IllustrationTRANSMISSION FAILURE-THREE TIMES IN AS MANY YEARS ALSO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH REAR LIGHTS AND ALSO INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING. BOTH WINDOW SWITCHES FAILED. PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL HUB HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 40.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Silhouette years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
30–25K
1025–50K
1350–75K
275–100K
5100–150K
4150K+
37 reports with mileage · 41 unknown
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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports3 fire reports4 injury reports
Visibility complaints
4 reportsOUR 2001 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE HAS HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES. THE ISSUES ARE PLACED IN A CLOSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. ALL EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED AFTER 50K MILES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE POWER DOOR LOCKS. THE DEALER TOOK CARE OF ALL RECALLS. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY LOCK AND UNLOCK. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER OVER…
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OUR 2001 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE HAS HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES. THE ISSUES ARE PLACED IN A CLOSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. ALL EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED AFTER 50K MILES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE POWER DOOR LOCKS. THE DEALER TOOK CARE OF ALL RECALLS. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY LOCK AND UNLOCK. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER OVER 4 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS AND THE LAST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED A CHAFED WIRE UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE OTHER TIMES THE DEALER COULD NOT ISOLATE. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. WE GOT TIRED OF BRINGING IT TO THE DEALER. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER HAD FAILED. AT 66K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY SUN GEAR. I HAD TO REPLACE TIE RODS ON THE VEHICLE TWICE ON EACH SIDE. ONCE AROUND 70K AND ONCE AROUND 115K. THE FUEL ASCENDING UNIT FAILED AROUND 90K. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE CV AXLE. LIGHTS IN THE HEATER CONTROLS HAVE BLOWN AND THE ONLY WAY TO REPLACE THEM IS TO SOLDER NEW BULBS ONTO THE CONTROL MODULE. THE BLOWER MOTOR FAILED ON 1ST AND 2ND SPEED. WE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ENGINE OVERHEATING ISSUES AS SEEN BY OTHER INDIVIDUALS AT MYCARSTATS.COM. THIS RELATES TO THE COOLING SYSTEM. I HAD THREE SEPARATE ISSUES STEMMING FROM THIS. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ABOUT 8 MONTHS LATER THE UPPER MANIFOLD GASKET BLEW. SIX MONTHS LATER ANOTHER COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE BLAMED ON THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. MANY OF THE REPAIRS WHERE COSTLY. THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE WAS NEVER FIXED. WE DECIDED TO PASS THIS GM PIECE OF JUNK ON. IT HAD 137K MILES. MOST OF THE MILES DRIVEN WHERE HIGHWAY, VERY FEW CITY AND STOP-AND-GO. *JB
IN SEPTEMBER OF 2002, THE VAN WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD, THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. ON DECEMBER 5TH, THE VAN TOTALLY QUIT GOING FORWARD AND BACKWARD, IT WAS TOWED IN AND THE MECHANIC ASKED IF WE HAD TOWED ANYTHING WITH THE VAN OR DID WE USE IT AS A "HOTROD", THA…
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IN SEPTEMBER OF 2002, THE VAN WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD, THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. ON DECEMBER 5TH, THE VAN TOTALLY QUIT GOING FORWARD AND BACKWARD, IT WAS TOWED IN AND THE MECHANIC ASKED IF WE HAD TOWED ANYTHING WITH THE VAN OR DID WE USE IT AS A "HOTROD", THAT ALL THE GEARS WERE STRIPPED. ALSO, UPON TAKING THE VAN BACK FOR THE RECALL OF THE SLIDING DOOR, WE HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TWICE AND THE DOOR STILL DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THERE ARE TIMES THAT IT WON\\'T UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE AND YOU CAN OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE. WE HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED IN THE SERVICE OF DEALER IN THE DIFFERENT TIMES THAT THE VAN WAS TAKEN IN TO GET CHECKED OUT, THAT IS WHY WE CHOSE NOT TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION TORN UP.
08/15/01 THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DROPPED DOWN AL BY ITSELF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT MY HOUSE AND THE ALARM BEEPED 2 OR 3 TIMES. ON 9/6/01 THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR OPENED ALL BY ITSELF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT MY HOUSE AND THE ALARM BEEPED 2 OR 3 TIMES.
Official recalls
604V597000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Dec 22, 2004
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH SECOND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS AND A POWER SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, A PASSENGER USING THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR COULD BE INJURED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A PASSENGER USES THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND HOLDS ONTO THE HANDLE WHILE IT IS BEING OPENED BY THE MOTOR, THE PASSENGER'S ARM MAY BE PUSHED INTO THE SEAT BACK OR ARMREST AND A WRIST OR LOWER ARM INJURY MAY RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER SLIDING DOOR INTERIOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER OR MANUAL SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER-SIDE, THE INTERIOR HANDLE WILL ALSO BE REPLACED FOR APPEARANCE REASONS. NOTE: BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED, GM ADVISES OWNERS TO NOT USE THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE DRIVER CAN OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR FROM SWITCHES AT THE DRIVER'S POSITION OR BY USING THE REMOTE KEY FOB. THE DRIVER SHOULD TELL PASSENGERS TO USE THE SWITCH LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE DOOR TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT. THE DRIVER SHOULD USE THE OVERRIDE SWITCH TO PREVENT OPERATION OF THE POWER DOOR BY CHILDREN OR BY OTHERS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ITS USE. THE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER MAILING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON MAY 31, 2005. THE SECOND PHASE MAILING BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2005. PHASE 2 BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. PHASE 3 (FINAL PHASE) BEGAN ON AUGUST 24, 2005, TO ALL REMAINING CUSTOMERS. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668; OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
02V329000 · Air Bags:frontal
Dec 9, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A CHECK VALVE PIN. AN AIR BAG WITHOUT THE CHECK VALVE PIN COULD PRODUCE INCREASED PRESSURE AT THE ONSET OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND REDUCED PRESSURE AFTERWARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD INCREASE THE SEVERITY OF INJURY TO A PERSON WHO WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND WHO WAS CLOSE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AT THE TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. IT COULD ALSO REDUCE THE AB8ILITY OF THE AIR BAG TO PROTECT A RESTRAINED FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT #3.
01V383000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
Dec 13, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN MINI VANS BUILT WITH SECOND ROW 50/50 SPLIT BENCH SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SEAT LATCH ANCHOR WIRE DIAMETER IS GREATER THAN 6.1 MM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE CONNECTOR FOR A LATCH-TYPE CHILD RESTRAINT IS NOT ATTACHED CORRECTLY TO THE ANCHORAGE POINTS, THE RESTRAINT WILL NOT PROPERLY PROTECT A CHILD IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LATCH ANCHOR WIRES AND REPAIR THOSE WITH AN IMPROPER DIAMETER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 10, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.
01V264000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Aug 21, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1997-2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA/TRANSPORT, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS THAT WERE SERVICED IN CAMPAIGN 01013 (01V-067) FROM APRIL TO AUGUST 2001. ALSO 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS ASSEMBLED IN JANUARY THROUGH APRIL 2001. THESE VEHICLES HAVE INADEQUATE FRONT WELDS. IF A FRONT WELD FAILS, THE ACTUATOR CAN JAM IN THE UNLATCHED POSITION AND, WHEN THE SLIDING DOOR CLOSES, IT WILL NOT BE LATCHED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE. AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, INSTALL A NEW POWER SLIDING DOOR UNLATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
01V067000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Mar 8, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS. THE DOOR CLOSES BUT MAY NOT BE LATCHED. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW UN-LATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY TO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN CONTINUED UNDER SAFETY RECALL 01V-264. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
00V228003 · Seat Belts
Aug 7, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
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
1PE04064 · POWER-SLIDING Door
Opened Sep 17, 2004 · Closed Dec 22, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body: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.