Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 27 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Seat Belts. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
27 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering
WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.…
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WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10097666
97,896 miles · Sep 13, 2004
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY VEHICLE STOPPED. DEALER STATED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10091876
Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE WASHER BOLT CAME OUT THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10012041
Mileage unknown · May 7, 2002
TiresInjury
WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL, CROSS THE MEDIAN AND ROLL OVER, INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION WAS GIVEN, OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *TT
NHTSA ODI #565801
Mileage unknown · May 18, 2001
Seat Belts
ON VERY BACK ROW OF SEAT ON LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE SHOULDER BELT IS EXTENDED OUT ALL OF THE WAY AND WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO POSITION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #888585
Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2001
Power Train
WHEN COMING TO A STOP WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION AUTOMATICLY SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL. ALSO, TRANSMISSION OIL IS OVERHEATING TO THE POINT THAT THE OIL IS BURNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #882763
Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE RETURN SPRING FOR THE REAR BRAKE SHOES IS INADEQUATE. ON TWO OCASSIONS THE RIGHT SIDE SPRING CAME LOOSE AND WAS DESTROYED BY THE AXLE SHAFT RUBBING AGAINST IT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE REAR BRAKES ARE LOST AND ONLY THE FRON BRAKES WOK, RESULTING IN THER PEDAL GOING ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT HAPPENED TO THE B…
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THE RETURN SPRING FOR THE REAR BRAKE SHOES IS INADEQUATE. ON TWO OCASSIONS THE RIGHT SIDE SPRING CAME LOOSE AND WAS DESTROYED BY THE AXLE SHAFT RUBBING AGAINST IT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE REAR BRAKES ARE LOST AND ONLY THE FRON BRAKES WOK, RESULTING IN THER PEDAL GOING ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT HAPPENED TO THE BRAKES ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE BRAKES CAME LOOSE AFTER USING THE PARKING BRAKE, WITH RESULTANT LOSS OF REAR BRAKES AND ONLY FRONT BRAKES WORKING, PEDAL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. THIS TIME THE SPRING DID NOT BREAK AND THE BRAKE PARTS WERE REINSTALLED.
NHTSA ODI #736291
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2000
Unknown Or Other
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY WAY TO KNOW IF THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL RECALLS REPAIRED OR NOT THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE
NHTSA ODI #730656
Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2000
Power Train
WHEN CAR IS TRAVELING AT 50 TRANSMSION STARTS LURCHING LIKE ITS SEARCHING FOR A GEAR. THEN, WHEN IT GETS UP TO 70 MPH AND IT STOPS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #868122
Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE MOUNTS RUSTED THROUGH WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.
VEHICLE FAILS TO CONFORM TO FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE SAFETY BELT OF THE LEFT THIRD ROW SEAT ON THE SIX PASSENGER VAN AND THE CENTER SECOND ROW SEAT OF THE SEVEN PASSENGER VAN MAY LOCK UP AND CANNOT BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE RETRACTOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE OCCUPANTS OF THESE SEATS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE AFFECTED BELT. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE AT INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: OWNERS ARE BEING ASKED TO INSPECT THEIR VEHICLES TO DETERMINE IF THE SUSPECT RETRACTOR EXHIBITS A LOCKUP CONDITION. BASED ON THIS INSPECTION, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE BELT LOCKS UP. REPLACEMENT OF THE SUSPECT SAFETY BELT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
6
RQ03003 · Engine Cradle Separation
Opened Jan 8, 2003 · Closed Apr 10, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:frame And Members
IN APRIL 1997, GM NOTIFIED ODI OF A REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLT DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1990-91 U VANS AND MY 1988-91 W CARS THAT COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR.GM IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS EXCESSIVE CREVICE CORROSION OF THE ENGINE CRADLE RETAINER AFTER YEARS OF EXPOSURE IN A SEVERE CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENT.THE RECALL COVERED APPROXIMATELY 680,000 VEHICLES REGISTERED IN 14 RUST BELT STATES; INCLUDING ALMOST 70,000 MY 1990-91 U VANS.THE RECALLED VEHICLES RECEIVED NEW REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS. GM CHANGED THE MATERIAL COMPOSITION OF THE RETAINERS IN THE MY 1992 U VANS TO PROVIDE IMPROVED CORROSION RESISTANCE.THE MY 1992 RETAINERS ARE ALUMINIZED STEEL WITH A 2.5 MM PROTECTIVE COATING OF ZINC/CHROMATE ORGANIC.THERE HAVE BEEN ONLY FIVE (5) FAILURES IDENTIFIED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AFTER MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF EXPOSURE.BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE AND THE AGE OF THE VEHICLES, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF A SAFETY DEFECT TREND IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. THIS RECALL QUERY IS CLOSED.
PE96002 · Front Brake Hose Failure
Opened Jan 5, 1996 · Closed Apr 16, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE94070 · Trnsaxl Oil Hose Separates
Opened Sep 15, 1994 · Closed Jan 18, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
EA92035 · Apv Fuel Line Fires
Opened Oct 30, 1992 · Closed Nov 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
DP92012 · Apv Fires
Opened Jun 9, 1992 · Closed Jun 25, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
APV FIRES
PE92052 · Apv Fuel Line Fires
Opened Jun 4, 1992 · Closed Oct 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
1992 Oldsmobile Silhouette Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year