Electrical
Filed Jul 5, 2016
CAR WON'T START UNLESS YOU WIGGLE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. CAN DIE AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING.
- NHTSA ID
- 10882811
- Incident
- May 9, 2016
- Mileage
- 1,647,003 mi
1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette Electrical Problems
Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Electrical 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.
9
Latest Jul 5, 2016
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.
6%
of 149 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.
2
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 electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 electrical
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 5, 2015
I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN WHEN A CAR PULLED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME GIVING ME TWO FEET TO STOP AT 25 MPH. I STOPPED BUT MY BRAKES BLEW. TOTAL FAILURE OF TWO BRAKES. THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO YOUR COMPLAINTS I MIGHT HAVE A GASKET TO REPLACE BECAUSE I HAVE A COOLANT LIGHT ON AND IT DOESN'T NEED ANY. THE REPAIRMAN SAID I NEEDED A NEW SENSOR. HMMM. ELECTRICAL. FUEL GAUGE IS INOPERABLE. COOLANT LIGHT WRONG. AIRBAG LIGHTS CAN'T MAKE UP THEIR MIND IF THEY WORK OR NOT. THE CAR LOCKS ME OUT REPEATEDLY. THE POWER WINDOWS WON'T WORK..DANGEROUS HERE WITH ALL THE RIVERS AND WATERWAYS. THE SLIDING DOORS DON'T WORK. NONE OF THE POWER CONTROLS IN THE KEY FOB WORK(YES, I CHECKED THE BATTERY). OH..AND IT HAS A INDOOR SHOWER WHEN IT RAINS. ROOF FAILURE, FAULT IN DESIGN. COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME IF PAST SERVICE BULLETINS I JUST FOUND ON YOUR SITE STILL PERTAIN? THERE ARE MANY FOR THIS VEHICLE AND ITS ISSUES. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10670025
- Incident
- Jan 14, 2014
- Mileage
- 185,000 mi
ElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Sep 4, 2010
LEFT SIDE BRAKE / TAIL LIGHT MELTS. BULB BASE MELTS THEN CAUSES AN OPEN SHORT. BULB HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. LAST 3 TO 4 MONTHS BEFORE FAILURE (MELTED BASE) AND BULB REPLACEMENT. IT ALSO CAUSES THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS) TO SHOW AN INTERMITTENT FAULT OR BE INOPERATIVE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10353878
- Incident
- Sep 3, 2010
Electrical
Filed Apr 16, 2010
Fire reported
JUST PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF INTERIOR VENTS. TURNED OFF VAN GOT OUT AND FLAMES STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE AND CONTENTS. NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. MILES HIGH BUT NOT ACTUAL,REPLACED MOTOR WITH 80,000 MILE MOTOR WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. NEWER ENGINE CAME FROM ANOTHER OLDS SILHOUETTE THAT HAD A DASH FIRE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10326059
- Incident
- Apr 15, 2010
- Mileage
- 180,000 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Nov 17, 2009
BRAKE LIGHT PLUG INS ARE MELTING AND BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10292525
- Incident
- Dec 14, 2008
- Mileage
- 85,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 15, 2004
Fire reported
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE ENGINE BURNT UP DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *SC
- NHTSA ID
- 10079798
- Incident
- May 11, 2004
- Mileage
- 31,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+4 more
Filed Apr 17, 2002
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
- NHTSA ID
- 760804
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Oct 4, 1999
MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING WHEN THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THERE WERE SPARKS AND SMOKE AND THE SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. I LOST CONTROL TEMPORARILY AND THEN I PULLED OVER AND WE ALL GOT OUT OF THE CAR. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT HAYWIRE MEANING THAT SOME LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON. THE "AIRBAG" AND "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHTS CAME ON. THE COMPASS WHEN OUT. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO BE SERVICED.AT THAT TIME I WAS INFORMED OF ANOTHER CAR LIKE OURS WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS LATER TOLD(1 WEEK) THE COMPUTER TOLD THE SATBELT RETRACTOR TO EXPLODE. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY EAND I ARE IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY IF WE CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS CAR.
- NHTSA ID
- 712808
- Incident
- Jul 7, 1999
ElectricalTires & wheels
Filed Sep 15, 1999
VEHICLE RAN OVER A BRANCH ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITION WHICH CAUSED SOME WIRING DAMAGE THAT RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED WITH TIRES ALSO, DUE TO LOAD OF THE VEHICLE. *YC.ET.
- NHTSA ID
- 846034
- Incident
- Aug 11, 1999
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .