RoadVitals

1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Jul 19, 2012
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 170 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. 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. 14 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.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Steering
Filed Jul 19, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V286000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 107,519.

NHTSA ID
10466669
Incident
Jul 12, 2012
Mileage
107,519 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 4, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. A BEARING BLEW THROUGH THE LOWER CASING, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER FLUID. THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS REPAIRED. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN RECALL 02V286000 CONCERNING POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10099390
Incident
Nov 1, 2004
Mileage
80,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 3, 2004

RECALL FOR STEERING, DIFFICULTY TURNING LEFT,POWER STEERING INOPERATIVE. REPLACED RACK AND PINION. *BF LEFT TURNS COULD ONLY BE DONE AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND AT A WIDE ANGLE. CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND WAS CHARGED FOR SERVICE. MECHANIC LEFT THE RECALL PAPERWORK ON THE PASSENGER SEAT AND IT WAS FOUND BY THE CONSUMER SHOWING THAT HE USED THE PAPER WORK DETERMINE HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TC

NHTSA ID
10101151
Incident
May 31, 2004
Steering
Filed Jun 3, 2004

THE DRIVER'S VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WHILE INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT. THE DRIVER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. THE DRIVER TRIED TO UNLOCK IT BUT WAS UNABLE. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC'S SHOP FOR REPAIR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID
10075678
Incident
Jun 3, 2004
Steering
Filed Jan 27, 2004

THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 02 V 286 000, BUT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND AND A SLIGHT EFFECT TO THE RIGHT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10046110
Incident
Oct 1, 2003
Mileage
110,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 17, 2003

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING WHEEL GETS REALLY STIFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THERE IS A RECALL DESCRIBING THE SAME PROBLEM RECALL # 02 V 286 000. CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID
10004169
Incident
Jan 20, 2003
Mileage
75,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 7, 2002

WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE, AND ANY AMOUNT OF WATER ENTERS THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING, AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP.*AK

NHTSA ID
8015767
Incident
Aug 1, 2002
Steering
Filed Jul 23, 2001

REL. CLAIMS: 731603, 848089, 870477, 871178, 890098 STEERING FAILS WHEN GOING THROUGH PUDDLE AT ANY SPEED, EVEN 20 MPH. I BARELY MISSED HITTING SOMEONE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY 20 YEARS OF DRIVING. IS THEIR PATCH OR FIX AVAILABLE SINCE THIS WAS FIRST FOUND OUT ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO? THIS PROBLEM CREATES A DANGEROUS LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL ON WET ROADWAYS. PLEASE ADVISE [email protected]. *AK

NHTSA ID
748966
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
Body & structureEngineSteering
Filed Jun 11, 2001

DURING WET ROAD/WEATHER CONDITIONS POWER ASSISTED STEERING FAILED. DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A WATER DEFLECTOR PLATE TO PREVENT WATER FROM CONTACTING POWER STEERING BELT. HOWEVER, WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH IN A RAIN STORM, POWER STEERING FAILED, AND BELT FOR ALTERNATOR SLIPPED WHICH CAUSED LIGHT FOR BATTERY ON THE DASH BOARD TO COME ON. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE WET CONDITIONS CAUSED A BELT TO SLIP FROM THE ALTERNATOR AND DISABLED THE ALTERNATOR. *YH

NHTSA ID
890098
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
Steering
Filed Sep 21, 2000

WHEN TRAVELING AND WATER GOES THROUGH, WATER SPLASHES UP TO THE SERPENTINE BELT/THE STEERING CUTS OFF. PROBLEM STARTED WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 20 TO 35MPH. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED, AND STEERING IS LOST. CONSUMER SAID THAT HE WILL CALL THE DEALERSHIP. *AK THE DEALER SAID REPLACE BELT SHOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *YH

NHTSA ID
871178
Incident
Aug 20, 2000
EngineSteering
Filed Sep 15, 2000

WHEN DRIVING THRU PUDDLES DURING RAIN, WATER SPLASHES ON THE SERPENTINE ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT , CAUSING THE POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY TO SLIP AND LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE SERVICE MANAGER A THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE VAN SAID THERE WAS NO WAY TO TIGHTEN THE BELT. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES AND LUCKELY THE SPEED HAS BEEN SLOW AND THE STEERING CAME BACK AFTER A FEW SECONDS.

NHTSA ID
731603
EngineSteering
Filed Sep 14, 2000

WITH FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND DRIVING OVER A PUDDLE , WATER WILL SPLASH FROM WHEEL AND GET INTO THE SERPENTINE BELT, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. DEALER CLAIMED THIS WAS NORMAL.AK

NHTSA ID
870477
Body & structureBrakesFuel system+2 more
Filed Jun 26, 2000

AUT6OMATIC DOOR GASKET FELL OFF, REPLACE WEATHERSTRIP, HARD STEERING, REPLACE STEERING RACK, FUEL PUMP BAD, REPLACED, BRAKE SQUEAKING, REPLACED FRONT PADS DISC BRAKES, REAR WINDSHIELD WASHER SPRAYED INSIDE CAR, REINSTALLED NOSE TO NOZZLE

NHTSA ID
9000930
Incident
Mar 24, 1998
Steering
Filed Sep 20, 1999

THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF STEERING PROBLEM. *YC

NHTSA ID
848089

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .