Oldsmobile Silhouette Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Oldsmobile Silhouette model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2004 drew the fewest (11) and the 1998 the most (170).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Among the fewest complaints |
11 | 1 | Tires | — | 18–20 |
| 1996 Among the fewest complaints |
20 | 1 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 19 |
| 1993 Among the fewest complaints |
22 | 3 | Seat belts | — | 18 |
| 1992 | 27 | 2 | Seat belts | — | 18 |
| 1994 | 36 | 4 | Visibility | — | 18 |
| 2003 | 36 | 2 | Air bags | — | 18–20 |
| 1991 | 37 | 2 | Structure | — | 18 |
| 1990 | 43 | 4 | Seat belts | — | 18 |
| 1995 | 46 | 2 | Structure | — | 18 |
| 2002 | 57 | 2 | Suspension | — | 18–20 |
| 2001 | 78 | 6 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 20 |
| 1997 | 104 | 6 | Steering | — | 19 |
| 2000 Among the most complaints |
114 | 5 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 19 |
| 1999 Among the most complaints |
149 | 4 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 18 |
| 1998 Among the most complaints |
170 | 7 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 19 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Oldsmobile Silhouette years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette: 170 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 35 (21%); Exterior lighting 32 (19%); Service brakes 16 (9%).
Reports mention 6 crashes, 13 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 80,000 miles. 7 recall campaigns listed.
1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette: 149 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 46 (31%); Structure 18 (12%); Power train 16 (11%).
Reports mention 9 crashes, 4 fires, 18 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 64,495 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette: 114 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 29 (25%); Electrical system 18 (16%); Structure 18 (16%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 2 fires, 8 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 58,000 miles. 5 recall campaigns listed.
The Oldsmobile Silhouette years with the fewest complaints
2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette: 11 complaints
Most-reported: Tires 4 (36%); Electrical system 2 (18%); Structure 2 (18%).
Reports mention 2 crashes, 4 injuries. 1 recall campaign listed.
1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette: 20 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 8 (40%); Visibility 4 (20%); Structure 3 (15%).
1 recall campaign listed.
1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette: 22 complaints
Most-reported: Seat belts 4 (18%); Service brakes 4 (18%); Electrical system 3 (14%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 4 fires. 3 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Oldsmobile Silhouette owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 36 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 6 | 51,953 |
| 2002 | 57 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 41,500 |
| 2001 | 78 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 57,860 |
| 2000 | 114 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 58,000 |
| 1999 | 149 | 9 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 64,495 |
| 1998 | 170 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 80,000 |
| 1997 | 104 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 74,500 |
| 1996 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 46 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 36 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 22 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 37 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 3 | — |
| 1990 | 43 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Oldsmobile Silhouette recalls
- GM/POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY (1996–1998 model years; 1,159,156 vehicles across all models; filed Nov 2002; 02V286000)
- GM/POWER SLIDING DOOR (1997–2004 model years; 717,302 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2004; 04V597000)
- GM/REAR CRADLE BOLTS (1990–1991 model years; 676,535 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 1997; 97V058000)
- GM/TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC:COOLING UNIT (1992–1995 model years; 585,182 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 1996; 96V015000)
- GM/POWER SLIDING DOOR (1997–2001 model years; 477,011 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2001; 01V067000)
All 23 Oldsmobile Silhouette recall campaigns · Oldsmobile Silhouette problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Oldsmobile Silhouette years FAQ
Which Oldsmobile Silhouette year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2004 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (11). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Oldsmobile Silhouette years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 1998, 1999 and 2000 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the engine and engine cooling. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Oldsmobile Silhouette problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the engine and engine cooling (167 of 950 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Oldsmobile Silhouette have?
NHTSA lists 23 recall campaigns covering the Oldsmobile Silhouette. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Oldsmobile Silhouette recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.