no report yet
Doors: latch
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…
2003 Oldsmobile SilhouetteProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 36 owner complaints about the 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 16, 2015. Updated daily. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette has problems
36 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
5Air bags4 crash/fire/injury
4Wheels
4Equipment1 crash/fire/injury
3Latches/locks/linkages2 crash/fire/injury
3Engine and engine cooling
3Exterior lighting
2Engine
2Power train
2Seat belts
119 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 5 | 4 |
| Wheels | 4 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 2 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 1 |
| Power train | 2 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 |
| 9 other systems | 11 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2003 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
Air bags: frontal
Risk. 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…
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.
Best & worst years
2003 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
2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette safety ratings
2003 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
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette, and the recalls they led to.
- POWER-SLIDING DOORLed to recall 04V-597
In owners' words
What Silhouette owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I WAS EASTBOUND ON A TWO LANE ROAD, AND AN ESCALADE RAN THE STOP SIGN ON THE DRIVER SIDE, AS I WAS CONTINUING DRIVING I T-BONED THE SUV, MY WHOLE FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY RIPPED AND DAMAGED, AND DASHBOARD CRACKED AND LIFTED, MY DAUGHTER WAS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND EITHER BAGS DEPLOYED. KNOW…
ON MAY 27, 2009 I HIT A TREE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE VAN AND THEN HIT ANOTHER TREE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS IN THE FRONT AND ON THE SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT AND THANKFUL THERE WERE NO MAJOR INJURIES. *TR
DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING 10-15MPH AND TURNING LEFT ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AND SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED AT THE SCENE. ALTHOUGH, ALL THREE OF THE OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT…
Own a 2003 Silhouette?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.