Oldsmobile Silhouette Problems by Year
NHTSA has 785 owner complaints and 15 safety recalls on file for the Oldsmobile Silhouette, across 10 model years (1995–2004). The 1998 model year has the most complaints (170). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
Oldsmobile Silhouette years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Silhouette year: 1998, 1999, 2000. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1998 Silhouette: 170 complaints, 7 recalls
- 1999 Silhouette: 149 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2000 Silhouette: 114 complaints, 5 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2004 Silhouette: 11 complaints, 1 recall
- 1996 Silhouette: 20 complaints, 1 recall
- 2003 Silhouette: 36 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Oldsmobile Silhouette problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 158 | 9 | 1 |
| Structure | 94 | 10 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 79 | 7 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 65 | 9 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 64 | 8 | 1 |
| Power Train | 60 | 9 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 52 | 8 | 5 |
| Steering | 50 | 8 | 0 |
| Visibility | 47 | 9 | 2 |
| Air Bags | 44 | 9 | 24 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 38 | 7 | 1 |
| Tires | 37 | 10 | 1 |
| Seats | 32 | 8 | 1 |
| Equipment | 31 | 8 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 30 | 8 | 3 |
| Suspension | 26 | 6 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 25 | 9 | 4 |
| Wheels | 14 | 6 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Trailer Hitches | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Oldsmobile Silhouette model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Silhouette | 11 | 1 | — | Tires | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2003 Silhouette | 36 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2002 Silhouette | 57 | 2 | — | Suspension | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 Silhouette | 78 | 6 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 2000 Silhouette | 114 | 5 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1999 Silhouette | 149 | 4 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1998 Silhouette | 170 | 7 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 Silhouette | 104 | 6 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 1996 Silhouette | 20 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1995 Silhouette | 46 | 2 | — | Structure | Fewer complaints than other years |
More from Oldsmobile: all Oldsmobile models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Oldsmobile Silhouette years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1998 (170), 1999 (149), 2000 (114) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Silhouette year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Oldsmobile Silhouette?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 158 complaints across 9 model years.
How many recalls does the Oldsmobile Silhouette have?
15 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.