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1999 Oldsmobile SilhouetteProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 149 owner complaints about the 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.

27
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid2.7× the Silhouette median · #2 of 15 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Free fix at dealersOwner complaints14921 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage64kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 5, 2016. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette has problems

149 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling461
Structure182
Power train160
Air bags126
Latches/locks/linkages112
Electrical system102
Seat belts80
Exterior lighting80
Fuel system, gasoline70
15 other systems436

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Doors: latch

Recall 04V-597 · Dec 22, 2004 · 717,302 vehicles

Risk. 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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Doors: latch

Recall 01V-264 · Aug 21, 2001 · 248,737 vehicles

Risk. 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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Gear box: shaft sector

Recall 99V-071 · Apr 12, 1999 · 59 vehicles

Risk. IF NOT REPAIRED, SEPARATION OF THE OPPOSITE SIDE JOINT COULD OCCUR RESULTING IN STEERING SHAFT SEPARATION.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Oldsmobile.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

64kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 29 engine and engine cooling complaints. 90% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 40% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
0under 30k miles26under 100k miles3100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

8 owners mentioned a cost

$1,128median

Middle half: $863 – $1,500

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1999 vs. every other Silhouette year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Silhouette median. How we score

'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette safety ratings

1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
7 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette, and the recalls they led to.

  1. REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILUREEA03005 · closed Jan 12, 2004
    No recall
  2. AIR BAG TEAR DURING DEPLOYMENTPE00045 · closed Jan 11, 2001
    No recall
  3. SHOULDER HARNESS CLIPPE02017 · closed Aug 2, 2002
    No recall
  4. REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILUREPE02086 · closed Apr 9, 2003
    No recall
  5. POWER-SLIDING DOORPE04064 · closed Dec 22, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-597
  6. TRACTION CONTROLRQ00006 · closed Apr 20, 2001
    Led to recall 98V-072
  7. UNEXPECTED OPENING OF SLIDING DOORSQ00014 · closed Oct 22, 2001
    Led to recall 01V-067
In owners' words

What Silhouette owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

REPEATED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK / FAILURE - HAD TO REPLACE TWICE IN LESS THAN 100,000 MILES - FIRST TIME AT JUST OVER 36,000 MILES. NEVER OWNED A CAR WHERE I HAD TO REPLACE AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ONCE, LET ALONE TWICE AND VIRTUALLY EVERY CAR MY FAMILY HAS OWNED HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND…
Complaint 10246446 · Oct 22, 2008 · 36,652 miles
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE BROUGHT HE 1999 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE TO DEALER IN COSTA MESA, CA FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PLUG BOOTHS MELTED, AND THAT THE SPARK PLUGS, AND PLUG WIRES MELTED AS WELL, AND THE HEAD GASKET FAILING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD…
Complaint 10180589 · Jan 24, 2007 · 75,416 miles
VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING ON SHORT TRIPS TO THE STORE(1-2 MILES). THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS THE THERMOSTAT HOWEVER WHEN TAKEN TO MECHANIC FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT HAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I CALLED OLDSMOBILE REF TO THE PROBLEM TO INQUIRE ABOUT TSB # 030601010 OR…
Complaint 10168838 · Sep 21, 2006 · 102,998 miles

Own a 1999 Silhouette?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.