Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 35 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 35, in the owner's own words
WHILE DRIVING VAN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED HOT AND HEATER STOPPED BLOWING HOT AIR FEW MINUTES LATER IT COOLED BACK DOWN AND STARTED BLOWING WARM AIR AND IT CONTINUED TO DO THAT OVER AND OVER PUT A THERMOSTAT IN IT AND IT DID NOT HELP IT CONTINUED TO DO THE SAME THING IT IS FULL OF WATER STILL NOT BLOWING ANY WARM AIR OUT AND STEAMING OUT THE EXHAUST. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL OIL LEAK. THE OIL LEAKAGE INCREASES THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
MY 1998 OLD SILHOUETTE HAD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED AT 69, 000 MILES AND THEN 8 MONTHS AT 73 000 MILE MY CAM BROKE IN HALF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 25 TO 30 MPH UNKNOWN WHY OR HOW MUCH MORE DAMAGE IS DONE AT THIS TIME. INVESTIGATOR IS COMING OUT TO CHECK WHAT HAD HAPPEN . *TR
WE PURCHASED A VAN IN GOOD WORKING ORDER IN 04/2006. IT WAS USED PREVIOUSLY BY ONE OWNER SINCE BEING PURCHASED NEW. IN NOVEMBER 2007- IT BEGAN OVERHEATING AND LOSING COOLANT. THE DIAGNOSIS IS NOW REPLACEMENT OF HEAD GASKET AND POSSIBLE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. GM HAS REFUSED TO HELP THEIR CONSUMERS IN ANY WAY IF THERE IS NO WARRANTY. AS WITH ALL PROBLEMS THESE COULD FAIL DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, MILEAGE, AND OR AGE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE CASE IN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS INCLUDING MY OWN! *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT WARMING UP PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO THE OIL. THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED. WHEN THE PROBLEM RETURNED THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME. TWO OTHER MEMBERS OF CONTACT'S FAMILY HAD THE SAME THINGS GO WRONG WITH THEIR VEHICLES. THE DEALER WON'T HELP THE CONTACT TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES BECAUSE HE USED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT ONCE WORKED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WEREN'T TOO MANY DEALERSHIPS IN THE CONTACT'S AREA. ALSO, THE CONTACT KNEW MANY PEOPLE WHO HAD SIMILAR ENGINE PROBLEMS. *AK
BEGAN TO SEE COOLANT POOLING ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY, TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO FIND THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WARRANTY ITEM. DID NOT DAMAGE ENGINE, I WAS LUCKY AND SPOTTED THE SITUATION EARLY. *NM
DT: CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO A SERVICE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THEY REPLACED THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD TO STOP THE COOLANT LEAK. THE CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS STILL LEAKING GASOLINE AND COOLANT. THE CONSUMER DID NOT WANT TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE ROUTINE VISIT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SERVICE DEALER HAD TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A MONTH. *AK
THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND OIL BEGAN TO MIX TOGETHER, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
COOLANT LEAKED FROM GASKET INTO ENGINE DEGRADING OIL AND RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND COST. THE DOWNGRADING BEGAN WITH THIS EVENT. IL PUMP EVENTUALLY CLOGGED RESULTING IN LOW OIL PRESSURE & REPAIRED AGAIN. *AK EVENTUALLY, ENGINE SELF DESTRUCTED, WHILE ON FREEWAY, LOOSING POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES RESULTING IN NEAR ACCIDENT WHILE EXITING FREEWAY. THEN HAD TO RENT A CHRYSLER VAN TO ESCAPE ONCOMING HURRICANE FRANCES. THIS IS MORE EXPENSE AND AGGRIVATION. ALL BECAUSE OF A FAULTY GASKET LEAKING COOLANT INTO ENGINE. THIS LOOKS LIKE NEGLEGENT DESIGN ON GMS PART RESULTING IN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DEATH.
I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT THAT MY OLDS SILHOUETTE HAS A COOLANT LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WITHH ONLY 50000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. TO MY DISCUSS I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON AND "PREDICTABLE" FAILER. I HOPE THAT IT HAS NOT CAUSED ANY FURTHER DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE LEAST A REASONABLE ACTION ON BEHALF OF GM TO GIVE OWNERS OF THEIR VEHICLES A HEADS UP ON THIS ALL TO COMMON DEFECT.*AK
OVERHEATING/COOLOING SYSTEM/INTAKE GASKET FAILURE ON A 1998 OLDMOBILE SILLHOETTE VAN WITH A 3.4 LTR V-6 ENGINE.LOW COOLANT LIGHT FIRST CAME ON ABOUT MARCH 12TH, 2003 DURING A LONG CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP. ENGINE NOT OVERHEATING SO I PURCHASED SOME DEX-COOL TO ADD TO SYSTEM. NO VISIBLE LEAKS. ENGINE OVERHEATS IN FEBRUARY OF 2004. CHANGED THERMOSTAT ASSUMING IT TO BE PROBLEM (NO HEAT BUT HOT ENGINE). THERE WERE NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS. WEEKS PAST AND SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY BUT NOT GETTING OVERHEATED. FINALLY TAKEN TO MECHANIC WERE HE IMMEDIATELY SUGGESTED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AS A COMMON PROLEM. VAN TAKEN TO GM DEALER FOR SEVERAL REPAIRS ($1700) INCLUDING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS, WATER PUMP, COMPLETE COOLING SYSTEM DEX-COOL FLUSH AND OTHER MAINTENANCE. WE DROVE THE VAN ABOUT 30 MILES AND EXPERIENCED ANOTHER SEVERE OVERHEATING EPISODE. THE VAN WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER AND I BEGAN DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET. RESEARCH LED ME TO THIS SITE. IT IS OBVIOUS THIS IS NO ISOLATED INCIDENT AND I FEEL GENERAL MOTORS HAS BEEN GROSELY NEGLIGENT IN ACCEPTING RESPOSIBILITY. *AK
COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT, 3.4L 6CYC MINIVAN.
A DEFECT IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF MY 1998 OLDS SILHOUETTE VAN CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE MY PREGNANT WIFE (3 DAYS PAST HER DUE DATE) WAS DRIVING WITH OUR 5 YR OLD SON. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON A HIGH TRAFFIC ROAD, THE ENGINE FAILED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT/INJURY. OTHER MOTORISTS IN HER VICINITY SAW THE PROBLEM AND AVOIDED A COLLISION.
OUR 1998 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE HAS 45000 MILES AND NEEDS A NEW $5000 ENGINE. IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS AND THE ENGINE HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK WHICH ALLOWS CORROSIVE DEXCOOL COOLANT TO LEACH INTO THE ENGINE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER VICTIMS OF THIS FLAW, AND DETAILS OF THE PROBLEM ARE AVAILABLE AT: HTTP://WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS/LIVE/YOURLEMON/231.HTML HTTP://WWW.PETITIONONLINE.COM/GMCNSMRS/PETITION.HTML HTTP://WWW.GEOCITIES.COM/GM_INTAKE/ HTTP://WWW.GM-V6LEMONS.COM/ WE WERE INITIALLY TOLD BY KOONS CHEVROLOET IN VIENNA, VA THAT WE NEEDED TO REPLACE OUR ENGINE BECAUSE OF ANTIFREEZE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. WHEN WE FURNISHED THEM WITH THE INFORMATION ON THE DEFECT, A SERVICE REP THEN TOLD US THAT THE'D WORK WITH GM TO SEE WHAT THE COULD DO FOR US. THEY CAME BACK WITH "WE'LL REPLACE YOUR ENGINE". WE AGREED TO THAT REMEDY AND WHEN WE CALLED TO SEE IF THE WORK ON OUR CAR WAS COMPLETED, THE SERVICE REP, SAID "BY THE WAY, WE DIDN'T REPLACE THE ENGINE WE REBUILT IT." WE WERE VERY DISMAYED BY THE FACT THAT THEY MISREPRESENTED WHAT THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO AND PROCEEDED TO DO THE WORK WITHOUT OUR AUTHORIZATION. WE WERE ABOUT TO PULL THE CAR FROM THAT DEALER TO GO GET A SECOND OPINION. ANY WAY THE WORK WAS DONE WITH NO CHARGE TO US.WE COMPLAINED TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AFTER MUCH NEGOTIATION, THEY OFFERED US AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE ENTIRE ENGINE. SUBSEQUENT TO THAT WE TOOK THE CAR TO FARRISH OF FAIRFAX IN FAIRFAX, VA TO INSPECT THE WORK THAT WAS DONE AT KOONS. THEY SAID IT LOOKED OK. WELL, SINCE THEN, AS RECENT AS THIS WEEK THE "LOW COOLANT" LIGHT HAS LIT UP ON THE DASH. THIS WAS THE PRECURSOR TO OUR PROBLEM IN THE BEGINNING. WE NOW HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO FARRISH. IT SEEMS THAT THE FIX WAS NOT ADEQUATE, BUT WE'LL LET YOU KNOW.
ENGINE OVERHEATS DUE TO COOLANT LEAK CAUSE BY FAULTY INTAKE GASKET.
ENGINE: CAM SHAFT BROKEN IN TWO AND BENT RODS. OTHER: HEADLIGHT SWITCH SHORTED OUT.
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE WATER PUMP WOULD LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH
MY 1998 OLDS MINIVAN STARTED TO OVER HEAT WHILE MY WIFE WAS TRANSPORTING OUR CHILDREN AND FOSTER CHILDREN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS SHE MUST PULL OVER TO LET THE ENGINE COOL CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. THE OLDSMOBILE DEALER SAYS THE INTAKE GASKET IS LEAKING COOLANT AND THE REPAIR COST IS OVER $600. I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT GM HAS HAD MANY COMPLAINTS ON. *JB
THE FOLLOWING LETTER (COMBINED MESSAGE FORUM POSTING & LETTER TO GM OF MINE) REPRESENTS THE MAIN POINTS IN MY COMPLAINT INVOLVING AN INTAKE GASKET MANIFOLD LEAK IN OUR 1998 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE WHICH WE'VE SINCE REPAIRED FOR APPROXIMATELY $900.00: AFTER RECENTLY WRITING A LENGTHY COMPLAINT LETTER TO OLDSMOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE (EXPLAINING HOW I WAS TRYING A GM PRODUCT FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER BEING DISSATISFIED WITH CHRYSLER PRODUCTS FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS) AND AFTER 2 WEEKS OF PHONE TAG WITH 2 GM CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS I WAS FINALLY TOLD THAT BECAUSE I WASN'T THE ORIGINAL OWNER, BOUGHT IT WITH RELATIVELY HIGH MILEAGE (50K MI) AND DIDN'T HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY GM IS NOT GOING TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR OF MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEM. I SUMMARIZED BY SAYING, "SO, YOU'RE SAYING THAT GM DOESN'T CARE WHAT 2ND OWNERS OF GM VEHICLES THINK ABOUT GM? YOU DON'T CARE THAT I WON'T BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT?" THE REP. RESPONDED "THAT'S YOUR CHOICE." HE WENT ON TO SAY "WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE PREVIOUS OWNER MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE...." AND I RESPONDED SAYING "THERE ARE TSB'S OUT THERE ON THIS PROBLEM, OVER 1500 PEOPLE WHO'VE SIGNED AN ONLINE PETITION AND GM DEALER SERVICE TECHS WHO IMMEDIATELY POINT OUT THE PROBLEM TO OWNERS WHO GO IN FOR TOTALLY UNRELATED SERVICE; YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT GM DOESN'T KNOW THIS IS A PRODUCT DEFECT." HE DIDN'T RESPOND. MY VEHICLE IS NOW CONSUMING ABOUT 16 OZ. OF COOLANT EVERY 150 MILES DRIVEN. THE REP. SAID I SHOULDN'T BE DRIVING IT AT ALL; EASY TO SAY IF YOU COULD AFFORD TO GO OUT AND REPLACE IT OR REPAIR IT; NOT A VERY GOOD OPTION FOR OUR FAMILY NOW. AN EXTENSIVE WEB SEARCH ON ??OLDS SILHOUETTE AND INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK?? HAS PRODUCED MANY STORIES OF EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE IN THE SAME YEAR. I REQUEST THAT THIS PROBLEM BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID FURTHER DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPONENTS.*JB
FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD ON 1998 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE HAS CAUSED AN ENGINE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE MY PREGNANT WIFE (3 DAYS PAST DUE) WAS DRIVING OUR 5 YR OLD SON HOME FROM THE DENTIST. SHE WAS DRIVING 40 MPH ON A HIGH TRAFFIC ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED! THIS SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *JB
FAILED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON MY 3.4LTR V6 ENGINE HAS FAILED AND IS LEAKING COOLANT.
FAULTY INTAKE GASKET ON 98 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE (SAME AS CHEVROLET VENTURE). ENGINE V6 3400. 78000 MILES.
OUR 1998 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE HAS 45000 MILES AND NEEDS A NEW $5000 ENGINE. IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS AND THE ENGINE HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK WHICH ALLOWS CORROSIVE DEXCOOL COOLANT TO LEACH INTO THE ENGINE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER VICTIMS OF THIS FLAW, AND DETAILS OF THE PROBLEM ARE AVAILABLE AT: HTTP://WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS/LIVE/YOURLEMON/231.HTML HTTP://WWW.PETITIONONLINE.COM/GMCNSMRS/PETITION.HTML HTTP://WWW.GEOCITIES.COM/GM_INTAKE/ HTTP://WWW.GM-V6LEMONS.COM/
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 25MPH ENGINE SHUTDOWN. FORCING TO PULL OFF THE ROAD PUSHING BY HAND. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM WITH A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
VEHICLE HAS AN ODOR AND HEATER WAS NOT WORKING. OIL AND ANTIFREEZE MIXED TOGETHER. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ODOR COULD PROBABLE BE ANTIFREEZE.*AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .