RoadVitals

2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
78
Latest Oct 21, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
9
Latest Feb 17, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
9
5 injuries, 1 deaths reported

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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

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.gov

STEERING

Feb 17, 2009
979 units potentially affected
The defect: DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.
The risk: A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-2492 AND PRESS 5.
DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Aug 11, 2008
1,921 units potentially affected
The defect: K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
K2 MOTOR CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

Mar 12, 2007
742 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
The risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE04064ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

POWER-SLIDING DOOR

Opened Sep 17, 2004
Closed Dec 22, 2004

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.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOORLed to recall 04V597000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Filed Oct 21, 2018

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
Body & structure
Filed Jun 2, 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
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Mar 17, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported

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
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Jun 22, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

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
Electrical
Filed Jul 1, 2014

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
Suspension
Filed Jun 17, 2013

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
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Jun 4, 2013

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
Fuel system
Filed Jan 31, 2012
Fire reported

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.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

PIP5358D

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.

PIP4723J

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.

PIT5099H

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.

PIT5099H

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.

General Communication

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

Oldsmobile Silhouette by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004113158.1
2003365162.3
2002575157.1
2001Viewing789157.2
20001148357.0
19991497762.8
199817010859.0
19971049757.6
1996202039.2
1995462051.7
1994364260.7
1993223158.6
1992272655.2
1991373763.3
1990435960.0
1989001

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.