RoadVitals

1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
8
Latest Jul 12, 2015
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.
5%
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.
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 headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 8 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 exterior lighting

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

Exterior lightingPowertrain (other)Seat belts
Filed Jul 12, 2015

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY PLACE AT WORSHIP WHEN A FRIEND TOLD ME I HAD NO BACKUP LIGHTS. I WENT STRAIGHT TO THE AUTO SUPPLY STORE. REPLACING THE BULBS DID NOT WORK. THEY TOLD ME IT HAD TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I WENT ELSEWHERE. SAME STORY. WENT TO THE HE TRANSMISSION STORE. THEY SAID MY TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT AND IT WOULD COST ME $1897.00 TO FIX IT. TWO LITTLE BULBS. THAT WAS A YEAR AGO AND I'M STILL DRIVING IT. I TRY TO BACK INTO SPACES SO I DON'T HAVE TO BACK OUT. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID TO REPLACE THE WIRING ASSEMBLY WOULD COST MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. AND THE SEAT BELT CLICKS IN BUT SOMETIMES SLIPS OUT IF I STOP QUICKLY IF SOMEONE CUTS ME OFF. NOT GOOD AT ALL.THE POWER TRAIN IS ERRATIC AT BEST. I WONDER IF I'M GOING TO MAKE IT HOME QUITE A LOT AND I AM DISABLED. IT SHUDDERS WHEN IT STARTS OUT, MAKING IT DANGEROUS IN TIGHT DRIVING SITUATIONS(CHICAGO).IT SLIDES OR SLIPS. I'VE BEEN TOLD TIME AND TIME THERE'S NOTHING WRONG. BUT WHEN YOU TELL A CAR TO GO, IT SHOULD GO...ITS NOT SUPPOSED TO ACT LIKE A STUBBORN DUMB MULE! AND THE DOORS QUIT WORKING AS DID THE AC AND IT EATS TIRES EVEN THOUGH ITS ALIGNED AND BALANCED. I FIXED THE SHOWER WITH 25 YEAR SILICONE. I DIDN'T NEED MY HAIR WASHED WHILE I DROVE. ITS ONLY 15 YEARS OLD AND HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND ITS A PIECE OF JUNK. A VERY EXPENSIVE PIECE OF JUNK. COOLANT LOW ALWAYS STAYS ON AND IT ISN'T. GAS GAUGE IS ALWAYS EMPTY WHEN YOU FILL IT AND FULL IF ITS EMPTY. I TELL HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE BY HOW MANY MILES I'VE GONE DIVIDED INTO HOW MANY GALS OF GAS I PURCHASED. KEEP THE BOOKS OR WALK!!!!! GARBAGE. CAR!!!!!!!!!

NHTSA ID
10733484
Incident
Nov 10, 2014
Mileage
199,000 mi
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Aug 1, 2007

ON MY 1999 OLDSMOBILE SILLOETTE THE HEADLIGHTS (LEFT & RIGHT) LEAK VERY BAD. AFTER DRIVING IN THE RAIN I MAY HAVE A INCH OF WATER IN THE BOTTOM OF MY HEADLIGHTS. BECAUSE OF THIS THE HEAT & MOISTURE HAVE DISCOLLERED THE PLASTIC LENSES ON THE HEADLIGHTS NOW MAKING IT HARD TO SE AT NIGHT, AND THE BULB HAVE TO BE REPLACED ABOUT EVERY MONTH OR SO. NO ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS PROBLEM YET!*JB

NHTSA ID
10198236
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 8, 2007

BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHT COVERS HAVE CLOUDED AND BECOME HAZY DUE TO SUN EXPOSURE OVER TIME. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSING LIMITED VISIBILITY ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. IN MY OPINION THIS PROBLEM WILL CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS TO BE DIMMER THAN WHAT IS CONSIDERED A SAFE LEVEL OF BRIGHTNESS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10182013
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Mileage
96,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 10, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE TAIL LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. HAS TWO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY GM , THE OTHER VEHICLE IS A 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED AND WILL NOT WORK ANYMORE. SHE HAS TO TURN THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHEN SHE TRYING TO STOP. SHE HAS HEARD ABOUT SEVERAL OTHER 1999 -2000 MODELS THAT HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THESE VEHICLES ARE USED AS TAXI VEHICLES . THEY HAVE TO BE RIGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE HAULING PASSENGERS. THE PONTIAC WAS PURCHASED TWO YEARS AGO, AND IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS. THE OLDSMOBILE WAS PURCHASED FOUR MONTHS AGO AND TAIL LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED SINCE PURCHASING IT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10132248
Incident
Apr 1, 2005
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 23, 2004

HEADLIGHTS ALLOW MOISTURE IN, WATER COLLECTED IN THE HEADLAMPS, ONE FAILED, BEFORE I COULD GET IT FIXED THE OTHER ONE FAILED, CAUSING ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD.*AK

NHTSA ID
10104382
Incident
May 3, 2004
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 8, 2004

CONSUMER REPLACED THE BULB INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS 10 TIMES DUE TO MOISTURE GETTING INSIDE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD AT NIGHT. VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CHECK UP.*AK

NHTSA ID
10103338
Incident
Nov 29, 2004
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Feb 19, 1999

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WHICH GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

NHTSA ID
835075
Incident
Jan 25, 1999
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Jan 6, 1999

PROBLEM #1. ELECTRICAL HARNESS FAILURE RESULTED IN REPEATED ENGINE SHUTDOWNS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. PROBLEM #2 RESULTED IN SUDDEN LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER TO ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LAMPS AT NIGHT WHILE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30MPH. *AK

NHTSA ID
701950
Incident
Dec 10, 1998

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 .