RoadVitals

2003 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.
36
Latest Apr 16, 2015
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.
5
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.
6
15 injuries, 6 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 36 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette, most frequently naming the other / unspecified, engine and airbags categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 445 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

  • Other / unspecified615.8%
  • Engine513.2%
  • Airbags513.2%
  • Interior & seats37.9%
  • Seat belts25.3%
  • Suspension25.3%
  • Fuel system25.3%
  • Transmission25.3%

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

5 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

Engine
Filed Apr 16, 2015
Crash reported2 injuries reported

T-BONED CROSSING A 4WAY DUE TO VIEW OBSTRUCTION. OTHER PERSON HIT US AT 60 MILES PER HR. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED APPROX. 10 SECONDS AFTER INITIAL IMPACT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10706055
Incident
Aug 5, 2013
Mileage
130,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 29, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
10679779
Incident
Jan 19, 2015
Mileage
130,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 21, 2014
Crash reported3 injuries reported6 deaths reported

FLOMATON, ALA. (AP) - A VAN CROSSED THE MEDIAN OF A HIGHWAY IN SOUTHERN ALABAMA AND COLLIDED WITH A PICKUP TRUCK, KILLING SIX PEOPLE AND INJURING THREE OTHERS IN A CRASH LOCAL AUTHORITIES DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE WORST THEY HAD EVER SEEN. THE FORCE OF THE COLLISION RIPPED THE VAN'S TRANSMISSION FROM THE VEHICLE AND SCATTERED DEBRIS ALONG MORE THAN 100 YARDS OF HIGHWAY, CPL. JAMES PATTERSON WITH THE STATE PATROL. ``IT LOOKS MORE LIKE AN AIRPLANE CRASH SCENE THAN A CAR CRASH,'' SAID JIM JOHNSON OF THE FLOMATON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT. ``THE VAN'S FRONT END JUST DISINTEGRATED. I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH DEBRIS. ALL THE WINDOWS EXPLODED ON IMPACT FROM THE LOOKS OF IT.'' ``THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST SEVERE CRASHES WE'VE EVER HAD IN ALABAMA,'' PATTERSON SAID. HE SAID EVIDENCE AT THE SCENE INDICATED THREE OCCUPANTS IN THE VAN WERE EJECTED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY UP TO ABOUT 40 FEET FROM WHERE THE VAN CAME TO REST. A THIRD VEHICLE STRUCK THE TRANSMISSION THAT LAY IN THE ROADWAY, AND PERSONAL ITEMS SUCH AS PIECES OF A BEADED NECKLACE, EYEGLASSES AND COSMETICS AND WOMEN'S DRESS SHOES COULD BE SEEN ALONG THE ROAD. STATE TROOPERS DID NOT RELEASE THE IDENTITIES OF THE FIVE WOMEN AND ONE MAN WHO DIED. THE SIX KILLED WERE RIDING IN THE VAN, A 2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10615159
Incident
Jun 7, 2003
Airbags
Filed Jan 8, 2014
Crash reported

I WAS EASTBOUND ON A TWO LANE ROAD, AND AN ESCALADE RAN THE STOP SIGN ON THE DRIVER SIDE , AS I WAS CONTINUING DRIVING I T-BONED THE SUV, MY WHOLE FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY RIPPED AND DAMAGED, AND DASHBOARD CRACKED AND LIFTED, MY DAUGHTER WAS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND EITHER BAGS DEPLOYED. KNOW SUFFER FROM STERNUM AND BACK PAIN WITH CONCUSSION PAIN . *TR

NHTSA ID
10558990
Incident
Jan 7, 2014
Mileage
141,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 1, 2013

HEAD LAMPS ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE STARTED TO HAZE. THE HAZE HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE RESTRICTING THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT. I HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS GETTING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD AT 40MPH OR HIGHER IN THE EVENING. THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE A CLEAR LENS OVER THEM AND DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME CONDITION. I HAVE CONTACTED GM. WITH MULTIPLE CALLS, E-MAILS AND A TRIP TO THE DEALER OVER A TWO WEEK TIME FRAME, I WAS CONTACTED BY GM AND TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. MY CONTENTION TO GM WAS I'M SURE WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS RELEASED FOR PRODUCTION THEY HAD NO IDEA THIS CONDITION EXISTED AND HAS FOR SEVERAL YEARS SINCE. I FELT THAT THE LENSES SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10550485
Incident
Jul 16, 2012
Mileage
130,020 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 18, 2011

REFERENCE INVESTIGATION PE 11-014. THIS ISSUE IS NOT LIMITED TO 2005-2007 GM SUVS. ON 2/26/11, MY 2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE STALLED ON INTERSTATE I-75. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER, BUT IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE DARK, WITH FAMILY & KIDS IN THE CAR, WITH ICY, SNOWY ROADS. THE FUEL LEVEL READING INDICATED MORE FUEL AVAILABILITY THAN WHAT WAS ACTUALLY IN THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL GAUGE WILL SHOWED BETWEEN 1/16 AND 1/8 OF A TANK, AND THERE WAS NOT A LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT. I HAD TO CALL FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN STALLED FOR A WHILE, THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED - SO ROAD SERVICE FIRST TRIED PUTTING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. WITH FUEL ADDED TO THE VEHICLE, IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND I WAS ABLE TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE AT THE NEXT EXIT. THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 100,000 MILE, AND IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION - THIS DEFECT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT THIS POINT IN THE VEHICLE'S LIFE. A DEALER SERVICE GARAGE VERIFIED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE IS DEFECTIVE, AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $425 TO REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10401386
Incident
Feb 26, 2011
Mileage
101,000 mi
Transmission
Filed May 9, 2010
Crash reported

MOST OF THE DAY MAY 8,2010 BEEN DOING SOME CITY BUT MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES. STOPPED FOR AN HOUR AFTER THE FIRST 50 THEN DROVE ANOTHER 40 STOPPING AGAIN FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. DROVE THE LAST 10 HOME AND LEFT CAR IDLING TO GO INTO MY HOUSE FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 MINUTES. MY WIFE STARTED WALKING TO CAR AND WASN'T THERE YET WHEN CAR DROVE FORWARD INTO GARAGE DOOR. SHE JUMPED IN PASSENGER SIDE AND SHIFTER WAS STILL IN PARK. SCRAPED SOME OF THE PAINT OFF OF THE CAR AND SMASHED THE GARAGE DOOR. HAVE NO IDEA HOW OR WHY IT WOULD HAVE DONE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10329443
Incident
May 8, 2010
Mileage
145,457 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 4, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported

ON MAY 27, 2009 I HIT A TREE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE VAN AND THEN HIT ANOTHER TREE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS IN THE FRONT AND ON THE SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT AND THANKFUL THERE WERE NO MAJOR INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10275757
Incident
May 27, 2009
Mileage
149,000 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.

PIT3271P

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.

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
2003Viewing365162.3
2002575157.1
2001789157.2
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.