW PASSENGER SEAT KEP TIGHTENING UP ON THE PASSENGER LEADING TO RELEASING IT FOR COMFORT. EVENTUALLY THE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP. HAD IT REPLACED TWICE, BUT THE SAME PROBLEM KEP RECURRING AFTER A FEW DAYS OF USE. THE DEALER NOW REFUSES TO HONOR THE WARRANTY TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT. *AK

INOPERATIVE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE. *AK

NOTICED LEAKS THAT HAVE APPEARED UNDER THE CAR. LEAKS HAD A CONSISTENCY OF ANTIFREEZE AND OIL MIXED. CONSTANTLY TOPPING OFF ANTIFREEZE AND OIL. INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY MECHANIC TO HAVE LEAK RESULTING IN A $600.00 DOLLAR BILL. *NLM

TRANSMISSION TOTALLY FAILED AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN UP A SMALL HILL AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION FELL OUT. WAS UNABLE TO GO MORE THAN 20 MPH TO DRIVE TO SAFETY. DEALER HAD VEHICLE FOR 1 WEEK. TRANSMISSION WAS TOTALLY OVERHAULED. AT THE TIME, A MECHANIC AT THE DEALER MENTIONED THAT GM WAS AWARE THAT THIS MODEL AND YEAR SILHOUETTE HAD A HISTORY OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. THAT REPAIR WAS OVER $1,000. CAR AGAIN HAD THE PROBLEM AT 75,000 MILES - CONVENIENTLY WHEN THE WARRANTY RAN OUT BUT DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WILL RUN FINE FOR ABOUT 25 MILES AND THEN TRANSMISSION WILL BEGIN TO WHINE AND WILL JERK WHEN SHIFTING UP THROUGH THE GEARS. WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED THE PROBLEM WILL THEN NOT RETURN UNTIL THE CAR IS DRIVEN AGAIN FOR SOME TIME. *JB

THE VEHICLE SMELLED LIKE GAS, DUE TO A CRACK IN THE FUEL FILTER. *JB

AN ENGINE DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THERE WAS NO OIL PRESSURE, A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, AND A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. *TS *JB

MY 1999 OLDS SILHOUETTE VAN HAS EXPERIENCED A SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE FIRST WITH 35K MILES, AND THE SECOND ONE 27K MILES LATER. I HAVE RESEARCHED NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THIS SAME TYPE OF GM TRANSMISSION INDICATING TRANSMISSION FAILURES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. GM IS TRYING TO PASS IT OFF AS AN UNUSUAL MISFORTUNE ON MY BEHALF. FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THESE FAILURES IS NEEDED FOR THE CONSUMER SAFETY AND VEHICLE RELIABILITY. I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING TO PUT A THIRD TRANSMISSION INTO A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. *NLM

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR PROBLEM. A RECALL WAS ISSUED IN 2001, BUT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIR WERE INFERIOR, AND THE DOOR STILL DID NOT WORK. *AK *MR

KNOWN PROBLEM WITH GM ENGINE V6 3800, LEAKING ANTIFREEZE INTO ENGINE. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. *JB

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND LEAKED ANTIFREEZE.*JB

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED. *NLM

AFTER READING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON POWER TRAIN, AUTO TRANSMISSION I NOTICED ALL THE SAME ISSUES. WE TOO EXPERIENCED HEAVY JERKING OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AT INTERMITTENT TIMES AND REPORTED TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT REPEAT THE OCCURRENCE AND TOOK NO ACTION. DREHER HOLLOWAY. AT 48,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE DEALER CLOSEST TO THE INCIDENT, MERRIMACK STREET GARAGE, RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT, NOT REPAIR. RENTAL CAR AND REPAIR, ALMOST $4000. GM IS NOT COVERING THE COST OR ADMITTING ANY OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM. DREHER HOLLOWAY IS NO LONGER AN OLDS DEALER. THEY DID A "30,000 MILE GM SERVICE PLUS SERVICE ON THE TRANSMISSION, THAT PROVIDES EXTENDED TROUBLE FREE SERVICE". THAT WAS $400 WASTED. IS THIS ACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE? *NLM

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK. *JB

I OWN A 1999 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE WITH 62,000 MILES. I TOOK THE VAN TO A LOCAL DEALER BECAUSE OF A KNOCKING NOISE ON COLD STARTUP. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE FAILED GASKET RUINED THE HYDRAULIC LIFTERS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL BILL WAS $1500. THE VAN HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE (OIL, FILTERS, ANITFREEZE CHECKED) EVERY 3000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES AND DEXCOOL SYSTEMS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE HAD THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING.*JB

LEAKING AND CRACKED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS FROM COOROSION AT 30,777 MILES. WITH RADIATOR CRACKED.

LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE

I OWN A 1999 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE WITH 52,000 MILES. I BROUGHT IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER BECAUSE OF A KNOCKING NOISE ON COLD STARTUP. DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, COST TO REPAIR APPROX $900.00. ON DISASSEMBLY, DEALER CONTACTED ME WITH INFORMATION THAT THE ENGINE INTERNALS WERE SO BADLY FOULED (SLUDGE AND DEPOSITS) THAT THE HYDRAULIC LIFTERS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. I ASKED WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS SITUATION, SINCE THE VAN HAS ALWAYS GOTTEN REGULAR OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000 MILES, WITH NEW FILTER AND CORRECT OIL, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO DIFFERENTLY TO AVOID THIS SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. NO INFORMATION OR ADVICE WAS OFFERED ON WHY THE GASKET FAILED, OR WHY THE ENGINE WAS SO BADLY FOULED.

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LEFT AND /OR RIGHT FRONT LOWER INSULATOR TO CRADDLE CENTER METAL SLEEVE HAS COLLAPSED RESULTING IN LOSS OF CLAMP LOAD IN THE JOINT. DEALER STATED CONSUMER VIN NUMBER DOES NOT COMPLY TO RECALL 99V071000. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER ADVISED THAT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CONTINOUSLY LEAKS. HAD CURRENT GASKET REPLACED AT 59K MILES AND GASKET IS NOW LEAKING. THE DEALER ADVISED PROBLEM MAY BE DUE TO GASKET'S CURRENT TORQUE SPECIFICATION, BUT CAN NOT TORQUE ANY TIGHTER OR WILL BREAK MANIFOLD. TS

ADD COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. PULLED OVER AT EXIT AND ADDED COOLANT. COOLANT DID NOT STAY IN THE RESERVOIR AND HAD TO BE ADDED REGULARLY. SMALL AREAS OF COOLANT WERE NOTICED UNDER THE VEHICLE WHERE IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO BE CHECKED AT LOCAL GARAGE AND MECHANIC FOUND LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AREA WAS INSPECTED AND THE LEAKING GASKET WAS FOUND AND REPLACED. THE GASKET APPEARED TO HAVE DETERIORATED IN A WAY THAT WOULD NOT BE EXPECTED. THE MECHANIC WAS ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NOT ONE, THOUGH HE WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN MANY GM VEHICLES THAT USED THAT PARTICULAR GASKET BETWEEN CERTAIN YEARS. I BELIEVE 1996-1999 WERE THE YEARS MENTIONED.*AK

IN A PARKING LOT WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP WITH MY FOOT ON BRAKE, CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPED PARKING CURB AND CONTINUED FORWARD FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 FT. BEFORE STOPPING. FOOT WAS ON BRAKE SO HARD THAT YOU COULD SMELL BURNT BRAKES FOR ANOTHER 10 MINUTES. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO PEDESTRIANS OR OTHER CARS NEARBY OR SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. HAS THIS BEEN REPORTED BY ANYONE ELSE? INCIDENTLY, I AM NOT A TWO FOOTED DRIVER. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THIS ALL HAPPENED FOR A MATTER OF SECONDS AND THE ACCELLERATION STOPPED AND THE CAR CAME TO A HALT.*AK

OUR SEATBELT HAS NOT WORKED SINCE WE DROVE OFF THE LOT WITH OUR "NEW" VEHICLE. THIS POSES A THREAT BECAUSE WE HAVE FIVE CHILDREN, WHICH MEANS ONE CHILD WILL NOT BE STRAPPED IN DURING EACH RIDE. WE HAVE BEEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS AND EACH REPORT ON ALL 16 VISITS THAT THE SEATBELT WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER, IT HAS NOT WORKED SINCE DAY ONE. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CONTACTED AS WELL AS THE DMV, AND ATTORNEY GENERAL. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I NEED SATISFACTION! I FEEL LIKE THE DEALERSHIPS WON'T FIX THIS PROBLEM UNTIL MY EXTENDED WARRANTY IS EXPIRED! HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO FIX A SEATBELT????*AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE FAILED. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT COOLANT LEAKED INTO OIL WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE.*AK

VEHICLES OIL PUMP FAILED. OIL DISCHARGED FROM THE ENGINE AROUND THE GASKET. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT IT WAS THE RELIEF VALVE ON THE OIL PUMP WHICH CAUSED THE OIL TO DISCHARGE, HOWEVER CONSUMER IS NOT SURE IF THE OIL PUMP FAILRE WAS RELATED TO THE HEAD GASKET FAILURE.*JG

CONSUMER STATED THE INTAKE GASKET THAT FITS AROUND FUEL INJECTION IS FAILING DUE TO LEAKING. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER INDICATED CAN'T GET PARTS AND GENERAL MOTORS HAS FAILED TO PRODUCE THIS PART.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY, LOCK ACTIVATOR WAS REPLACED BUT IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. DEALER IGNORES THE PROBLEM. *YD

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN.CONSUMER HAS NOTIFIED DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC STATED HEAD MANIFOLD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE PART IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. NLM *YD

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE 3/99. IN WHICH TIME I HAVE HAD TO BRING IT BACK FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, LEAKING FUEL INJECTORS, BRAKES, NON WORKING CRUISE CONTROL WHICH LED TO THE DEALER REPLACING THE COMPRESSOR. FRONT END LEAKED ANTI FREEZE WHICH LED TO ANOTHER MAJOR JOB. I AM NOT A HAPPY MOTORIST HERE. THE STEERING COLUMN SQUEEKED. THEY GREASED IT. TURNED OUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RACKINPINION. I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT CARS AND I KNOW THAT FOR THE AMOUNT I PAY FOR THIS VEHICLE, I SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE MAJOR PROBLEMS. BANDADE FIXES DON'T CUT IT WITH ME. NLM

THE ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED, DUE TO A RECALL ON THAT PART, BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE ACTUATOR MOTOR NOW NEEDED REPLACING, WHICH WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, AND WOULD COST ME $1,100 FOR THE PART ALONE. *AK