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2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 78 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette, most frequently naming the interior & seats, engine and transmission categories. 9 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 369 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 1 |
| Mar 2001 | 1 | 2 |
| Apr 2001 | 2 | 4 |
| Aug 2001 | 2 | 6 |
| Sep 2001 | 4 | 10 |
| Oct 2001 | 2 | 12 |
| Feb 2002 | 3 | 15 |
| Mar 2002 | 6 | 21 |
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 22 |
| Aug 2002 | 1 | 23 |
| Jan 2003 | 1 | 24 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 25 |
| Jul 2003 | 2 | 27 |
| Aug 2003 | 3 | 30 |
| Sep 2003 | 2 | 32 |
| Oct 2003 | 2 | 34 |
| Nov 2003 | 2 | 36 |
| Dec 2003 | 1 | 37 |
| Jan 2004 | 2 | 39 |
| Feb 2004 | 2 | 41 |
| May 2004 | 1 | 42 |
| Sep 2004 | 1 | 43 |
| Nov 2004 | 2 | 45 |
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 46 |
| Jan 2005 | 5 | 51 |
| Mar 2005 | 1 | 52 |
| Apr 2005 | 1 | 53 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 54 |
| May 2006 | 1 | 55 |
| Jul 2006 | 2 | 57 |
| Nov 2006 | 1 | 58 |
| Mar 2007 | 1 | 59 |
| Jul 2007 | 1 | 60 |
| Oct 2007 | 1 | 61 |
| Nov 2007 | 1 | 62 |
| Dec 2007 | 1 | 63 |
| Apr 2008 | 1 | 64 |
| Jul 2008 | 1 | 65 |
| Jan 2009 | 1 | 66 |
| May 2009 | 1 | 67 |
| Apr 2010 | 1 | 68 |
| Sep 2010 | 1 | 69 |
| Feb 2011 | 1 | 70 |
| Jan 2012 | 1 | 71 |
| Jun 2013 | 2 | 73 |
| Jul 2014 | 1 | 74 |
| Jun 2015 | 1 | 75 |
| Mar 2016 | 1 | 76 |
| Jun 2018 | 1 | 77 |
| Oct 2018 | 1 | 78 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Interior & seats1312.5%
- Engine1211.5%
- Transmission87.7%
- Tires & wheels76.7%
- Suspension76.7%
- Brakes76.7%
- Other / unspecified76.7%
- Electrical65.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
9 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
POWER-SLIDING DOOR
SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE AVAILABLE WITH AN OPTIONAL POWER SLIDING DOOR.THE INTERIOR HANDLE IS ORIENTED IN THE VERTICAL POSITION IN THE DOOR PANEL AND LINES UP AT THE ELBOW LEVEL WHEN THE OCCUPANT IS SEATED IN THE 2ND-ROW OUTBOARD POSITION.IF THE OCCUPANT HOLDS THE INTERIOR HANDLE IN THE THUMB UP POSITION DURING POWER-ASSISTED OPENING, THE ARM/WRIST CAN BE PUSH BACK WITH FORCE AGAINST THE 2ND-ROW BUCKET SEAT OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIR SEAT BACK CREATING A RISK OF INJURY (OTHER SEATING CONFIGURATIONS HAVE AMPLE SEAT TO DOOR CLEARANCE TO AVOID ENTRAPMENT OF THE LOWER ARM).AMONG THE 103 TOTAL REPORTS, THERE WERE 102 ALLEGED INJURIES INCLUDING ARM/WRIST, THUMB AND SHOULDER INJURIES.A COUNT OF INJURIES REVEALS THAT 76 INJURIES WERE A FRACTURED OR A BROKEN ARM/WRIST REQUIRING AN IMMOBILIZING CAST FOR FOUR-TO-SIX WEEKS.ALL INJURIES INVOLVE THE RIGHT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR.THE LEFT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR IS ON FAR FEWER VEHICLES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT PRODUCES LESS FORCE.GM NOTIFIED THE AGENCY BY LETTER DATED DECEMBER 21, 2004, THAT IT WILL RECALL MODEL YEAR 1997 THOUGH EARLY 2005 GM U-VAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A RIGHT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND WITH 2ND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN CHAIRS (NHTSA RECALL #04V597).AS PART OF THE RECALL REMEDY, GM WILL REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLE WITH A FLUSH MOUNTED HANDLE THAT WILL PREVENT AN OCCUPANT FROM GRASPING THE HANDLE WITH THE PALM BETWEEN THE HANDLE AND DOOR PANEL (THUMB UP ORIENTATION) AND THUS ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR ARM/WRIST ENTRAPMENT.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
SHORT AND SWEET, I WAS IN MY VEHICLE, STATIONARY IN MY YARD, NOT RUNNING WITHOUT THE KEY AND I WAS LOCKED IN. IT WOULD NOT LET ME OUT. ONE CAN IMAGINE MANY CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THIS WOULD BE DEATH-INDUCING. (FRAILER PERSON, NO HEAVY OBJECTS TO BREAK WINDOWS, MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, NO CELL PHONE, ETC, ETC, ETC.)
- NHTSA ID
- 11141723
- Incident
- Oct 21, 2018
IVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW. FRIDAY JUNE 1 2018 I WAS DRIVING WITH ALL 4 OF MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE AND MY DRIVER REAR SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF THE VEHICLE COMPLETLY . ALL 3 LATCHES THAT ATTACH THE DOOR TO THE VEHICLE DETACHED AND THE DOOR WENT TO THE FLOOR. WERE WERE MOVING STATE I WAS GOING ABOUT 15 MPH
- NHTSA ID
- 11099337
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2018
- Mileage
- 170,680 mi
MY COMPLAINT IS THE FACT THAT COMPANIES NEED TO TRACK DOWN ANY OWNER OF A VEHICLE THAT THEIR COMPANY MAKES. MY DAD PURCHASED THIS OLDSMOBILE VAN, IT WAS A USED VEHICLE, HE DID NOT REALIZE THAT THERE HAD BEEN RECALLS FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELTS, AND AIR BAGS. I SHARED A MAIL BOX WITH HIM, AND I GOT THE MAIL EVERY DAY, SO I KNOW HE NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFO ON THIS. IN 2010 MY DAD WAS INVOLVED IN A WRECK THAT WAS NOT HIS FAULT, IF YOU LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE IT WAS NOT EVEN AS BAD AS SOME YOU SEE, BUT IT WAS HIS FRONT END THAT WAS HIT STRAIGHT ON. MY DAD DID NOT LIVE, HE DIED THE NEXT DAY. THE PERSON THERE ON THE SCENE TOLD ME THAT WHILE HE WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT IT HADN'T APPEARED TO HAVE HELD HIM, AND UNSURE IF THE AIR BAG COMPLETELY INFLATED. HE WAS THE ONLY FAMILY I HAD LEFT, NO PARENTS, NO GRANDPARENTS, NO SIBLINGS, AND I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK IT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED, AND I COULD STILL HAVE HIM HERE WITH ME, IF HE WAS ONLY NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT OTHERS TO GO THROUGH WHAT I HAVE. THE NEUROSURGEON COULD NOT BELIEVE THE SEVERITY OF HIS INJURIES IN COMPARISON TO OTHER ACCIDENTS, HIS WERE TRAUMATIC, HE HAD A SEVERE BRAIN INJURY, AND CRUSHED CHEST INJURIES, WHICH GOES RIGHT ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT THE BELT NOR BAG DID NOT WORK RIGHT, AND HE FELT THE FULL FORCE OF THE STEERING WHEEL.
- NHTSA ID
- 10850130
- Incident
- Feb 19, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A PARKING BLOCK FOLLOWED BY A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED RIGHT KNEE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10726508
- Incident
- Jun 11, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10607498
- Incident
- Jul 2, 2013
- Mileage
- 100,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH FRONT HUBS WERE REPLACED. ONE YEAR LATER, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HUB ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10520190
- Incident
- Mar 12, 2013
- Mileage
- 160,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE SIDE SLIDING DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE UNLATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V067 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES), BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 123,000. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10515071
- Incident
- May 27, 2013
- Mileage
- 123,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE RELEASED A STRONG FUEL ODOR AND THE CONTACT NOTICED SPARKS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE FUEL TANK. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MUFFLER DID NOT HAVE A HEAT SHIELD COVER. THIS CAUSED THE FAILURE AND SPARKS, WHICH CORE A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10446027
- Incident
- Jan 29, 2012
- Mileage
- 150,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.