REAR TAIL LIGHTS MALFUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY. USUALLY AFTER HEAVY RAIN. BULBS BECOME COVERED WITH CORROSION,AND RUST. REPAIR EFFECTED BY OLDS DEALER ONLY TEMPORARILY CORRECTS PROBLEM.DASH INDICATOR SHOWS OPERATIONAL STATUS,LITES DO NOT BLINK. HI-WAY TRAVEL BECOMES SAFETY ISSUE OF UNSAFE LANE CHANGE,NOT DRIVER ERROR. *AK
2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 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
38 reports with mileage · 19 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.
- Suspension. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. 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.
What owners actually said
57 reportsTHERE WAS UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. THE TREAD SURFACE LIFTED OFF OF THE CAP. THERE WERE CHUNKS OF TREAD THAT HAD BROKEN OFF. *SC *JB
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS GETTING THE TIRES ROTATED MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
2002 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE VAN THE FRONT DOORS ARE NOT PROPERLY SEALED AND ALLOW WATER TO INTRUDE. THIS HAS CAUSED WATER DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE DOOR. THE WINDOW SWITCHES ARE FAILING AND HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH OLDS SERVICE TECH'S STATED WAS DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. THE REPAIR PERSON AT THE LOCAL DEALERSH…
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2002 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE VAN THE FRONT DOORS ARE NOT PROPERLY SEALED AND ALLOW WATER TO INTRUDE. THIS HAS CAUSED WATER DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE DOOR. THE WINDOW SWITCHES ARE FAILING AND HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH OLDS SERVICE TECH'S STATED WAS DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. THE REPAIR PERSON AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN SARASOTA SAID THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE MODEL. I AM WORRIED ABOUT FUTURE BODY DAMAGE AND CORROSION. ALSO WORRIED ABOUT DOOR LOCKS FAILING AND RELATED SAFETY ISSUES. *JB
AS I WAS CHECKING THE TIRES FOR WEAR I NOTICED THAT THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE, WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL, WAS DAMAGED. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A FLANGE OR DISC AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SPRING/SHOCK ASSEMBLY THAT'S COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE TIRE. LESS THAN 1 INCH CLEARANCE. PROBABLY HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S DOWN FORCE FROM HIT…
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AS I WAS CHECKING THE TIRES FOR WEAR I NOTICED THAT THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE, WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL, WAS DAMAGED. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A FLANGE OR DISC AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SPRING/SHOCK ASSEMBLY THAT'S COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE TIRE. LESS THAN 1 INCH CLEARANCE. PROBABLY HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S DOWN FORCE FROM HITTING A POT HOLE, SPEED BUMP OR SUDDEN STOP. TREAD IS GOOD BUT SEPARATING FROM THE SIDEWALL, STEEL BELTS VISIBLE. 30,000 MILES, GOODYEAR, P225/60R/16, I ASSUME ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. BOUGHT USED AT 9K, NO RECORD OF ROTATING THE TIRES. REAR TIRE HAS SLIGHT DAMAGE SUGGESTING IT MAY HAVE BEEN ON FRONT AND ROTATED OUT. IF OWNERS ARE ONLY LOOKING AT THE TREAD AND NOT THE INSIDE SIDEWALL I THINK THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR BLOWOUT AND TIRE SEPARATION. I NOTE 2 FAILURES ALTHOUGH THE TIRES HAVE NOT BLOWN, THEY WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. WILL HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED THIS WEEK. *JB
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WIND NOISE COMING FROM BOTH, BUT PRIMARILY THE LEFT A-PILLAR/S. I GET THE NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HEADING INTO A HEAD WIND. IT CAUSES AN EXTREMELY LOUD LOW PITCH WHISTLING NOISE THAT IS CONSTANT WITH THE WIND BLOWING. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP(USING AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT ONES) 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME IS…
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I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WIND NOISE COMING FROM BOTH, BUT PRIMARILY THE LEFT A-PILLAR/S. I GET THE NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HEADING INTO A HEAD WIND. IT CAUSES AN EXTREMELY LOUD LOW PITCH WHISTLING NOISE THAT IS CONSTANT WITH THE WIND BLOWING. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP(USING AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT ONES) 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE WITH NO SOLUTION. *LA
JUST PRIOR TO 40,000 MILES, MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND MY ABS DISABLED LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER I STOPPED THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT, THE LIGHTS WENT AWAY. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I BEGAN TO NOTICE A RUMBLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE CHANGED PITCH DEPENDING ON THE S…
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JUST PRIOR TO 40,000 MILES, MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND MY ABS DISABLED LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER I STOPPED THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT, THE LIGHTS WENT AWAY. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I BEGAN TO NOTICE A RUMBLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE CHANGED PITCH DEPENDING ON THE SPEED OF THE CAR. IT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS ROARING PRIOR TO CHANGING GEARS, BUT IT WASN'T THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF BECAUSE THE NOISE DID NOT CORRELATE TO ACTUAL GEAR CHANGES. I TOOK THE CAR TO A CHEVY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS (WHICH IS A WHOLE HUB ASSEMBLY THAT INCLUDES ABS AND AWD COMPONENTS) IN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS (AND THE WHOLE HUB ASSEMBLY)HAD TO BE REPLACED. AS SOON AS I GOT THE CAR BACK, THE NOISE WAS STILL AUDIBLE IN THE FRONT AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HUB ASSEMBLY. WHEN THE CAR REACHED 54,000 MILES, THE RUMBLING NOISE WAS AGAIN AUDIBLE FROM THE REAR AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE FINAL HUB ASSEMBLY IN THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR. THE DEALER TOOK THE CAR FOR A TEST DRIVE AND THE NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT AND THEY DETERMINED THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR HUB ASSEMBLY FOR THE 2ND TIME. THIS IS 5 HUB ASSEMBLIES BETWEEN 40,000 AND 54,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THERE IS NO WAY THAT ANYONE WILL CONVINCE ME THAT THIS IS NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THIS CAR HAS ALL WHEEL DRIVE. AT THIS POINT, IT SEEMS THAT THE REPLACING OF THESE HUB ASSEMBLIES WILL BE AN ONGOING MAINTENANCE ISSUE THAT COULD AFFECT THE WHEEL BEARINGS, ABS OR THE AWD SYSTEM, OR ALL OF THE ABOVE. *JB
MY ONE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER GOT HER HAND CAUGHT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR. THE WHOLE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. AND WE COULD NOT GET THE DOOR TO OPEN WITH THE ELECTRICAL BUTTONS. WE TRIED WITH THE CAR ON AND OFF. AND WE ALSO COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. WE IMMEDIATLY CALLED 911. AND ENDED…
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MY ONE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER GOT HER HAND CAUGHT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR. THE WHOLE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. AND WE COULD NOT GET THE DOOR TO OPEN WITH THE ELECTRICAL BUTTONS. WE TRIED WITH THE CAR ON AND OFF. AND WE ALSO COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. WE IMMEDIATLY CALLED 911. AND ENDED UP HAVING TO PRY THE DOOR OPEN WITH CROW BARS. ONE ON THE INSIDE AND ONE ON THE OUTSIDE. *AK THIS IS THE EMAIL I SENT TO OLDSMOBILE. AFTER THEY RECEIVED MY EMAIL. THEY DETERMINED ON THEIR OWN TO FILE A PRODUCT ALLEGATION. THE FILE # IS 1-222720667 I WAS ASSIGNED TO A REPRESENTATIVE WHO TOLD ME THEY MAY NOT PAY TO HAVE MY CAR FIXED, EVEN THOUGH IT IS UNDER WARRENTY. I WAS ALSO TOLD ON THE DAY I DROPPED MY CAR OFF (JUNE 8TH,2004) IT WOULD BE TEN DAYS AT THE MOST TO COME TO A CONCLUSION AFTER THE PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR EXAMINDED THE VEHICLE. I DID SPEAK WITH MY GM REPRESENTATIVE LARRY MEEKS YESTERDAY. HE SEEMED VERY SHORT AND ANNOYED AT ME. WERE IN THE BEGINNING HE WAS APPOLIGETIC ABOUT MY DAUGHTERS HAND AND WANTED TO BE HELPFUL. HE SAID HE DIDN'T FILE THE REPORT TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT UNTIL JUNE10TH AT 2PM. BUT ON THE PHONE ON JUNE 8TH AT 12NOON HE DECLARED TO ME THAT IT WOULD BE TEN DAYS FROM THEN. JUNE 8TH WAS THE DAY I DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT GM FILED THE CLAIM ON THEIR OWN BECAUSE THEY WERE INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THERE HAVE NEVER BEEN ANY REPORTS FILED OF INJURIES TO OTHER PEOPLE FROM THE SLIDING DOORS. THIS IS APPARENTLY FALSE. AFTER REVIEWING YOUR WEB SITE AND READING THROUGH SOME COMPLAINTS. I FELT LIKE I HAD BEEN LIED TO BY GM. AND IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEY ONLY HAVE THEIR OWN INTEREST AT HEART. COMPLAINT #10025827 SURE STUCK OUT IN MY MIND. AND THAT IS WHY I AM FILING MY COMPLIANT. BECAUSE ONE SAD AND DISHEARTENED MOTHER HAS NO POWER AGAINST A BIG CO. LIKE GM.
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND WHEN THE CONSUMER CAME BACK INTO VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR TO TWO HOURS VEHICLE WOULD START. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED FIVE TIMES SINCE APRIL 2003. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY, TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP AND MY SON (5YRS, IN A CAR SEAT), WHO WAS SITTING IN THE FIRST ROW BEHIND THE PASSENGER, SLAMMED HIS HEAD AGAINST THE BACK OF THE SEAT. MY WIFE BLAMED ME FOR NOT FASTENING HIM IN CORRECTLY. SO I LET HER DO IT, AND WE BOTH YANKED ON THE SEAT BELT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS OK. …
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WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY, TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP AND MY SON (5YRS, IN A CAR SEAT), WHO WAS SITTING IN THE FIRST ROW BEHIND THE PASSENGER, SLAMMED HIS HEAD AGAINST THE BACK OF THE SEAT. MY WIFE BLAMED ME FOR NOT FASTENING HIM IN CORRECTLY. SO I LET HER DO IT, AND WE BOTH YANKED ON THE SEAT BELT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS OK. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. MY WIFE TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER TO GET A NEW LATCH. WHILE WE WERE WAITING FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE, I WAS DRIVING AGAIN WITH MY FAMILY WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW AND I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. MY SON NOW SITTING IN THE BACK ROW IN HIS CAR SEAT, AGAIN HIT THE BACK OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. NOW THE DEALER SAYS THAT THEY NEVER TOLD US THEY WOULD GET US ANOTHER PART, AND THAT WE HAD TO CALL GM. THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEND A REP OUT AND NEVER HAVE. FURTHERMORE WE RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT SAID OUR PARTS WERE IN AFTER THEY TOLD US THAT THEY COULDN'T GET THE PARTS. ALL WE WANT IS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TESTED UNDER HARD BRAKING AND THE TWO LATCHES REPLACED. *JB
Official recalls
204V597000 · 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.
02V222000 · Air Bags:frontal
Aug 9, 2002
CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 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 BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.
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.
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