1995 Oldsmobile Silhouette Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1995 Oldsmobile Silhouette, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure814.5%
- Engine712.7%
- Visibility712.7%
- Interior & seats610.9%
- Airbags59.1%
- Electrical47.3%
- Brakes35.5%
- Seat belts35.5%
- Tires & wheels35.5%
- Transmission35.5%
- Steering23.6%
- Driver assistance23.6%
- Fuel system11.8%
- Powertrain (other)11.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES BREAKING OFF. ALL REPLACEMENT WAS DONE AT THE DEALER SHOP AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKEN INSIDE OF DOOR. *AK
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION REPLACED 3 TIMES, FIRST TIME MAY 1998, FAILED NOV 1998, REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, FAILED AGAIN MAY 2003, OUT OF WARRANTY AT 117,000 MILES
1995 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUTTE... WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING ABOUT 45-55 MPH VAN LOST POWER AND CONTROL OF STEERING ETC HAD TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROADHAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6-10 TIMES SINCE THEN HAVE HAD CHECKED NO KNOWN CAUSE. VAN SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY LIGHT SAYS IT'S OPENED. HAS OPENED ON IT'S OWN. WHILE ON INCLINE AND BACKING UP BRAKES MAKE A CLICKING SOUND. STEERING COLUME CLICKS WHEN TURNING TO BACK UP WHEN FIRST STARTED. PASSENGER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK. INSIDE HANDLES ARE DETACHING FROM THE DOOR ON BOTH SIDES. THE PIN THAT CONNECTS THE GEAR SHIFT TO THE STEERING COLUMN IS ALWAYS COMING OUT. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THESES PROBLEMS. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND AM NOT SURE IF ONE EXIST.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
ONE NIGHT THE CAR LOCKED ITSELF. WHEN THE RADIO IS TURNED ON IT WILL STAY ON THE SELECTED STATION FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN IT WILL START SKIPPING THROUGH ALL THE STATIONS. SOMETIMES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. ONE NIGHT AFTER PUTTING THE WINDOWS UP I WAS IN THE HOUSE AND SAW THE DRIVER WINDOW ROLL DOWN BY ITSELF.
1995 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUTTE... WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING ABOUT 45-55 MPH VAN LOST POWER AND CONTROL OF STEERING ETC HAD TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROADHAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6-10 TIMES SINCE THEN HAVE HAD CHECKED NO KNOWN CAUSE. VAN SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY LIGHT SAYS IT'S OPENED. HAS OPENED ON IT'S OWN. WHILE ON INCLINE AND BACKING UP BRAKES MAKE A CLICKING SOUND. STEERING COLUME CLICKS WHEN TURNING TO BACK UP WHEN FIRST STARTED. PASSENGER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK. INSIDE HANDLES ARE DETACHING FROM THE DOOR ON BOTH SIDES. THE PIN THAT CONNECTS THE GEAR SHIFT TO THE STEERING COLUMN IS ALWAYS COMING OUT. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THESES PROBLEMS. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND AM NOT SURE IF ONE EXIST.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME AND BACK REST SPLIT APART, ON THE INSIDE. THE CONSUMER HAD IT WELDED BACK TOGETHER AND PUT A BRACE ON THE SEAT. THE DEALER (ALICIA MILAM 866-932-4368 X38573) REFUSED TO FIX IT. REF# 1-325360723. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS ADJUSTING HIS POSITION WHEN THE SEAT BACK HAD GIVEN AWAY AND FELL BACK. *SC *JB
BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS FRONT SEATS ARE TOO LOW, AND EVEN WITH THE HEADREST EXTENDED, IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO BE REAR ENDED THERE WOULD BE NO SUPPORT FOR THE SHOULDERS OR HEAD. THE SEAT BACKS ARE TOO LOW TO BE CONSIDERED SAFE. *NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. THIS CAUSED A CHAIN REACTION, RESULTING IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A RIGHT UPPER CONTUSION AND A SPRAINED NECK. THE DRIVER ALSO SUFFERED BACK PAINS AND HEARING PROBLEMS. *AK *NM *TT THE HORN WAS ALSO STUCK, WHEN THE AIR BAG(S) DEPLOYED. THIS WAS A 3 CAR ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WHOM INSTALLED THE AIR BAG(S), INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG SYSTEM. *SC *JB
TRANSMISSION REPLACED 3 TIMES, FIRST TIME MAY 1998, FAILED NOV 1998, REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, FAILED AGAIN MAY 2003, OUT OF WARRANTY AT 117,000 MILES
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS VEHICLE REPEATEDLY STALLS AND KICKS OUT OR IT WON'T START AT ALL. WHEN IT DOES START, THE VEHICLE CHUGS AND SHUTS OFF, ALSO THERE WERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED.*JB *JG
THIS FIRE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF A FACTORY INSTALLED PART THE ONLY SERVICE DONE TO THE VEHICLE WAS BY FINDLEY OLDS TECHS AND WE HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK TO PROVE THAT FINDLEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FUSES BLOWING AND WERE TOLD IT WOULD NOT START A FIRE AND NOT BE CONCERNED JUST PUT A NEW FUSE IN WHEN ONE BLOWS THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT THE TECK MNGR SAID THIS VAN SHOULD HAVE HAD ANOTHER 10 YEARS LIFE ...WHY CANT OLDS AND FINDLEY STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT A FIRE UNDER THE DASH COULD ONLY HAPPEN IF SOMETHING MALFUNCTIONED I WAS LUCK I WASNT KILLED ...I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE EVERYONE SEEMS TO JUST WANT TO PRETEND THIS DIDNT HAPPEN WHY WONT SOMEONE TAKE ME SERIOUS AND FIX THIS VEHICLE THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE THE TOP OF THE LINE OLDS MINIVAN I JUST READ RECENTLY THAT OTHER OLDS VANS HAD CAUGHT FIRE AS WELL IS THIS A PATTERN ......PLEASE HELP ME !!!!.....IM NOT A C OMPLAINER BUT I HAVE A $23,000.00 SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY THAT THEY WONT STAND BEHIND ...YOU MAY INSPECT IT ALL YOU WANT PLEASE DO ITS HERE AND WAITING THANKS FOR ANYTHING YOU CAN DO FOR ME ... I FEEL RIPPED OFF!!!.!!! I ALWAYS THOUGHT OLDS STOOD BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS I GUESS THEY REALLY DONT...IM VERY SORRY FOR THEM!!!!! .AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS VEHICLE REPEATEDLY STALLS AND KICKS OUT OR IT WON'T START AT ALL. WHEN IT DOES START, THE VEHICLE CHUGS AND SHUTS OFF, ALSO THERE WERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED.*JB *JG
REAR CALIPERS RUST OR CORRODE REQUIRING EXTRA EFFORT, BY DRIVER, TO STOP VEHICLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT LOCK PROPERLY FOR BOOSTER SEAT, DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBELT RETRACTORS WILL NOT RETRACT PROPERLY ANYMORE, HAD STEADILY GOTTEN WORSE IN LAST 2 YEARS.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE IN MOTION, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW. THERE WAS A RUBBER COATED WIRE THAT BLEW IN THE FRONT TIRE. *JG*JB
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 64 MPH TREAD ON REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF, TAKING BUMPER WITH IT. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TIRE SIZE P205/70R15. REPLACEMENT TIRE ON A 1995, OLDSMOBILE, SILHOUETTE. TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 5,000. *AK DOT # W2MO F8A 138.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
INTERMITTENT LOS OF DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND OTHER SPEEDS OR FROM FOURTH GEAR. THIS HAPPENS ON A CONTINUAL BASIS AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, HOWEVER, NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, NOT EVEN THE DEALERSHIP.*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED, IT LOCKED UP. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
1995 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUTTE... WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING ABOUT 45-55 MPH VAN LOST POWER AND CONTROL OF STEERING ETC HAD TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROADHAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6-10 TIMES SINCE THEN HAVE HAD CHECKED NO KNOWN CAUSE. VAN SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY LIGHT SAYS IT'S OPENED. HAS OPENED ON IT'S OWN. WHILE ON INCLINE AND BACKING UP BRAKES MAKE A CLICKING SOUND. STEERING COLUME CLICKS WHEN TURNING TO BACK UP WHEN FIRST STARTED. PASSENGER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK. INSIDE HANDLES ARE DETACHING FROM THE DOOR ON BOTH SIDES. THE PIN THAT CONNECTS THE GEAR SHIFT TO THE STEERING COLUMN IS ALWAYS COMING OUT. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THESES PROBLEMS. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND AM NOT SURE IF ONE EXIST.*AK
THE STEERING LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING, THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE RACK AND PINION HOUSING HAD SHATTERED. *JB THERE WAS LITTLE WARNING, AND A SLIGHT CATCH WHEN TURNED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE RACK/PINION AND THE CLOCKSPRING WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN FOR THE AIR BAG WAS REPLACED. SCC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DRIVER'S SEAT WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE, SEAT IS ABLE TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAS KIDS THAT USED THE SEAT, AND HAS NO COOPERATION FROM THE DEALER. PER INVOICE, THE VEHICLE IS ALSO EXPERIENCING THE FOLLOWING; THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON FOR THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (STALLS & SURGES)-NEEDS TO REPLACE THE EGR VALVE, THE COOLANT IS LEAKING AT THE UPPER PLENUM, AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. *SCC
CONSUMER WAS PARKING THE TRUCK, PUT ON BRAKE PEDAL WENT AND ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT (HIT WALL), DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, RESULTING IN AN INJURY. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL GUAGE FAILED TWICE. *DSH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION REPLACED 3 TIMES, FIRST TIME MAY 1998, FAILED NOV 1998, REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, FAILED AGAIN MAY 2003, OUT OF WARRANTY AT 117,000 MILES
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .