RoadVitals

2000 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.
18
Latest Jun 4, 2020
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.
16%
of 114 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 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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

ElectricalFuel system
Filed Jun 4, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL STARTED POURING OUT OF THE FILLER NECK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT REFUELING THE VEHICLE TOOK AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME TO ACCOMPLISH. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE O-RING AND RETAINER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

NHTSA ID
11327285
Incident
Mar 2, 2020
Mileage
154,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 15, 2007

WITH THE HEADLIGHT ON, THE REVERSE LIGHTS AND FLASHERS COME ON WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. ALSO, THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT & REAR LIGHTS AND THE HIGH MOUNT STOP LAMP FLASHES FASTER (THE HIGH MOUNT STOP LAMP SHOULD NOT FLASH AT ALL.) EVERYTHING WORKS FINE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS OFF. WE HAVE SINCE STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF A FIRE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10205771
Incident
Sep 20, 2007
Mileage
142,799 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 15, 2006

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE, FIRST ATTEMPT VEHICLE WOULD START MOMENTARILY AND THEN DIE. SECOND ATTEMPT AND SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO SERVICE SHOP AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. AFTER SOME PERIOD OF TIME VEHICLE WOULD EVENTUALLY START PROPERLY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION PERSONALLY, FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FROM THE FUEL TANK/PUMP HAD CORROSION IN AND/OR AROUND THE PLUG UNDER THE DRIVERS' SIDE SECOND ROW SEAT. CLEANING THE CORROSION RESOLVED PROBLEM THUS FAR.

NHTSA ID
10170860
Incident
Sep 20, 2006
Mileage
44,927 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 8, 2006
Fire reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE ELECTRICAL WIRING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SMOLDERED. HOWEVER, NO FLAMES WERE VISUALLY SEEN. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE SMELL OF SMOKE WAS PRESENT WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR PERSONNEL DISCOVERED THE RECEPTOR BOARD WAS DAMAGED AND THE GROUND WIRE HAD COMPLETELY BURNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED ALTHOUGH NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

NHTSA ID
10149795
Incident
Feb 3, 2006
Mileage
86,333 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 19, 2005

FIRST, WHAT HAPPENED TO ODI #'S 563553 AND 767723? THESE WERE IN THE COMPLAINT DATABASE IN 2002 BUT DO NOT SHOW UP ON THE COMPLAINT SEARCH TODAY. AS REPORTED IN 2002, MY VEHICLE AGAIN SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFICE AT 40+ MPH - ENGINE QUIT, MESSAGES "CHECK ENGINE", "LOW FUEL", AND 'SECURITY" APPEARED ON THE CONSOLE IN ROTATION, LASTING A FEW SECONDS EACH. THE "SECURITY" MESSAGE IMPLIES THAT THE PROGRAMMABLE KEY SYSTEM COES NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY, THOUGH IT IS THE ORIGINAL GIVEN TO US AT TIME OF PURCHASE IN 2000. THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT BRAKELIGHTS, DUE TO THE DEAD ENGINE WITH TRANSMISSION STILL ENGAGED. IN 2002, THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES BEFORE THE DEALER FOUND A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM, THE THIRD TIME RESULTING IN A COLLISION OF TWO VEHICLES TRYING TO AVOID ME WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE, BUT NO SECURITY SYSTEM SHOULD EVER SHUT DOWN A VEHICLE ONCE IT IS IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID
10133575
Incident
Aug 18, 2005
Body & structureElectrical
Filed May 20, 2005

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN WINTER MONTHS. WHEN I DROVE IT OFF LOT RIGHT HEADLIGHT BLEW. I PHONED DEALER- SALESWOMAN TOLD ME TAKE IT TO THEIR MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. HE REPLACED IT SEVERAL TIMES, EACH TIME IT BLEW. HE SAID IT WAS WET WEATHER. I WONDERED, BUT TRUSTED THEM. 1 ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. I HAVE SPENT $500 TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS REPAIRED REPEATEDLY. LAST JULY, I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND PAID $122 FOR REPAIRS. IT LASTED LESS THAN 1 MONTH. LIGHTS BEGAN BLOWING OUT, AND FAILED. BLINKERS OPERATED ERRATICALLY, SOMETIMES RIGHT ONES WORKED(FRONT & BACK), SOMETIMES THEY DIDN'T. BACKUP LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN BRAKE WERE PRESSED. MESSAGES FROM COMPUTER MESSAGE CENTER SAID DOOR WAS AJAR ROLLING DOWN I95 AT 65 MPH OR THAT THE LIFTGATE WAS AJAR AT 65 MPH - ATS MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS TURNED OFF. THE REPAIRING DEALERSHIP SAID EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. WIRES BURNED THROUGH FOR SOME REASON". MECHANIC SAID EVERYTHING WORKS OKAY. ONBOARD COMPUTER MESSED UP. I CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE WEBSITE, AND WAS TOLD EACH TIME IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY SINCE VAN WAS OLDER. *AK A POLICE REPORT WAS ISSUED TO THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER FOR DRIVING WITHOUT LIGHTS/DEFECTIVE LIGHTS. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10113460
Incident
Feb 10, 2002
Mileage
106,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Oct 9, 2003

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST WEEK DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM WHEN IT RAN DIAGNOSIS. TESTED TWICE, I WAS CHARGED AND THE LIGHT IS STILL ON. *LA

NHTSA ID
10041568
Incident
Oct 8, 2003
Electrical
Filed Jul 24, 2003

I HAD A "STROBE" EFFECT IN MY 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILOUHETTE. TURNS OUT IT WAS A $4.00 SCREW THAT GOES INTO THE ALTERNATOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
10029073
Incident
Jun 27, 2003
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 15, 2003

2000 SILHOUETTE WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK DUE TO DEXCOOL. SHORTED OUT PLUG WIRES ETC. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10010499
Incident
Mar 6, 2003
Mileage
34,500 mi
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Dec 23, 2002

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BROKE. ALSO HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH TURNED AIR BAG LIGHT ON. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. TS. ...*AK

NHTSA ID
10001406
Electrical
Filed Sep 25, 2002

LOOKS LIKE ODI #563553. CAR SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC - BOTH INSTANCES. ABLE TO RESTART ONCE FOR 20-30 SECONDS, THEN STARTER WON'T CRANK. ALL INSTRUMENTS FLASH AT TIME OF FAILURE THEN TURN OFF, INCLUDING GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR, BUT HAZARD FLASHERS WORK. AFTER TOWING TO DEALER EVERYTHING IS FINE, AND DEALER IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DEALER WON'T FIX WHAT THEY CAN'T OBSERVE. WE BELIEVE SUDDENLY LOSING POWER IN TRAFFIC (WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS SHOWING) IS A POTENTIALLY DEADLY SITUATION, I.E. FREEWAY AND MOUNTAIN DRIVING. I WONDER IF THIS COULD BE A MALFUNCTION IN THE PROGRAMMABLE PK3 KEY SYSTEM - SHUTS DOWN WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION? NLM

NHTSA ID
767723
Incident
Aug 30, 2002
Electrical
Filed May 16, 2002

2000 SILHOUETTE VAN CAN FAIL TO START AT ANY GIVEN TIMES, HAS LOST ALL POWER ONCE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH NO SUCCESS. *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****761989

NHTSA ID
10009210
Incident
Dec 31, 2001
Mileage
22,405 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 3, 2001

WHILE DRIVNG, VEHICLE WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN LOOSE POWER AND THEN CUT OFF, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE DEALER DID STATE THAT THERE MIGHT BE TRASH IN THE GAS TANK BECAUSE TRASH WAS NOTED ON THE FUEL FILTER, VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE ON SEVEN OCCASIONS, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.*JB

NHTSA ID
563553
Incident
May 11, 2001
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jul 31, 2001

THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED FOR POWER SLIDING DOOR LOCK AND FRONT DOOR LOCK FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD A PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN REGARDING DEFECT ON PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR, ON FOUR OCCASIONS THE SLIDING DOOR HAS OPENED WHILE DRIVING. *YH AFTER REPAIR, DEALER STATED DOOR SENSOR NEEDED REPAIRED AGAIN. *SLC

NHTSA ID
562326
Incident
Jun 21, 2000
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Jun 26, 2001
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPEED. WHILE SITTING IN VEHICLE, VEHICLE EXPLODED WITH FLAMES COMING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE. ALSO, CONSUMER STATED MUFFLER BURNT HOLE IN GAS TANK. CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER BOUGHT VEHICLE BACK. *AK CONSUMER STATED SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ALSO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER, MECHANICS FOUND A HOLE IN THE MUFFLER HAD BURNED A HOLE IN THE PLASTIC GAS TANK. *SLC

NHTSA ID
891252
Incident
May 11, 2001
Electrical
Filed Nov 14, 2000

ON OCTOBER 16, 2000 I SMELLED MELTED PLASTIC IN GARAGE WHERE OUR 2 CARS ARE PARKED. I OPENED GARAGE UP TO AIR IT OUT AND LOOK FOR SOURCE OF SMELL. I COULD NOT DETERMINE WHERE SMELL WAS COMING FROM. NEXT DAY CAR WOULD NOT RUN AND HAD TO BE TOWED INTO LOCAL DEALER. CHUCK NICHOLSON 7190 SR 39 E, MILLERSBURG OH 44654 (330-674-4015). CAR WAS IN SHOP 25 DAYS. I NOTICED OTHER GM PRODUCTS WITH SAME PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
736299
Incident
Oct 17, 2000
Electrical
Filed Aug 22, 2000

MY MINI-VAN IS IDLING AT 2700RPMS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS LIT. THIS HAPPENED AT 4000MILES AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE TPS (THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR) THE FIRST TIME. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURED AT 10,400 MILES WITH THE CAR IDLEING AT 2700 RPMS. THIS TIME THE DEALER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER TECH TOLD ME THAT A TECH AT THE MANUFACTURER SAID THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE TPS IS ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES EMENATING FROM THE WIRING HARNESS IS CAUSING THE TPS TO FOUL SENDING IT INTO THE HIGH RPM REVS. THE TECH ALSO SAID THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD DENIE THIS IF ASKED. THE DEALER TECH SIAD TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM FOR NOW, HE WOULD WRAP TAPE AROUND THE HARNESS TO KEEP THE WAVES DOWN TO A MINIMUM. I FIND THIS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT TAPE WILL FIX THE PROBLEM, UNLESS THEIR GOING TO WRAP THE HARNESS IN COPPER WIRING. THE ONLY OTHER THING THE DEALER HAS DONE WAS TO CLEAR THE ERROR CODES OF THE ON BOARD COMPUTER TO RESET THE TPS. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NEED ATTENTION.

NHTSA ID
728740
Incident
Aug 19, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jul 24, 2000

THE AUDIO CONTROL UNIT REACHES EXTERNAL TEMPERATURES OF 150F (130F INTERNAL) WHEN THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS ARE ON. CD MANUFACTURERS WARN THAT TEMPERATURES OVER 120F ARE DANGEROUS FOR CDS. GM SAYS 150F IS OKAY AND PRESENTS NO FIRE HAZARD OR EQUIPMENT HAZARD. GMCWILL NOT RESPOND TO MY LETTERS REGARDING THE CD MFG SPECIFICATIONS.*AK

NHTSA ID
725903

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 .